“Thank you for finally seeing me, Princess Luna.” I bowed as far as my neck would allow. The midnight blue alicorn shuffled through a few pages on her desk, stamped all of them, and levitated them into a bin labeled “Approved.”

“Subsidiary, right? I hope your request is as urgent as you made it sound,” Luna said. She had yet to look directly at me, instead occupied with the mess of papers on her desk.

“It is!” I announced, louder then expected. “Ahem... I work for Flim Flam Industries, as an accountant, and I found some irregular purchases. Management always ignored my complaints so I decided to do my own investigating.”

Luna stopped working and gave me her full attention.

“And, uh…” I stumbled. Luna’s eyes were as beautiful as the night sky and they were directed on me. I looked away as my cheeks grew hot and pulled out the papers I acquired from FFI HQ, along with my other findings. I levitated them over to her desk.

“What are these?” Luna took them with her starry magic.

“One of them is a list of unaccounted materials. The other is a list of materials being requisitioned for a project called “Statuette Re-Creation.” It’s almost a perfect match. I believe Flim and Flam are charging you to develop things for their own interests.”

“Do you have any evidence for that accusation?”

“Just those documents, and given their history-”

“I am well aware of their past transgressions.” Luna placed the papers inside her desk. “But you should understand how I would be willing to give another chance to somepony, despite their past.”

I swallowed and bowed down. “I meant no offense Princess.”

Luna stood and paced closer to me. I kept my bow, until a warm and comforting hoof touched my shoulder. I lifted my head to see Luna smiling down at me.

“That being said, this is a matter worth looking into. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”

The burning in my cheeks turned into a raging fire. “Not a problem, Princess.”

“Unfortunately, I am currently busy with other matters. Please be patient in this regard, and continue normally.” Luna nodded at one of her guards and the door behind me creaked open.

“I… I understand, Princess” I took a final bow and left. I felt as if I were flying through clouds as I moved through the palace. I had done it, and now I had the feeling Luna wanted me to investigate further. After all she said it was worth looking into and she was too busy. She also told me to “continue normally”. I giggled, realizing I was on a personal mission from Princess Luna herself.

I awoke abruptly as I slammed against the floor, Nibble’s hoof hung over the side. Bed hog. I smiled as I recalled last night's activities, my smile growing wider recalling the dream. I saw Princess Luna! She was tall, elegant, and her mane waved with what I imagined the night sky to look like. These dreams were something else, so vivid they could almost be confused with reality.

Luna called me Subsidiary. I've heard that name before… I played through my memories until finding the match. I’d read through a terminal entry at the Flim Flam Industries office back at Furlong written by a Subsidiary and weirdly enough she was an accountant. A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled the audio file I found with the orange injection, “Some nosy accountant…” Have I discovered the fate of Subsidiary all these decades later? Caught and dealt with by F.F.I moments before they themselves were caught. Maybe my mind made the connection before me and is now dreaming up how it all went down... still, what a crazy coincidence...

The door to the bathroom opened and steam billowed out. Gale emerged with a towel wrapped around his mane. He glanced over at me, then to the bed Nibble occupied. He smirked as my cheeks flushed.

“You better shower before she wakes up or you might never have a chance,” Gale teased.

“Right.” I got up and tried to act casual as I trotted over to the bathroom.

“Here, I used all the towels in there.” Gale levitated a towel over to me. “You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to mohawk your mane.”

“Thanks.”

“Oh and Ardent,” Gale said, causing me to pause. “You’re both terrible at being quiet.”

Leaving Tenpony had been bittersweet, mainly bitter. My story so far had been filled with pain, blackouts, my own incompetence, and a great deal of suffering, not just from the ponies I met but also from what I learned of ponies in the past, and though there had been moments of respite Tenpony had provided some of the best moments in my life. I promised myself I would come back if I ever got the chance.

We had met back up with Melody who seemed delighted at our return. She also didn’t mind carrying Mangle, easier than a whole caravan full of ponies I supposed. Clover scoped out the higher floors of each building we passed, checking to see if they had anything worth looting.

I frowned down at the grime that had already caked up around my hooves from trotting along the streets of Manehattan, which was only made worse when we had to maneuver around still-burning craters of green balefire that emanated radiation. Nibble slipped over a piece of rubble with a cute, “Oofh.”

“Maybe we should turn back and I can help scrub that out,” I suggested, helping her up and noting the streak of grime on her side.

“Are you flirting with me?” Nibble asked.

