Normally, if it were my choice, I’d love something like this.

“Is this dress not something you’re willing to wear?” The manager, Radiant Podium, asked me as she held up an absolutely stunning emerald dress in her levitation. “I could find you another outfit perhaps?”

However, this was more demeaning than anything. Being paraded out on stage and auctioned off to the highest bidder. I could already tell why Lucky and Hardcase didn’t approve. Still, I was here, and there was no way to get out of it now.

Looking at the dress, I thought about all the ones I used to oogle in the stores with Mom. Or the few I wore at home. I don’t know what kind of material it was made out of, but it rippled in the softly circulating air inside the backstage dressing room. Still, as much as I didn’t mind wearing a dress for Mom, this… was different. I know that Hispano told me to embrace my looks and to use them to my advantage. But, actually doing that was different than just saying I should!

“It’s… not that.” I blushed brightly and rubbed at my forehoof. Looking at my own green and yellow mane as it drooped over my eye, I couldn’t help but freeze up at all this. “I…”

“Oh heavens me, you’re right.” Radiant Podium gasped, looking over me before looking at the dress. Tossing it aside, she scoffed. “Red would be a much more complimentary color to your pallet.” Smiling, she gave a soft wave of her hoof. “I’ll see if we have one in the closet. I’d hate to head all the way out to the props department in the stable for a dress.” Yes, because what I needed right now was this to take even longer than it had to. Like Buck had said, might as well get this over with.

“Give me the green one.” I sighed and held out my hoof to her. “I can make it work.”

“Are you sure?” She asked, wrapping the dress in her magic and folding it up neatly. “It wouldn’t be too much trouble…”

“I’m sure.” My cheeks felt like hot coals on my face, burning brighter than they probably ever had before in my life. She dropped the dress down over my hoof, and I felt the lightweight fabric flutter down onto me. It felt impossibly light for it’s thickness, and felt like it wasn’t actually touching me. Rather, it felt like it was hovering just above the top of my coat, letting air flow under it to keep me cool.

“Alright.” She nodded to the slatted door across the hall. “Go ahead and try it on in there while I go find you an accessory to match. Then with any luck, you’ll be ready for the red carpet!” Holding her hoof out, she gave me a soft pat on the back as I slung the dress around my neck and trotted over into the small fitting room.

It took me a few minutes to slip into the exquisite dress. It was clearly made for a mare with my figure, however… that mare probably wasn’t supposed to have wings. Just cramming my wings inside was hard enough, but it made the dress pull against my barrel uncomfortably tight. Looking back, I was struggling to figure out just how I was going to get the zipper all the way up when the slatted door behind me opened again.

“Let me help you with that.” Radiant Podium smiled and used her magic to slide the zipper up. I don’t know what this material was, but it was both strong and light. Just shifting on my hooves, I could also feel the air against my coat. Other than the tightness of it, I could see myself showing a dress like this off to mom… only, that will never happen. “Alright, and we’re in luck! I found you a pair of matching shoes in the closet.” Radiant Podium wiggled a pair of emerald green heels in her magic, giving a light giggle.

As I slipped them on my hind hooves, thunderous applause came from the other side of the dressing room wall. Before I could wonder just what had happened, Hardcase opened the door to the stage and strolled in with a wide smile. He wore a slimming black tux over his purple coat, and his yellow mane had been slicked back. Overall he looked sharp, and I cursed the fact that he looked so damn handsome despite being completely unavailable.

“Got the police gig!” He beamed to me as he shut the door. Pausing as he looked at me, he waggled his eyebrows a bit. “Wow, Bombay, you look stunning in that.” Again, another heated blush fell across my cheeks that I tried to hide with my mane. “Aww, don’t give me that.” He used his magic to lift my mane away as he looked at me. “You look amazing, and that isn’t something you should hide from.”

“I know I shouldn’t,” I said softly. “and thank you.”

“Now get out there and make the bastards pay for such stunning beauty.” He said, holding his hoof out toward the door.

“I agree, she is perfect.” Radiant Podium giggled as she stepped back, looking me over. “Good enough that even I might throw out a bid or two.”

“Really?” I asked softly. Working for her at the theatre here? That couldn’t be all bad! I mean hell, I’d rather get this place than that maintenance job Hardcase was talking about. I smiled at the well dressed mare as she nodded at me. I don’t know why, but it gave me a small amount of relief that maybe things wouldn’t be so bad tonight.

Applause roared from the other side of the wall again. This time, it was Buck who came through. He wasn’t wearing anything like Hardcase was, simply his medical yoke and white lab coat. Probably because the stallion’s fitting room didn’t have anything for his size more than anything.

“A dog.” He huffed, lumbering in with heavy steps. “I get to be an old lady’s dog for the night.” Sitting down in the middle of the floor, he looked like a cross between absolutely flabbergasted, and downright outraged. That is, until he looked over to me, and a heated blush of his own made his cheeks glow.

“Hey, there’s worse parts out there to play, Doc.” Hardcase answered with a smirk as he gave the large Snow Dog a pat on the back.

“It’s your turn, sugar.” Radiant Podium spoke as she reached out and gave me a pat on the back as well. “Get out there and show them what you’ve got. I’ll be right behind you.”

Nodding, I headed toward the door. Buck’s disappointed look at his placement had put a dent in the good feeling I’d had only a minute ago, and each step toward the door felt like my hooves weighed a million more pounds each. But I had to do this. I could do this. Just… do what your friends told you to, and make a good impression. The acting starts the second you walk out that door, Night. So just…

The door swung open with Radiant Podium’s magic. The stage just past the curtains ahead was bathed in bright lights. The mayor stood in the center of the stage in front of an old standing microphone. He smiled brightly as he saw me, lighting up like a proud father giving away his only daughter. Well, if he was giving her away to dozens of bidding strangers, maybe.

“Alrighty here folks!” He said as I made my way out onto the stage. “This fine young mare is a rare commodity indeed!” He laughed.

Walking out onto the stage, I fought with every step to keep from freezing up. My movement felt jerky, unnatural, and it felt like the dress around my barrel grew tighter just by being under the lights. Still, I smiled as brightly as I could and continued forward.

“Now, for a young mare such as herself, I would assume that there would be quite a few of you out there willing to pay good caps for a night with her.” The mayor snorted and gave a short laugh into the mic. Oh Celestia I wished he hadn’t phrased it that way. This night wasn’t going to end well if my ‘character’ had to take off this dress at any point. “And thusly, I’ll start the bidding at five hundred caps!” The crowd burst into gasps and hushed murmurs about the price. I simply stood there and did my best to look pretty. “Do I hear five hundred?”

“Construction has five hundred!” A stallion toward the back in a yellow hard hat called out.

“We have five hundred!” The mayor called back, his smile growing wider. “Do I hear five fifty?”

“Dreamland Diner has five fifty!” The hoarse voice of an overweight mare with frizzy green hair called out from my left.

“Gavin’s groceries has six hundred!” A griffon from the front row shouted.

“Eight hundred for the mare to be my wife for the evening!” A lone stallion in the back called out with a wide, yet oddly focused smile. A collective gasp ran through the crowd, most of them turning toward the back of the dark theatre. All the way in the back, in the darkness that ran along the far wall, a modest looking middle aged unicorn stepped forward.

His large square glasses across his equally square muzzle reflected the light from the stage. While his blonde, bowl cut mane hung in combination with his glasses, hiding most of his eyes from me. The red knit sweater he wore was clean and pressed, and overall he presented himself well. If not for the connotations of being his wife, he seemed like a pretty safe choice.

“I’m prepared to go up to a thousand for her!” He called out, more towards the others than to the mayor. The prospect of spending the night with a stallion wasn’t the part I didn’t like. I just like to think that a few dates are in order before moving to what I’m fairly certain he has planned for me.

“That’s up to a thousand caps for a night with this beautiful young mare!” The mayor shouted out, his grin a mile wide at this point. “Anypony else?” He asked. He looked over to me, holding his hoof up over the mic. “Give them a little spin, won’t you dear?” He said with a tone that instantly shot me back to how wrong this could all go. Doing as he asked, I spun around for the crowd. “A thousand going once.” Celestia please, no. “Going twice!” I don't’ want to spend the night with this guy…

“Two thousand caps!” Radiant Podium shouted out from behind me. In an instant, the crowd went wild.

“Now now, settle down everypony.” The mayor called out, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a handkerchief. Daintily, he dabbed it along his sweating forehead as he looked like he was about to collapse from the excitement of it all. “You sure do know how to amp up the drama, Mrs. Radiant. Well done.” He chuckled, getting a courteous bow from her. “Two thousand caps. Going once!” He said. “Going twice!”

I breathed a sigh of relief. That had been too close for comfort. Turning my gaze back out to the crowd, I managed to catch a peek of the outbid stallion pushing open the doors to the theatre and slipping out. Thank Celestia for that.

“Sold, to Mrs. Radiant Podium for the price of two thousand caps!” The mayor shouted, getting a standing ovation from the crowd. They stomped and yipped in celebration for the show they’d just watched, calling and whistling toward the stage ‘bravo’ and ‘encour!’.

“Meet me up in my office.” Mrs. Radiant spoke into my ear as she stepped up beside me. Pointing her hoof across the dark theatre room, she guided my vision up above the empty second floor seating, and over toward a small square window. Nodding to her, I turned and headed back into the dressing room.

For being auctioned off for the night, that actually went better than I expected.

The theatre was quiet, and everypony in town had gone back to their daily lives now that casting was over. As it turned out, this theatre wasn’t just for stage plays. The small room that worked as Radiant’s office, doubled as an old movie projection room as well. A large white canvas screen had been lowered from the ceiling over the stage I’d been on just minutes ago. As I sat on one of the comfortable loveseats that Mrs. Radiant Podium had against the back walls, I looked over the emerald dress I still wore. I was going to take it off, but honestly… even though it was a bit tight, I felt good in it. I looked good in it as well.

“Alrighty.” Mrs. Radiant said with a relieved sigh as she levitated a flat silver can alongside of her. “Attack of the fifty foot mare. A timeless classic.” She said, using her magic to split the can in two. Inside was a reel of film, which she quickly placed into the projector while feeding the first bit of the film into a mechanism on it. “Ever seen it?”

“Can’t say I have.” I replied, shifting on the comfortable seat. “So… what do I do now?”

“Well, I’ll give you a character to play, and you’ll do your best to follow along.” She smiled softly to herself as she used her magic to wind the film reel around the different rollers and locks of the projector. “Don’t worry about screwing up or doing a good job in this town, as you won’t be around for long anyway.” She sighed, hooking the film to the other end of the projector and flicking a switch. The projector gave a hum and advanced the reel along. “All these ponies, they don’t know what real acting is.”

“Why’s that?” Again, it just slipped out of my muzzle. That’s going to get you killed one day, Night…

“Because,” Mrs. Radiant laughed, looking back to me with her apple green eyes, “how many of them do you think have actually seen a movie in their lifetime?” Giving her a shrug, it pulled another chuffing laugh out of her. “Please. For them to come here and watch a movie would mean admitting that there was somepony out there who was better than them. All we ever see in here are random traders and travelers stopping in for a few hours at most for some relaxation and old world entertainment.” Rolling her eyes, she smiled off into the far corner of the room. “I’m the best actress this town has, and that’s not really saying much. Though…” She paused, seeming to think on something. “Unlike the others in this town, I’ve met a real actress. A goddess whose acting prowess knows no limits.”

She paused, smiling into one of the empty corners of the room. Looking between her and the corner, I kept waiting for something to happen. Slowly, Mrs. Radiant’s smile dimmed. Her expression swiftly changed to worry as she looked to me.

“Can you not see her?” She asked. It had been about now that I was beginning to think that maybe this wasn’t the best fit for me…

“Enough.” A voice spoke through the room. An authoritative mare’s voice, seasoned with experience and wisdom. Which was odd, because I couldn’t hear it in her voice; rather I felt it in her words. “It is not wise to reveal us to all who you employ.” The mare spoke again. Spinning around in the chair, I looked for the source of the voice, finding no one else other than Radiant and I in this room.

“But… she will not tell anypony of you. I guarantee it!” Mrs. Radiant pleaded to the voice. “I only ask that you do not make me appear foolish before our guest.”

“Alright, quit your groveling.” The mare spoke. With a shimmer, the air in the corner that Mrs. Radiant had been looking at moved. It parted, like a fabric curtain, revealing a pony as tall as Buck. Her coat was as soft of a blue as the night sky was. Large, full wings sat neatly tucked on her sides. Most frighteningly, a pair of slit yellow eyes sat under a long and sharp horn in the center of her head.

“Goddesses…” I gasped. It… it was the princess of the night!

“Nay. We are not who you assume.” The alicorn before me spoke without moving her muzzle at all. “We are an abomination. A monster created by mother, now returned to our rightful domain.”