“Maybe.” I flicked my tail, feeling a little awkward.

Nibble brought her hoof to my cheek, her eyes reflecting all the naughty thoughts in her head, but then broke out into a laugh. “So it takes sleeping with you before you realize you can flirt.” She gave me a playful nudge.

I flushed and checked if the others overheard, but if they did, none of them appeared to care. I rubbed my neck. “Speaking of last night, how often might stuff like that happen?”

Nibble glanced up in thought. “Well last night wasn't exactly the safest night for me but I figured we could both use the distraction. I should have waited another week though.”

“What do you mean “safest”?”

“I mean…” Nibble placed a hoof over her stomach.

What is she- Oh! Ohhhhh… A weight filled my chest.

“Hey don't sweat it!” Nibble said, seeing my distress. “It was a safer week and I'm sure were fine.”

“But-”

Nibble put a hoof to my lips. “I'll let you know if for some reason that's not the case, but until then don't worry. Okay?”

I nodded and she trotted off with a smile. Although I may have kept the thought of me suddenly becoming a father out of my mind because I trusted Nibble’s judgement, I failed to keep my thoughts drifting to parents, and my parents in particular.

Frustrated I did the next best thing and turned off my thoughts for awhile. I slipped into my trance, focusing on my vision. The new ability of having raw reaction time in the trance still intrigued me. I maneuvered the terrain easily despite having my increased visual enhancement. I focused my sight around the area, zooming in on meaningless things. The waiver of green flame, debris falling from age, Nibble’s flanks… the last one stealing most of my attention. Eventually we came to fallen chunk of the Luna Line. The broken piece of bridge blocked off the street, but had been kind enough to break at an angle creating a makeshift path up which we had to climb, which I easily accomplished without leaving my trance. A few moments after the fact I exited my trance and my thoughts caught up with me.

I can apply strength when in my trance? It happened again! Suddenly limitations on my trance had disappeared. I face-hoofed. Had I been paying any attention, I would have realized this yesterday when I tore a chunk of the table off while listening to Clover discuss finding my parents. What changed? I thought back and only one thing stood out. The injections? Could they be altering how it works? I don't even understand how I got this ability, hell I didn’t even know it was unique to me until Shot Chaser found out. How could they possibly affect it?

I tested further by slipping in and out of my trance, focusing on different sensations. I tested my hearing for a while, focusing on the flap of Clover’s wings or each unique clop from the other four’s hoofsteps. Nibble and Melody’s steps were clunky as they trotted about while Gale and Mangle’s were much softer, elegant even.

I left my trance and the thoughts caught up. My heart started to race as I stared at Mangle, still riding on top of Melody. The fourth set of hoof steps I heard were right behind us. The ghoul!

Trying to remain calm, I glanced behind me to find that the road was empty. But… I slipped into my trance again and searched for the hoof steps, finding them right behind me like before, but the hoofsteps were wrong. Even in my trance I could barely hear them, as if they were far away. When I tried to track them down the noise disappeared completely. I ended the trance. Who is behind me! I broke out into a cold sweat and took another glance over my shoulder. Nothing, but how? Was the ghoul invisible on top of his other crazy ability?

I slipped back into my trance and found the shallow hoofsteps again. When I stopped, they stopped. When I moved, they began again with a short delay. I ended the trance and formed a plan. Worst case scenario I look completely crazy. Well, crazier.

I spun, dashed forward, and reached out. My hoof connected with something solid, grasping at the figure, I pulled and in a flash a zebra with an elegantly done up mane apparated before me while I held onto a cloak. The zebra appeared as shocked as me.

“Who are you?” I yelled, making sure to draw the attention of the others. All of them hesitated upon seeing the zebra, whose shocked expression intensified.

When she saw the rest of Elpis start to move in she took action and landed a quick jab on my chest which momentarily stunned me. She snagged the cloak out of my grasp and took off into one of ruins. She donned the cloak causing her to disappear.

“What the fuck just happened?” Mangle shouted.

“What was that gibberish you yelled?” Gale asked.

I shook myself free of temporary stunned state. “I asked who they were.”

“No you didn’t,” Nibble said. “You yelled a bunch of nonsense.”

“Does it matter? Shouldn’t we be worried about the zebra?” I flung a hoof out, pointing in the direction she ran off.

Clover inspected the zebra’s hoofprints and tracked them for a bit before returning with a suspecting look in his eyes. “She's gone,” he said, “The only interesting thing left is you.”

“Me?” I stepped back, but judging by the way everypony regarded me, I guess they all agreed with Clover.

“How exactly did you know they were there?” Clover asked.

“Well… I…” My mouth went dry. “I can amplify one of my senses at the cost of the others,” I blurted out.

The others looked like they were ready to put me in a straight jacket. I went on a rant, doing my best to explain the basics. I gave a few examples and after a couple times of them testing my enhanced hearing they began to understand.

“So that’s what was up with your eyes,” Mangle nodded.

“Hey,” Nibble whined. “You said you couldn’t do magic!”

“I can’t.” I rolled my eyes.

“Sure sounds like magic.”

Clover didn’t say anything, instead he simply stared. I recognized the look from back at the Flim Flam lab, right before he freaked out. He was reevaluating me.

“Does this have anything to do with your perfect memory?” he finally asked.

“Perfect?” I failed to understand why Clover used that word. Memory was just memory, it was always perfect.

“Nibble give me the magazine you were going to give to Ardent.”

“Uhhh, sure.” Nibble reached into her bag and produced the magazine. Clover grabbed it, flipping to a random page and placing his hoof on a line, only showing the others.

“Ardent, recite page thirteen, paragraph three,” Clover ordered.

What's he getting at? Nonetheless, I searched my memory and brought up the page. “Due to some outrageous incidents and contrary to common sense we must remind our readers that any jokes we make about cooking grenades are completely metaphorical and should never be taken literally.”

Nibble and Gale stared at me in disbelief.

“Well,” Mangle said. “Is he right, or what?”

“Matched every word,” Gale told her.

“I knew his memory was good, but…” Nibble scratched at her messy mane. “You only glanced at it.”

Oh no. This is the whole realizing the ability to enhance senses thing all over again.

“Wait, just to make sure, are you saying not everypony can bring up their memories and play them back.” I asked. My mind raced to find all the times not having perfect memory made sense. Why ponies loved having the physical magazine, why they wrote down their passwords, how they forgot other ponies names.By Luna, how can I be so dense?

“I'm saying no other pony can do it.” Clover gave the magazine back and turned to face me. “Except you.” His chin lifted to stare down at me. “Care to explain?”

“I can't,” I replied. “I've had these abilities for as long as I can remember. The only ponies that might have answers are my par...” In that moment I discovered the real reason I wished to find my parents. If anypony knew why I had perfect memory, or how I could manipulate my senses, it would be them.

“How interesting,” Gale said as he pulled a small flashlight out from his saddle bag. “Did you say you play your memories back? That's not eidetic memory, it's something else.” He shined the light into my eye. I'm starting to hate that light.

I stood still as Gale did his quick check up. “Yeah, it's like reliving whatever memory I want. What's eidetic memory?”

Gale put the light away. “It basically means everything you see gets placed in long term memory, making something you've only seen for a moment easy to remember, but your experience sounds more like a memory orb.”

“Alright,” Clover announced. “If any other pony wants to tell me about special powers they've been keeping hidden, now's the time. I won't get mad... Gale, how about you? Can you read minds or something? It would explain a few things.”

Gale whinnied, “Sorry, just my normal repertoire of medical skills and above average charisma. I'll keep you updated though if I gain any super powers like the others, though.”

Super powers? Did Gale really think my powers were special. I mean, apparently my memory was, but it’s not all that useful for the usual activities Elpis got involved in, like a firefight.

“Well if nopony has anything else,” Clover concluded.”It's time for a scavenging mission.”

Clover had found some sort of raider holdout. The front door was painted with multiple daggers and warnings written in blood. He explained raiders would have more loot than any of the bug-infested ruins, but if this place did have raiders we had yet to run into any. The place also lacked normal raider decor, in fact, the interior had a distinct lack of dismembered body parts and foul odors. A few skeletons, but I doubted the raiders had anything to do with them.

According to Gale the place was called a ‘condo’. The first floor had rooms dedicated to recreation, a study, a greenhouse, and a den with a pool table. Above were going to be something like apartments but bigger, like multiple houses stacked together.

I went into full swiping mode. Almost every nook and cranny I looted contained a hooffull of caps. Even with my new position of cap holder I began to feel bad for taking all of them, so instead I decided to start leaving a few behind, not a lot, but enough for a sandwich or something. Hopefully somepony in the future would appreciate my good gesture.

Eventually we came across the stairs to the second level and Clover decided to have us split up. Clover and I went upstairs while the others stayed to search the rest of the first floor.