“I… don’t understand.” Again, I was confused, but this was bigger than anything I’d seen before! An actual alicorn, right out of the history books, right here in the room with me!

“You sit in the presence of Lilac Lace. Queen of the silver screen!” Mrs. Radiant spoke the words as if she were speaking to the goddesses themselves. As she did, she lifted the split film tin to Attack of the fifty foot mare. Across the description section, my eyes immediately noticed the name printed on it. Lilac Lace.

“You… starred in this movie?” I asked, looking over to the alicorn. A toothy grin split her blue muzzle as she nodded.

“We… I starred in a great many movies before the end. I even did my own stunts, jumping through safety glass and all. You won’t find anypony who dares risk it themselves nowadays however. Here they don’t even understand how to truly be the characters they’ve been playing for years.” She narrowed her eyes and looked around at the various other film tins scattered about the room. “Not that there are any good movies nowadays. There would have been many more had I not been kicked out for standing up for the other crew.” Kicking her slender and long forehoof out, she held it above one of the tins before bringing it down hard enough to bend it around her hoof.

“Mother found me as I wandered, and as a fellow showpony, accepted me for my abilities to coerce and enthral all those who gazed upon my acting prowess.” Lifting her forehoof, she inspected it with a devilish smirk. “She gave me this body and it’s abilities for a purpose far greater than any screenwriter in Applewood could ever offer.” Kicking again, she sent the crumpled film can skittering across the floor. “Until that mare snatched her away from us all…”

“Yes, Miss Lace has had a rough time readjusting the last few weeks.” Mrs. Radiant’s smile shifted to a more nervous one. Eyeing over to me, she pointed up to the projector. “Would you like to see it? The perfection that is Miss Lace’s work?”

And get out of this awkward situation? Yes please.

Nodding, I offered my own forced smile to them. Looking over to the corner where Miss Lace sat, I found it inexplicably empty again. Though, for some reason, I still knew she was there. I could feel her gaze on me, piercing into my mind. Shrugging it off as best I could, I pushed myself up and off of the comfy loveseat.

“If you would follow me, Miss Penny.” Mrs. Radiant smiled. “I’ll show you the best seat in the house!”

“Miss Penny?” I asked, sort of knowing what to expect as a response.

She nodded with another giggle. “You’re going to be Miss Penny Thoughts for the rest of the day. Esteemed Applewood movie critic, and secretly Miss Lilac Lace’s biggest fan.” Using her magic, she grabbed at the door leading out of her office and opened it up. “Does that sound alright?”

Actually, that sounded great! My job would be to spend this afternoon and evening sitting back and watching old movies? Who wouldn’t take that job? Again, maybe this whole acting thing wasn’t going to be so bad after all!

Goddesses above, save me.

‘Attack of the fifty foot mare’ was actually not half bad. ‘Commando Colty and the radar mares from the moon’ was just as cheesy, but lacked in action. However, both ‘Plan Nine’ and ‘Zebra maidens from outer space’ were just terrible films. Who even watched this crap back in the day!?

“Pssst.” A sharp voice came from behind me. I covered my muzzle just in time to muffle my scream as I jumped right out of my seat. Hispano’s bright eyes were jubilantly locked onto me as she stuffed a talon full of old caramel popcorn into her beak. “Ya can relax, ya know.” She spoke up through her full beak.

“When did you get here?” I asked in a harsh whisper, looking around to see if anypony else had snuck in when I was being bored out of my mind by the last twenty minutes of exposition from ‘The terror of the space chicken!’.

“Bout an hour ago.” She said, stuffing her beak full again. She leaned back in the reclining theatre seat, putting her hind paws up on the back of my own chair as she chewed noisily. “Pretty sweet gig you lucked into.”

“Yeah, well…” I paused as the door to the back of the theatre opened up. Mrs. Radiant smiled and gave a short wave from the door before closing it again. “We’ll talk after the movie.” I whispered before turning around. Now that I got moving again, I felt the distinct urge that anypony would get after having to sit in the same place for hours on end. “Or, after I use the little filly’s room.”

Getting up, I straightened out my dress, which had a tendency to ride up on me in the seat. As I did, I drew a cat calling whistle from Hispano, who couldn’t seem to giggle enough at me as I stormed off in my fancy dress and heels. I bet she was just jealous that she couldn’t pull this off as well as I did.

Heading up the aisle, I pushed my way through the double doors and out into the lobby. Looking around, I saw a pair of doors across toward the entrance that looked like the restrooms and trotted over.

As I went in, I got to thinking about just what that alicorn-mare-thing had said. She obviously wasn’t always an alicorn. I mean, I watched her act in Attack of the fifty foot mare. Good actress, but she’d only been just a unicorn in the film. The weirdness of the wasteland was still an enigma to me, and probably always would be. Still, she was nice enough, and I could understand why she’d hide herself from public eyes like that. Maybe I could ask Buck about her later, or if there were anymore ponies like her out there.

Finishing up my business, I straightened out my dress again and walked over to the mirror. I checked my mane, reaching up and patting down a few loose strands that popped out of place. Satisfied that everything was alright, I turned and opened the door. Taking a few steps out, I found my hooves forcibly stopped and held down to the floor by a magical aura.

“Don’t move and you won’t get hurt.” The whisper soft voice of a stallion made me gasp. His warm breath against my ear and neck sent shivers down my spine, and the sharp blade that pressed against my side made my blood run cold. Turning to look back, I only saw the thick square frame of a pair of glasses before I was interrupted. “Don’t look at me.” He snapped. I nodded quickly and looked straight ahead. “Walk out the door at my side. You make a noise or call for help, and it’s goodnight forever for you. Got it?”

Nodding again, I found the knife press against me harder. That got my hooves to move. Doing as I was asked, I walked toward the exit. Opening it, I prayed to the goddesses that somepony would walk out of the other rooms here and see me. When the door opened, and both the stallion and I were outside, those hopes died. The sun had already set, and the blanket of stars across the sky were my only witnesses to what was happening.

“Alright, move. We’re going to my place.” The stallion muttered. “I was going to pay good caps for you, you know?” He breathed heavily down my neck. “But I ain’t going to let that bitch steal my perfect night away.” Walking forward, he used the knife to guide me down the sidewalk. “What’s your name, honey?”

“B-bombay…” I said softly. How could anypony even act this way? This was terrifying!

“No.” He snapped softly into my ear. “What’s your name.”

“Penny.” I whimpered, feeling as tears filled my eyes. Goddesses, I just wanted to run, I wanted to fly. But this stupid dress kept my wings all bound up. “It’s Penny....”