“Clover,” I started as we ascended. “I never meant to hide the trance thing from you. I thought it was a useless ability, and with everypony already thinking I'm possibly crazy… Also if Shot Chaser never told you about it I thought it might be better to just keep to myself.”

Clover showed no reaction to my excuses and instead just kept his eyes forward, but after a moment spoke up, “Shot Chaser knew too huh? Guess that would be my fault for thinking you were just some earth pony soon to die.”

He sure doesn't sugarcoat anything. A pit in my gut started to form thinking about the day Shot Chaser let me leave. “Did he... seem worried about me?”

Clover gave the slightest shrug, which only made that pit grow deeper. “I'm not the best judge for such things, now focus on the mission. Understood?”

“Understood,” I complied in words alone as we reached the top of the stairs. Another set of stairs continued up.

“I'm heading up. You search this floor,” Clover ordered.

Wait, Clover wants me to search this floor alone?

“Stop!” I yelled in a panic. Clover glowered at me for making such a loud noise. I tried to control my fears of being abandoned and thought up an excuse. “Is it wise to split up, I mean, what if I run into a bunch of raiders?”

Clover raised an eyebrow and scanned over my battle saddle and Pip-Buck. I wracked my brain trying to come up with another reason to stick together, but was surprised when Clover placed a hoof on my shoulder. “Ardent, when I told you the policy of what would happen if you tried to run from Elpis I made the consequences clear, but in doing so I may have distorted what I meant. You are part of Elpis, you can't run, but it also means you are part of us. We will not abandon each other. Understood.”

Ever since my time alone at Dust I feared to return to that; nopony finding me useful to the point I could be abandoned without notice. Even during my time with Shot Chaser the subconscious fear always kept me motivated to become increasingly useful. My time in Elpis had kicked that motivation into overdrive but Clover finally told me the words I’d always yearned to hear.

“Understood,” I answered, trying to keep the overwhelming relief back, even though I could feel the burning wetness in my eyes.

“Guess I can't rely on a barmaid to keep it together and focus on the task at hand.”

My jaw clenched. He just had to ruin it. My tears evaporated as my defiance soared. “Yes I can,” I mumbled and turned away to scout the floor without him.

I kept a close eye on my EFS, a futile effort since many of the red specks probably weren't even in the building. I entered the master bedroom to one of the suites, taking note of the “Better Wiped Than Stripped” propaganda poster on the wall depicting a brave stallion standing over a mass of dead zebra corpses. It was illuminated by an active computer terminal, which only had one message saved on it. I skimmed through, pulling out key words: “Get well soon… one of our favorite nieces... love Aunt and Uncle Orange.” None of the words I picked out interested me so I left the message virtually unread. If it turned out to be important later on I could look at the rest by replaying my memory.

Built into the floor next to the desk was a safe. There were no commands on the terminal to open it, so I pulled out Nibble’s lockpick tool and placed it inside the dial’s keyhole. I slipped into my trance and fiddled with the levers, but even in this state I couldn’t feel any changes in tension. Another safe out of my league. I shrugged, not letting it bug me.

After searching about half the floor my defiance calmed and I reflected on the conversation with Clover. He had been uncharacteristically nice to the point my clear mind found unbelievable. That's when I realized Clover had used my barmaid nickname to manipulate me, and it wasn't the first time he had done it. Back in Furlong he had called me barmaid so I would perform my tricks. Had he been paying enough attention during the other times I had been called barmaid to know how it affects me? Does that mean the whole abandonment speech was bullshit too?

A muffled struggle slipped through an elegant set of double doors trimmed with brass. I placed my ear to it and heard what sounded like two ponies fighting. Before entering, I checked my Pip-Buck but only saw red dots. Could they be fighting each other or is Clover not showing up? He could be surrounded! I bucked the door open and immediately regretted it.

There were at least half a dozen raiders. The massive hall had tables pushed around to form a ring under a glass chandelier. The noise of struggling came from two young stallions fighting in the center, both wielding blunt instruments in their mouths. All the raiders in the room turned their attention to me, then picked up a variety of melee weapons.

Shit.

I entered SATS and picked my targets. Since none of them had a gun I assigned all three of my shots to different enemies, one by the kitchen in case he went for cover, and the two closest to me. The shots took off, hitting each target in the head, one catching a raider in the mouth and leaving a hole in the back of his throat.

I attempted to manually fire while SATS charged, but the moment I bit down a hollow click followed. I bucked, the battle saddle rotated the clip, and I fired again, only to have the click repeat. What the? I searched my HUD and found the problem. I had no ammo left at all. Oh, shit! I never bothered to check on my ammunition since we lost the caravan. I backed up and turned to run, but two more raiders showed from the way I came. Shit, shit, shit.

A raider from inside took a swipe at me with a pool cue. I rolled out of the way and bee lined for the kitchen, jumping over a raider’s corpse. I slammed and locked the door behind me, but my ears dropped discovering the kitchen didn't connect with anything.

One of the raiders started to yell, “Looks like yer’ out of ammo boy!” As he spoke I searched the drawers and cupboards, but besides more caps and a few cans of food I found nothing of use.

“Tell ya’ what, if you bring your ass out here, I'll face you one-on-one in the ring. Make us chop down the door and we’ll take turns at ya before killing ya.” A collective laugh rang out.

That sounds like an obvious lie. With no other real option though I unlocked the door and let it creak open. To my surprise the raiders had taken their seats and started stomping in unison as I made my way out. I literally just killed three of them. How can they act like this? Two sat in front of the door to the hall, blocking my exit, so I moved into the ring. Countless spots of dried blood stained the floor and broken chunks of bone were swept to the outskirts. I realized by the wide smiles on the raider’s mouths that those bones were actually teeth they must have lost while fighting.

“Looks like the kid’s actually gots some balls!” the raider jeered. He stood at least a head taller than me and was made of pure muscle. Why the fuck didn't I shoot this guy! No wonder they let me waltz out, I'm dead either way.

“Pick the weapon you wanna die wit’.” The blackened raider showcased a rack full of short range weapons. He selected a metal hammer I doubted I could even lift. I bit down on the handle of a short blade and pulled it from the rack.

This being the first time wielding a real weapon in my mouth, aside from wooden sticks when I was a foal, I had not been biting down hard enough to securely hold the sword. It fell to the ground with a clank and the raiders guffawed. Had they not planned on killing me I might have found the humor in it as well. I leaned over and bit down on the leather-wrapped hilt until it stretched.

I moved to the opposite side of the ring and formed a plan; well, more like a last ditch pathetic idea. I slipped into my trance and focused on my vision, the world almost slowing as every detail became defined and easy to focus in on. The raider muffled something past the weapon in his mouth, which I couldn't make out since my trance was focused on sight. He started to circle around the arena, and I kept my distance while matching his stride. He stomped his hoof and charged.

He took a wide swing, but given how easily I could see the moments coming I ducked under it. He recovered and took a powerful downward swing, which I jumped aside from. His weapon out-ranged mine and his sweeping attacks kept him safe from my blade. The raider rushed in again and we repeated the series of swings and dodges while I became accustomed to fighting while in my trance.

This stallion was far stronger than me, his downward strikes cracking the floor. He was much faster than me, his swing visibly pushing the air around it. He was also so damn predictable.

I slipped under one of his wide swings and during his recovery lunged forward, bringing my blade across his neck. I had not been prepared for the resistance of cutting into him and the blade shifted. I clenched down harder to compensate but had to be careful that the discomfort in my jaw didn't tear me from my trance. After my attack I turned to see if the cut had been enough to kill him. The massive stallion stood as if I had done nothing to him, but I focused on the spot on his neck where stray hairs still fell from my slash. A crease opened up along the cut as blood gushed out. His head continued to fall to the side until his spine caught the remaining flesh, leaving his head dangling as his body dropped.

All the raiders watching picked up their weapons and jumped into the ring. I focused on the closest pony first, one of the younger ones, having only just jumped in when I lunged. This time I turned my head as I attacked and the blade slid with little resistance through the entirety of his neck. The raider’s head slipped off and a fountain of blood sprang forth.

The others grouped up and attacked together, but even with all of them I could see an opening. I slipped past each attack by mere inches and managed to drag my sword across a raider mare, her insides spilling out.

Only three remained, rallying together for another attack and aiming for my legs. I jumped past the attacks and thrust my blade downward into the top of one of the raiders skulls. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a hammer wrapped in magic and its unicorn owner smiling devilishly. Being mid-air I could not avoid the attack, only watch in slow motion as it connected with the side of my head.

The pain ripped me from my trance and all my thoughts caught up in a burst. I can do this-Dodge-Duck-Dive-Dodge-Now-Oh that's gross-Shit-By Luna, I might be able to pull this off-Jump-What, where did the unicorn come from-Shit-Shit-SHIT!