“That’s a sweet name.” He said, leaning in and breathing on my neck again. “My favorite name.”

“What do you want from me?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice down while also trying to stem the tide of tears marching down my cheeks.

“We’re going to have a nice dinner, just like I’d originally planned.” He whispered softly into my ear. I felt him reach out with his hoof, stroking along my back. I whined and shivered at his touch, still feeling the blade at my side. “Then we’re going to have some fun for the night. I promise, you’ll remember it forever.”

That I highly doubted. I’d take another six hours of those stupid movies over this. Hell, I’d stay another week here if somepony would just notice that something is wrong! But onwards we walked. Down entire streetlamp lit streets without even another pony so much as in sight. It wasn’t until we reached a cul de sac at the end of one of the roads that I knew we were close.

The large, two story house in the center of the street was the only one with its interior lights on. A sparsely decorated living room sat beyond a large bay window that overlooked the lush green front lawn. A semi-rusted sky chariot sat parked, but neglected in the wide concrete driveway.

“Home sweet home,” The stallion whispered into my ear again, “don’t you think, dear?” Nodding again, I found him tweak the knife at my side once more. “Go inside. Dinner is in the kitchen, ready for you to present when your hardworking husband returns from his tiring and thankless dayjob.” Jabbing me, I yelped and cried a bit again. “Understand?”

“Y-yes dear…” I nodded again.

He led us up a small path. That branched out from the driveway and up to the front door. With a click from a lock I couldn’t see, the door unlatched and opened. He forcefully shoved me through it onto the hardwood floor of the entrance. As I scrambled to keep my hoofing on the smooth surface, I looked back towards him.

Of course, it was the stallion from the auction. His proper red sweater, his blonde bowl cut mane. The same wide focused smile he wore when he bid on me. His glowing horn swung the door shut hard. I took the opportunity to reach and grasp for the handle. Maybe if I could barrel past him quickly enough, I could get away!

A loud click from a hidden locking mechanism in the door killed that idea. It took my mind a moment to catch up, but it hit me that unicorns wouldn’t need line of sight for locks. Cursing my luck, I turned and looked down the short hallway from the entrance toward the kitchen. Scrambling to get over there, I looked around the well lit and fully stocked kitchen.

The knife rack was empty. The pots and pan holders were empty as well! Moving over, I started to throw open every cabinet door along the sleek blue and white furnishing. This place had been built like a palace. Tile countertops, chrome appliances, an island in the middle with a stainless steel covering over it. In the pantry and cupboards? Baking ingredients, boxes of sweets, and canned food for years. Still, there wasn’t a single knife, fork, or spatula in this fucking place!

All that was even around here, was two plates on the mahogany dinner table, and a dish of still steaming casserole sitting between them.

The front door clicked again, and swung open with a slight squeak to its hinges. In hopes that it was somepony who followed me here, I ran around toward the entry hall again. Skidding to a stop, my heart froze as the stallion walked in, looking just the same as he did moments ago. Only now, I could see the large silver kitchen knife that he held in his levitation.

“Hey there, sugarbun. Dinner smells delicious.” His focused expression and wide smile felt plastic and static as he spoke. It scared the hell out of me, and I took a step back before getting my head together again.

“Y-yes, dear.” I nodded and forced my own smile among the tears on my cheeks. Come on, Night. All you need to do is either get away, or get a weapon. “You know, I think with all the work I put into this dinner, I’ve forgotten where we keep our silverware.”

Shutting the door behind him firmly, the stallion’s horn glowed as he locked it again. “Oh, that’s alright dear. We won’t need it.” He shook his head, stepping forward down the hall towards me. “I have something else planned. Something special.”

“W-what’s that?” I stammered, stepping back and moving to the other side of the table from him.

“All those other foals in town…” He muttered, narrowing his eyes at me. “They’ve forgotten what acting is all about!” He hung on that word for a moment. His horn flared brightly, and I ducked as the knife in his levitation jabbed through the air at me. “A good story needs drama! Not day in day out drivel! We’ll rewrite this humdrum soap opera and mold it into something more entertaining, more exciting!”

Putting my shoulder into it, I pushed forward and flipped the table over. The loud noise seemed to startle him. I used the opportunity to dash myself back over to the other side of the island in the kitchen. Reaching down, I took the stored cans of food into my hooves, gripping them tightly.

“We’ve been sitting, waiting for years for the perfect mare to come along.” He growled, swinging his knife again. I ducked behind the tile counter again, cringing as the flying blade pinged off the spotless tiles before returning to the stallion. “All to create the perfect plot twist the likes this town has never seen before! My wife, murdered in cold blood by me, the quiet husband that nopony thought could harm even a single fly!”

Spinning and standing back up, I threw the cans of food with all the force I could muster. I watched as his levitation easily maneuvered the knife to parry each can with the blade. I whimpered as my attack had no effect, and he seized the opportunity. He burst forward to get around the island. I moved around the opposite way. As he came around the other side after me, I passed one of the dining room chairs and kicked out with all my might.

He groaned as the chair slid against his legs. I heard as he went down hard onto the kitchen floor. Looking down the hall, I saw the front door again and decided to try something different. Galloping as best I could in these heels, I charged the door itself. With a disappointing thump, I all but bounced off of it and back onto the wooden floor. Gasping as I lay at the front door, I watched, eyes wide in horror as he rounded the corner with the kitchen knife twirling in his levitation.

“You should feel privileged, you know.” He laughed through his stupid smile from behind his stupid fucking glasses. “It’s your night to outshine every other actor and actress here!”

Pulling myself back up to my hooves, I pressed myself back against the door. He walked slowly, with purposeful and stiff steps. He was savoring each and every moment he could stretch this, and it scared me to death.

“Don't you see? Tonight, you are the masterful actress.” He laughed, making short jabs at me with the knife, but never really committing. Still, I flinched every time, fearing that it would be the last sight I’d ever see. “You will give me the performance of a lifetime, a perfectly accurate death scene to complete my perfectly planned plot twist!”

Looking around, I darted into the open living room. I couldn’t just keep running from him all night! My eyes jumped around every object in the room, fighting to find something to defend myself with. No lamps, no books. Just large stupid furniture! No no no! There has to be something! Pausing, my eyes fell upon the perfectly clean glass bay window that lead out to the front yard.

Wait! This is a town of actors, right? Lilac Lace scoffed at them, but… what's the chances that they used real glass in the construction of this place?

“Don’t you see? You can’t get away!” The stallion giggled, stepping into the living room. “I wrote perfection. No improv, only orchestrated genius. And the best part is, it’s just. For. You.”

“It needs a rewrite.” I said with a smirk.

Yelling, I charged at the window. Bounding off the floral print sofa, I threw my shoulder forward, tucking my head back as much as I could as I slammed into the glass pane. A dozen fonts of pain flared all along me as the very normal plate glass window shattered against my body. The knife like shards made ribbons out of my emerald dress, drawing deep gashes across me. I cried out in pain as a shards rained across my face and muzzle as I tumbled out onto the lawn. Gasping, I rolled onto my back as my whole body begged me not to move. Yeah, if I live through tonight, I'm never going to do that again.

"Penny!" Mrs. Radiant called out from down the street. Shaking off the few shards of glass on me, I got to my hooves with a pained whine. Finally, a fucking break for once!

“Help!" I cried out to her. I tried to work myself to a gallop, but screamed as my rear leg gave out. Looking back, I found a large piece of glass sticking all the way through it. If I'd eaten the dinner he'd made for me earlier, I might have thrown up at the sight. Then again, he’d have just killed me while I ate…

"Penny! Get back here!" The psychotic stallion shouted as he threw the front door to the house open. I looked back, panicking as he picked up his walk into a trot that quickly carried him across the glass coated lawn after me. I pushed myself to move, bleeding and hobbling as best as I could out into the street. Yes, if I could only get to Mrs. Radiant, we could deal with him! He wouldn’t be stupid and crazy enough to go against somepony from his own town! I hobbled towards her, crying and grunting through the pain all over.

"Penny, don't worry." She called out as she trotted in the street to me. I nearly dove into her hooves, crying out for her. “I’ve got you now.” She said, patting me on the back.

"He's trying to kill me." I whined, crying into her neck as she held me. “Please… make him stop.”

"I know he’s trying to kill you." She said, softly whispering into my ear. As she did, a sharp jab at my side made me gasp. "So am I."

The gunshot that tore into my side was deafening. My legs gave out as my mind tried to make sense of all the new sensations coming from my body. Pain exploded all over as I slumped down onto the pavement. My heart raced and my mind worked itself into a frenzy as I tried to breathe deep, ragged breaths of air.

"We did it, honey. The perfect double plot twist." She moved in to kiss him, dropping the smoking gun to her side as the two of them stood over me. Shit, she hadn’t lied about being the best actress here. I’d never seen it coming. I was going to die here... and everything I'd done, everypony I’d met, will have been for nothing…

An ear shattering crack filled the air. The sky flashed with what I thought was lightning, and rain splattered across me as I struggled to stay conscious. No, not rain. Blood. The two ponies above me slumped down next to me, unmoving. Ribboned stumps sat where both of their head's used to be, dribbling blood out onto the dark pavement.

"How's that for a plot twist." Hispano grunted, dropping out of the sky next to me. With wide eyes, she tossed her sister aside and nearly lept onto me. “Night! Stay with me!” She said as she stiffly pressed against my gunshot wound with her talons, leaning in close and starting to say something else. My hearing however wasn't cooperating anymore, and in another few moments, my vision started to blur.

Hardcase and Officer Minty came running up as well, hooking their hooves around me. As darkness grabbed ahold of me, I couldn’t help but focus on the blue light coming from Hardcase’s eyes. It was odd, softly glowing as everything faded to black. Maybe that’s the light everypony said you saw when you died. No matter I supposed, as the dark void consumed me, and I disappeared into nothingness.

“Dewdrop, dear?” Dad called out as I stood in front of him, soaking wet from the passing summer storm this afternoon. The perfect ending to the worst day of my life. He was ashamed of me, I could tell just by the way he kept from looking at me. “It’s Night, you’d better come see this.”

I’d tried to be myself today. Mom told me that everything would be fine if I just didn’t listen to what other ponies would say. I tried that. I did what she said and still, nothing changed.

With soft pads across our cloud apartment, Mom came out from their bedroom. Her blue coat was absolutely flawless today, and her bright yellow mane was done up in a twist above her head. She gasped in shock as she saw me standing at the door.

“Who did this to you?” She growled. Trotting up to me, she hoofed at the tattered dress that still barely clung to me. Reaching up, she grabbed at my chin, making me wince as she pressed on the fresh bruises, and looked over my black eye. “Ooooh, I’ll find each and every one of their mothers and…”

“Let’s not be rash, dear.” Dad said, trying to be supportive. But he knew as well as I did that once Mom was angry, there wasn’t much chance of getting through to her.

“Rash?” She glared at him. “You think that some schoolyard punks out there can just abuse our son because he looks like a mare and likes to wear dresses? You want to just let that slide?” Shuddering in rage, she talked through her clenched jaw. “He’s a patriot for his lifestyle, and you don’t think those foals should be locked up?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” Dad shook his head. “Night has to learn to stand up for himself or they’re just going to keep trotting all over him!” Him raising his voice was a surprise. Dad didn’t often get angry, or stand up to Mom like this. “I just think that maybe he should avoid wearing mare’s clothing until he does!”

Stepping back, I pulled the door shut with a slam on my way out. With tears in my eyes, I galloped down the hallway away from our apartment. Ducking around the corner to the other side of the building, I nearly tripped on a bit of uneven cloud. Stumbling, I broke down. I sat there for the next ten minutes crying. Not because of what happened at school, or because Mom and Dad were fighting. It was because I didn’t know who I was. I was fourteen, and I didn’t understand all these feelings I had for stallions, and dresses, and why my stupid wings didn’t even work right.

“Bravo.” A mare’s voice spoke from all around me.

My vision rippled like water, and from out of thin air, the very princess of the night stepped out in front of me.

“Luna...” I gasped.

“We…” She began. “I am not, the late princess, Night. You are simply confused again.” The more she spoke, the more I remembered her voice.

“Lilac Lace?” I asked, wiping the tears from my eyes. As I did, I noticed that my forehooves were the same deep blue they’d been after Buck removed the bandages. However, I was still sitting down the hall from our cloud apartment in Neighvarro City, and I was still in my tattered pink dress from so long ago. “What’s going on?”

“We’re in your mindscape. I have been observing your memories since you first arrived. A parting gift that mother gave to some of her favorite daughters.” She spoke, using her muzzle this time to do so. “And I must say, you are a far better actor than any of the poor ponies in this relic of a town.” She groaned in exasperation as she spoke.

“How… why would you view my memories?” I asked, pulling myself up off the wall.