I lost the blade in the raider’s skull and slammed into the ground. Everything moved too fast for me to react as the raiders turned and swung their weapons down. A pool cue cracked over the side of my barding, which protected me from any real damage, but the other raider landed his bat across my unarmored leg. I cried out.

In a flash of red, the two ponies standing over me dropped, the smell of burnt flesh fuming out of the laser holes in their heads.

Clover stood on one of the seats and clopped his hooves in mock applause. “You were doing so well.”

I got up and put pressure on my injured leg. It throbbed in protest but still worked fine. “Just how long have you been sitting there?”

“Not long, but I've been listening since the big guy called you out.”

“And you didn't bother to-” I took in the sight before me. Carcasses filled the area and all but three of them I had killed. Blood still sputtered out of the decapitated raider. I gagged seeing the mare’s body, she had died trying to push her organs back in.

Clover flew down over the raider my blade was stuck in. “You're more effective with a blade.” He grabbed the hilt in his mouth and tugged, the raider’s body spasming as the blade slid out of his skull with a wet squelch. Clover wiped it free of blood on the raider’s barding.

My stomach lurched and I rushed out of the hall, but managed to keep everything down. Clover stepped out, still carrying the blade I’d used.

“Best hang onto it.” He sheathed it into a loop on my barding where I could easily reach around and grip the hilt in my mouth. “I think we're done up here. Let's see how the others faired.”

We made our way back downstairs to find Gale pulling a sharp, blood-drenched object out of a raider’s eye. Mangle laughed uncontrollably while Nibble shook her head.

“Raiders have to be some of the dumbest creatures,” Nibble sighed. “Like, can they even be considered ponies?”

“Explain,” Clover ordered, taking the jovial moment seriously.

Mangle told the story with interspersed laughter. “We found that asshole at the end of the hall. No weapon, just a plank with a nail in it. Gale bet he could get him to run into the bone thing.”

Gale cleaned off the weapon he used. It was the quarry eel tooth piece he pulled out of me.

“So he levitated it in the middle of the hallway, in plain view,” Mangle continued, “Gale yells at the guy, something about his mother. So what does the fucking idiot do? He comes charging right at us till bam!” Mangle slammed her hoof on the ground and fell into another laughing fit.

“Almost went through.” Gale said, putting away the tooth shard.

“Why do you still have that?” I asked, remembering the pain of when it was lodged in my back.

“Makes for a handy weapon in a pinch. Or the punchline to a joke apparently.”

“Were done here,” Clover spoke up. “Excess caps go to Ardent.” He glared at Gale. “Turn them over now. We should have enough for the supplies I ordered.”

An unoccupied caravan sat between the last two skyscrapers marking the edge of Manehattan. If Clover had not mentioned we were getting a new caravan this would look like the most obvious of traps. As we approached a small metal bird hooted as it flew over us.

“Gearwing!” Nibble yelled, chasing after it.

“There she is,” Clover said, looking up.

Before I followed his gaze something painted on the side of the caravan caught my attention. “Compliments of Absolutely Everything.” My heart skipped a beat.

The ghoul pegasus landed in front of me and wrapped me in a squishy hug.

“Derpy!” I hugged back. “How have you been?”

She let go and pulled out a quill and paper, “Couldn’t be better.”

“Wow, your writing improved.”

“Like riding a scooter!”

I nodded, then paused. “... What's a scooter?”

“Almost everything I asked for.” Clover confirmed, checking the contents of the caravan. “How much do I owe you?” He hopped out and tossed Mangle and I two healing potions each, and I also got a few clips of ammo.

Derpy scribbled on her paper and brought it over to Clover. He glanced between Derpy and the paper a few times. His jaw worked before he spoke, “You may have forgotten to add a few things.”

Derpy shook her head, paused, then nodded before jotting something down. She showed Clover and he stiffened. Seeing Clover like this was surreal, especially after watching him negotiate a town out of half their supplies without paying a cap. How could Derpy be causing him so much trouble?

“Th- thank you,” he strained to say and forced a smile on his face. He cleared his throat. “Ardent, compensate Ms. Doo.” He turned tail to help Melody into the harness.

I trotted over and stole a glance at the paper. I didn't know everything Clover ordered but the price seemed impossibly low, maybe that discount she promised me had a hoof in the total. I snuffed out a giggle seeing, “A thank you and a smile.” written below the price.

Footnote: Level Up New Perk; Size Matters: +15 to weapons that require a battle saddle.