“Because from the moment you entered that room with Radiant, I could tell that even though she hadn’t given you a part yet, you were already acting.” Lilac narrowed her golden slit eyes at me, standing tall with a smirk. “A pity that her husband and her were driven mad by this place.” With a sultry laugh, she almost seemed to revel in her own thoughts. “Not so much a pity now that they’re dead.”

“So, where am I then?” I asked, looking around. It was hard to notice at first, but everything I focused on was just slightly off. The hallways had a bit of a skew to them, the doors were slightly too yellow to be normal faux wood. “Am I dead as well?”

“You are in the town clinic, recovering.” She smirked. “I am impressed at the lengths you’ve gone to in your life in order to act like you don’t know who you are. Like you don’t know what to do with yourself.” Reaching out into the cloud wall next to her, she swirled her hoof around, moulding and shaping the cloud. “You’re a far better actor than you give yourself credit for, even if it is unintentional on your part.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, taking a step back. Pausing, I held myself still. Why would I step back? I wasn’t afraid of her.

She narrowed her eyes again, grinning wide. “Good. You’ve begun to notice it. All the little things you do in order to keep up the subconscious lie.” Whipping her hoof around, she spun the cloud into a solid silver surface. “Take a look and see, just who you really are.”

The silver surface flashed to a mirror finish. Floating it slowly through the air, she lined it up so that it would reflect me. Squinting, I could only make out my basic shape and colors. No details, it was like all of me was... blurred.

“I don’t understand.” I said, looking over to her in confusion.

“You can’t see it yet,” She shook her head, laughing softly. “But in time, you will break down the walls you have built, see all the faults you’ve crafted for what they are, and realize that you’ve known who you were all along.” With a groan, she flipped the mirror away from me. The dream world I was in ebbed away, and I found myself standing in a very clean and orderly looking hospital room.

Lilac was sitting in the corner of the room, staring at me with her horn glowing brightly. However, next to her, stood a unicorn mare in a doctor’s outfit. She was doing paperwork on the counter, while Hardcase stood across from her, eyes locked across the room behind me. Turning around, I looked over toward the back of the room, and found… myself, laying in the hospital bed.

“Your other friend is coming, so I must break contact to stay hidden.” Lilac grumbled. “Come see me when you recover. We may talk then.” Her horn was enveloped in a layer of overglow, and the world around me grew darker again. “Now… wake up.” She whispered.

I gasped and sat up in my bed. Pain flashed through my chest, and I looked down as my body trembled. Layers of Bandages sat wrapped tightly around my barrel, even tighter than the now discarded dress had been. My insides almost instantly felt like they lit on fire, and I whined as Hardcase nearly jumped over to me from the other side of the room.

“Bombay!” He shouted. “Take it easy there.” Reaching out, he put his forehooves against my shoulders and helped me to lay back in the soft medical bed. As he did, the unicorn mare in the doctor’s outfit quickly used her magic to levitate a syringe over to the IV tubes that lead into my foreleg. Without hesitation, she pressed it in, and injected something into it.

Blinking a few times, my racing heartbeat slowed. The pain inside my chest drifted away, replaced by an odd tingling numbness. As I lay there and let whatever drug I’d been given go to work, the door to the small room we were in opened up. Wide eyed and worried, Buck walked in and came over to my bed.

“What’s the damage?” He asked with rushed words, turning to the doctor and reaching out for her clipboard. “Have there been any complications?”

“Mr. Flight is fine for the moment.” The doctor mare growled, levitating her clipboard out of Bucks eager and clumsy grasp. “I’ve treated his lacerations with a combination of a standard quarter dosage of restoration potion, some magical bandages for the gunshot wound, and now that he’s awake, a quarter dosage of painkiller. He should be fine given a day or so for the internal swelling to go down.”

“I hope things are going well in here.” The loud voice of the Mayor called out as he stepped through the open doorway and into my room. He wore a nervous smile, already sweating before all three of us offered nothing short of a disappointing glare to him. “I truly am sorry for what happened. Had we known about the scripts that Mrs. Radiant and Mr. King had written, I would have kicked them out of town long ago.”

“And you think that fixes anything?” Buck snapped at him. “Bombay nearly died because you couldn’t tell the difference between going crazy and acting crazy.” He chuffed as he spun around and looked me over. “We’re going to be leaving as soon as we can get ourselves together.”

“Now hold on just a minute!” The Mayor snorted, stamping his hoof on the floor in outrage. “That wasn’t the deal!” Swiping his small tophat off his balding head, he shook it at us like he was scolding a set of young foals. “If you still want our cooperation, than I suggest you hold up your end of the bargain.”

“I think not.” Hardcase answered him with a smirk. “How many visitors do you get a year, Mayor.” His question seemed to only enrage the Mayor further. “Now, we can let this whole issue slide the moment we leave town, and we will be leaving. Or, we can take what happened here with us up to Filly Crossing and spread the word of just how dangerous your little town is.” That made the dust coated Mayor change color to a pale white. “I’m willing to bet that not even traders would be willing to stop in.”

“You’d ruin us...” The Mayor seethed, curling his fetlock around his top hat and crushing it slightly. “I’d rather quit acting than let you hold such slander above us! Mrs. Radiant and Mr. King were acting alone! An isolated case!”

“They’ve already ruined themselves.” The voice of Lilac resonated in my head. “They deserve nothing less than to be ushered off the stage for such poor performances.”

Perking his ears, Buck sniffed lightly at the air. Turning around, he gazed over into the corner that Lilac had been sitting in when we’d spoken. He… he couldn’t really know she was there, could he?

An idea clicked in my mind. Hardcase pointed out in the morning that we weren’t cast where our talents lied. This whole system didn’t work because of the one fact that I think Lilac was trying to point out. While I knew it was a risk, maybe my idea would be able to solve everypony’s problems.

“A recasting.” I blurted out.

“What?” Nearly everypony in the room spoke up at once.

“Hear me out.” I said, holding my forehooves out to them. “The problem is that Buck’s right. None of you know who’s really acting anymore because none of you are playing off your own strengths as characters. None of you truly feel like you fit with who you’re supposed to be portraying, am I right?” Shifting my right hoof over to the corner, I lowered the left one down onto Buck’s paw. “I know somepony who can help you fix this town, Mayor.” Looking into the corner, I knew that I shouldn’t be putting her on the spot like this. “Isn’t that right, Lilac Lace?”

Everypony looked over into the corner. All but Buck wore a look on their face like I was crazy. Sure enough however, like she had before, she pulled back the curtains of invisibility around her and stepped up onto the stage. Well, metaphorical stage at least. Everypony gasped at her apparition into the room, all except me of course.

“It… it can’t be…” The mayor stammered, taking a step back and dropping his crumpled hat onto the floor. “Lilac Lace… was exiled in the casting purge forever ago!”

“I was taken, molded into this form, and used for a better purpose. Something we failed at.” Lilac’s voice boomed through our heads. “However, I returned weeks ago, and I have been watching what a joke you have all made out of this once proud town. I’ve been languishing in silence from how dull and predictable your acting has become. It’s pathetic to watch you ponies even entertain the notion that you could ever call yourselves actors.”

“But… we only know what we were taught!” The mayor said, standing firmly against her accusation.

“Then learn from her.” I spoke up again, pulling the mayor's gaze to me. “Let her take over, weed out those among you who could cause more trouble, and fit you where you should be in the cast of Klondike.”

“Yes.” The mayor nodded. “I can see it now… the truth in her words.” Looking between Buck, Hardcase, and I, he nodded furiously. “Yes yes, you can go as soon as you are ready. We will keep our end of the bargain.” Turning back to the towering alicorn in the room, he gave her a courteous bow. “Please, forgive us for tarnishing the trade. Perhaps an esteemed actress such as yourself could forgive our transgressions, and teach us how a true master performs!”

Lilac rolled her eyes at that, dropping them onto me with a smirk. “Thank you, Night.” She nodded. “Maybe with a little effort, I can make this place great once again.” Stepping past the mayor, she left without another word. The mayor and the doctor hastily followed her out the door, thankfully leaving us alone in the room. Finally, no more actors, only friends.

“Bombay…” Buck said softly, looking back to me with a warm smile, “That was a wonderful idea.” Leaning over to me, he wrapped his enormous paws around me and pulled me into a tight hug against his furry chest. I laughed as he squeezed me, hugging him back. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Me too.” I said, giving him a pat on the side. “But if it’s all the same to you,” My words prompted him to pull back. “I want to get the hell out of this place.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I can certainly understand that.” Pointing back toward the door, he smiled. “I’m going to go make sure that Laika is prepped to head out as well.”

“Hey,” Hardcase asked, stepping over. “I thought Delilah wanted her left here?” An idea to which, both Buck and I deadpanned at him for. He chuckled, growing a nervous smile as he rubbed at his neck. “Right. Probably not the best idea.”

“I’ll go and get her ready.” Buck said, standing back and prodding at Hardcase’s chest. “You? You help Night get to the Runner and then go wake up Lucky.” With a nod of confirmation from Hardcase, Buck gave him a pat on the side. “Alright. Thank you.” With that, he too walked out of the room.

“Alright, let’s get out of here.” I sighed softly, happy to know that we’ll be on the road in no time. Hardcase smirked as he stepped up beside me. I was going to ask why he was smiling, but with his help, figured that getting out of this bed would be a good first step. Doing my best to sit up, I winced as my insides felt like they were sandpaper on each other. “Goddesses… remind me never to get shot again.”

“Sure thing.” He laughed, hooking his forehoof around my backside. “Alright, slowly now.”

Carefully, I swung myself off the bed, and rolled myself over onto my stomach. Inching my way backward, my chest screamed at me from under the bandages. Come on, Night, it’ll be fine as soon as you get back on your hooves. A few more seconds of sliding backwards, and my hooves connected with the smooth tile flooring of the room. With a slow push back, I stepped away from the bed, and got my forehooves down as well. As soon as I had, I turned and was met with Hardcase’s smirking face again.

“So, Night.” He began, “Who was that griffon?”

Goddesses, why did he have to ask… “I… don’t know?” Again it was my turn to wear the nervous grin we’d all passed around tonight. “Must have been one of the actors?”

“Really…” He said flatly, not dropping his smirk at all. Instead, he reached up and gave me a soft pat on the side. I winced as he pat right on the healing wound. “Because she used your real name when she saw you lying there, dying.” He cocked his eyebrow at me. “I even had to give the doctor your real name. So, with that in mind, I want you to tell me something without lying this time. You like her, don’t you?”

“I… uhm…” I didn’t know what to say. I’d only dig myself deeper into a hole if I lied about her anymore. Somepony was bound to catch on if I did, and that would just make things worse. “No? She’s just a friend.” That wasn’t technically a lie!

“I’d be careful with her if I were you.” He smiled, keeping his eyes on me as he turned and walked away. “Talon mercs are dangerous enemies to have, and even more dangerous as allies.” Shit, did he know about her? How could he? Even I barely knew her! “Don’t get caught playing both sides, Night. It won’t end well.”

“I…” I stammered. “That’s not what’s going on!”

Shaking his head at me, his smile only grew. “Come on, let’s go get Lucky.” He tilted his head towards the door, winking at me. “Besides, I won’t tell Delilah about your little crush if you don’t.”

Crush… I…

You know what? Fuck it. It’s better than thinking up any other lie about her.

“Thanks.” I smiled, breathing out a mock sigh of relief. And just like that, I could see a little bit more about what Lilac meant about me acting. Here I was, putting on a mask to protect my friends, lying again to cover for Hispano. I don’t know what she’d wanted to talk about before at Laika’s crash site, but I knew now that we needed to have a talk about our arrangement.

Who knows, maybe she didn’t know what kind of stallion Solomon was. Maybe I could convince her to join up on Delilah’s side. Or, maybe, she’d just shoot me for failing to keep her a secret. Regardless of what happens, I can’t lie anymore, not to my friends. Good or bad, I’d have to bring my issues with her out into the open the next time I saw her.

The cold early morning air whipped at my coat as Lucky kept the Runner’s engine spooled up faster than I’d seen him drive it before. Laika and Hardcase took up the rest of the space in the front seat, and with Buck and I being naturally better equipped for extreme weather, we got to sit across from one another in the cramped back bed with the Dizzitron.

The lush green forests had given way to snow covered hills. Those also came to pass as we climbed up the winding roads that lead up the tallest mountain in this part of the North. Jagged rockfaces that stood in the face of the harsh winds rose up for hundreds of feet along the side of the ever rising road ahead. We were still a few hours away from getting to where the Hauler was supposed to be camped. To top it off, the rising sun was just now creeping up to the edge of the horizon.

Looking across the bed over to Buck, I watched as he stared off at the changing hues of the sky behind me. He looked lost in them, like he was immersed in the most serene moment of his life. I envied him for it. He could afford to look at things down here and appreciate their beauty. I’d seen thousands of sun rises and sunsets in my life. And now that any of them could be my last? I was jealous that he could see it for how amazing it really was.

“Night?” He called out over the wind. It broke my train of thought, and brought my eyes onto his. He still held his serene expression, but now it was pointed at me. “I wanted to thank you for what you did back there.” Smiling soft at me, I couldn’t help but smile back. “Most ponies down here would have called for blood after what happened. But you? Instead you gave them a way to make things better.”

“You were right about things, Buck.” I called back. “It hit me when I returned to Four Peaks. I can’t be somepony who’s stuck in the past.” The words almost made him glow, and his smile grew even wider. “But between going back home, dealing with Solomon, and now what happened back in Klondike. It’s made me realize that I can’t be weak out here as well. I’ll need to fight, but only when necessary.”

The rising sun behind us finally peaked its head over the far mountains. The sudden contrast was grating on my eyes, but it’s warmth against my back felt magnificent. Buck chuckled, staring at me before he began to laugh.

“Goddesses, finally.” He put his paw over his face and leaned back.

“What?” I asked, pausing and turning around. I squint and spun myself away from the blinding light. “It’s just the sunrise.”

“No, not that.” He moaned, basking in the warm morning sunlight as well. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to meet somepony who hasn’t let the wasteland break them.” Closing his eyes, he splayed himself out as much as he could in the cramped back of the Runner. “You really are something, you know that, Night?”

I smiled and leaned back. It felt like a weight I didn’t even realize was there had been lifted from my shoulders. Climbing the side of this cold, lonely mountain in the back of the Runner, or relaxing back on the hauler. It didn’t matter where I was. I had friends, and they did appreciate me. That simple fact made me feel warmer than a thousand sunrises among the cold winds.

With a screeching, the Runner skidded to a stop along the frozen highway pavement. From the sudden deceleration, I found my head dashed against the side of the Dizzitron. My insides, while a bit better, still shot pains through me as they were tossed around. Whimpering, I rubbed at my head as I sat up.

“What the hell is going on?” I grumbled, looking over to Buck. He looked to have gotten the same treatment as I had, rubbing his muzzle with a confused look.

“Sorry!” Hardcase called out as he kicked his door open. “Gonna have to take a small break!” He flashed his normal nervous smile to me as he hopped out. “Gonna need the doc too. Laika’s awake.”

“She threw up on my fucking seat!” Lucky shouted out. Oh, I could already tell this was going to be a fun morning.

Coughing, and dripping of sick, Laika crawled her way out from Hardcase’s open door. She dropped to the ice cold ground, staring at it a moment before splattering more of whatever she’d been fed in Klondike onto the road. It was about then that Buck pulled himself out of the Runner’s bed, and walked around toward her. The second Laika laid eyes on him, she turned white as the mountain snows and scrambled back onto her legs.

“K-kakogo cherta!” Laika said, moving over toward Hardcase. “The hell are you!?” She squeaked out.

Buck stopped in his tracks. “What?” He asked. I sat there and watched as his expression sank into one of embarrassment. He looked down at his massive claws for a moment before standing tall at her. “I’m a Snow Dog, and the physician who’s been looking after you. And I intend to make sure that you aren’t going to suffer any more seizures due to your extended time spent in suspended animation.”

“Khernya!” She spat, reaching down into the empty pistol holster on her side. Oh, right. Violet had kept the gun and her helmet in the pod. With a furious stomp on the ground, she glared among us. “I’ve been patient enough with all this for you to treat me in such a way. I demand to know just what the hell is going on! Why are we not back at a Ministry Hub already?”

“Laika?” I said, turning myself around so I could stand up in the bed of the Runner. “Remember what my friend asked you before she left?” That perked her ears. “Just how long do you think you’ve been gone?”

She growled. “I don’t understand the importance of that question.”

“Two centuries. Give or take half a decade based on when you went up in your rocket.” Buck spoke up, making her gasp. “Yeah, and things down here in Equestria? They didn’t end up going so well.”

“No… that…” Laika spoke softly. It started as a wobble in her knees, a shivering shaking. I thought she might be having another seizure, but Buck didn’t even flinch. Instead of shaking all over, she dropped onto her forepaws on the cold pavement, staring down at it. “I can’t have been gone so long. You’re lying.”

“Tell me.” Buck spoke up again, making her look up at him. Her eyes were pinpricks now, shaking from fear, confusion, and sorrow. “Can you identify this vehicle?” He raised his claws, pointing to the Runner itself.

She whimpered as she looked over at the rusting wartime machine. She’d been riding in it, stumbled out of it. Yet, she hadn’t really looked at it until he’d asked her to. She studied it for a moment before shaking her head.

“No.” She simply whimpered, hanging her head again. “That means nothing.”

“It means everything. It’s because this model was developed years after your accident.” Buck sighed. “Look, if you come with us, we can explain everything. For now, if you go with us or not, you just need to know that things are different.” Holding out his paw to her, Buck’s soft, caring smile returned. However, Laika didn’t move. Quietly, she sobbed as she sat there on the road. “It’s not that bad anymore.” He said, crouching low on his haunches.

“No, it’s…” She sniffled, crying as the rest of us looked on. “It’s my family. If it has really been over two centuries, then…”

“They’re all gone, yes.” Buck nodded. “I’m sorry.” Turning to me, he smiled as his eyes wavered. “Though, there are a few of us who have had similar experiences. We can help you through this.”

“Hah.” Laika sniffled, pulling herself off the ground. She wiped at her cheeks and brushed her bright blue spacesuit off. “I don’t know what to think. But since you all are the only hope I have of getting back to somewhere I can find out, I guess I’m forced to comply.”

“Then can we please get going!?” Lucky called out from in the car. “I’m freezing here!”

“Alright, now that this has been settled,” Hardcase spoke up, shivering slightly himself. “The sooner we get going, the faster we can catch up to the others.” Turning and looking up the road, he followed it until it passed into a rocky ravine a few thousand feet up. “By the time we do however, we might already be up at Filly Crossing anyway.”

“Filly Crossing?” I asked, getting a quick nod as Laika slowly pulled herself into the Runner again.

“Yeah. The next settlement Delilah’s stopping in.” He nodded to the back of the runner as he trotted over to the open door on this side. “They’re probably already moving by now, so we may just end up being right behind them as they pull into the settlement up there. Shouldn’t be more than another couple of hours anyway.”

“Alright.” I gave a firm nod to him before turning back to Buck. He however, was standing as outstretched as he could in the morning sunlight. “Come on, Buck.” I said softly.

“Yeah.” He sighed, turning around with his relaxed smile. “Let’s go.”