Quick Stitch pulled the car back. We got out to set up camp after we were informed that Sparrow would not be back till the next day. The way the sun set, allowed for just a brief little bit of seeing it as it dipped below the clouds. This was one of two moments in the day we could actually get direct sunlight through the haze.

I was still groggy when he offered me a towel and a bottle of something. He gave me the towel, it was warm and wet but he took the bowl away thinking twice on it. He replaced the bottle with his canteen. “Here, it’s sanitized. You were sweating and fretting in your sleep.”

He was right my armor was sticky and even the stable suit felt soiled with the sweat and other things that had gotten into it. “What in Equestria were you thinking, exploding your way out? We would have had you in just moments.”

I looked up at him and groaned, “It was digesting me. I didn’t have moments, and you would have been pulling a corpse out.” I replied and took a swig of the water to my mouth only now realizing how dry it was. “And you're trying to get me out, through its mouth!”

He was taken aback by the scream and Scopola looked at me as she stepped out with a half eaten cookie in her mouth, “Sorry we didn’t get you out faster.” She hung her head and now I felt bad that I’d complained about being saved. Especially to her, none of them deserved that.

I started to get up on my own power but Nyota refused to allow it and threw me onto his back; I started to protest but I knew that any protest would just result in him having Quick Stitch insist I take a break.

“At least you didn’t frighten Snuggles, a wild manticore cub inside the car would be hilariously bad!” Pink teased at me and looked like she was hiding behind sandbags

Alguacil landed and grumbled at me, “At least you ain’t dead yet. How many folks can say they done got et’ by a manticore and didn’t die.” He was sitting on the roof on the car as it groaned against his weight. He was writing something on an old notebook that the rest of us couldn’t see.

I walked over to Nyota and curled up into him. What does Sparrow want, and why can’t we go inside? The worry was painted across my face. My brow was furrowed hard enough that my eyes had trouble being open all the way and any resemblance of happiness was devoid from me. I just glared at him but held a blank expression all at once. He reached over and softly stroked my mane.

“Well anyone that’s saying something about it obviously survived,” Nyota snarked back at Alguacil, “Thankfully we made it out okay and we have the strap; not to mention our little engineer,” he nuzzled between my ears and kissed my forehead. I have to admit, this kind of treatment was not something I wanted to ever give up. “Got the car working too.”

Quick Stitch’s horn glowed and worked over my body again as we stood outside in the cool air. “Well, as a doctor’s recommendation, can we please fight creatures from the outside from now on?”

Scopola Mina mumbled something to herself and Chifundo nudged Snuggles towards me. I moved away and absolutely refused to allow the creature near me. That thing is terrifying and honestly, I don’t want anything to do with any manticore if I can help it.

Quick Stitch lifted Snuggles in his telekinesis and pulled it away while softly petting the thing. Snuggles protested till Chifundo was offering a piece of cooked meat on a stick, which Snuggles pounced.

Scopola showed no fear in relationship to the creature as she took out some jerky and gave it to Snuggles. While the kitten ate, she scratched under its chin, “So Mister Chifundo, what do you plan on doing with this kitty cat?”

It’s not a kitty cat! It’s a baby killing machine! And it won’t always be a baby? It’s going to grow up just like it’s mother! Pink just snickered at my thoughts and seemed to be able to pet the manticore as well.

“That is a thought I have yet to finish, but leaving Snuggles would cause my soul to diminish.” Chifundo replied as they took turns feeding the one day to be monstrosity that was for now, sickeningly adorable.

Alguacil groaned at this and shoved himself upright onto the car, “No thanks! I told you not to get attached, that thing is a menace waiting to happen.”

I can’t believe I agree with Alguacil.

Scopola scoffed at him and shook her head with a certainty, “We already killed the bigger ones and we can’t just leave this thing to fend for itself. I refuse to be heartless!” She turned to Chifundo and gave him a nuzzle against the cheek, “Chifundo is a zebra of compassion, something missing from this world that we really need!”

Alguacil was fuming by now. I tried to slip away from the group and get let them decide Snuggles fate without me. Nyota grab me by the mane and shook his head. I stared at him to let me go and winced a little bit from the pain of having my mane grabbed. He glared back while not making a sound so as to not draw attention to us.

His eyes conveyed a message of needing to hear this and without saying a word between us, I relented. For his own assurance he shifted himself under me and laid me across his back, making it impossible to escape as he stood back up and we re-joined the conversation. I started to protest when he looked at me and kissed my cheek, “Sunrise, you need to stay and hear this out.”

It was like being punched in the jaw, I couldn’t protest him. I knew he was right and as much as I wanted to just be away from here; there was no escaping it. This was another challenge, I’d have to face head on.

“Manticores are dangerous wild animals! And last I checked none of yall were that one yeller pegasus mare, why—”

Quick Stitch gave him a light kick into his side and that made him shut up with a squawk, “There are documented cases of manticores being tamed in the past. I understand your trepidation, but we did make this our responsibility.”

“I am always trying to follow Sunrise’s wake, trying to detour her is not a mistake I’ll make. Our responsibility to all we meet keeps us strong, to tarry in action would be just wrong.” Chifundo speaking gave me just a little bit of sympathy for the manticore and I started to realize that my friends were acting more like family. All save for the one that had called me cute.

“Our responsibility! Our responsibility is to put that thing in the ground! I get it’s cute now but when that thing grows up; what’s ta stop it from bein’ just like its mom?’” Alguacil started to pull his gun and I moved to grab his arm preventing him from leaving it.

“Alguacil, please be better.” I looked at him as the group turned to stare at me surprised. My mind raced as I debated whether he would shoot me as well for this one. I broke the tension as I slowly pushed his gun back into the holster. “Show mercy and love before you draw your gun. It hasn’t done anything wrong yet; we can’t judge what might be, that isn’t fair.”

“Chifundo is right, it’s our fault it’s an orphans. I can understand how it feels and why it latched onto the nearest friendly creatures. It needs us and I have faith in Chifundo’s abilities.” I turned towards Snuggles and flinched as she playfully pawed at me, “Just don’t expect me to be friends with it.”

Alguacil interjected between us both verbally and physically; “Let me ask you this, any of y’all hear any stories of people havin' tamed manticores since the war ended? It's better t' be ready and prepared for a 'worst case'' scenario.” He said all this with his full air of authority and standing as erect as a soldier at attention.

Nyota growled at Alguacil and stood beside him, “Al, we get it! You don't like this. But for the love of the Goddesses, SHUT UP!”

Chifundo became visibly upset and shook his head in the way you would expect a guilt wielding mother. “It was once said to me, by a helpful elder, for balance to be seen; kill who must end, and save those you must defend.”

Pink two things, what do I do? And since when do the zebras pray to the alicorns? Pink was just as stunned as I was and didn't reply. Nyota and Chifundo stood side by side between Alguacil and the manticore. Both of them getting to their full height and trying to stare down the much stronger and larger griffin.

Scopola Mina was playing with the baby monster behind the two zebras with a smirk and seemed to be talking to no pony in particular as she spoke. “Just because no pony has tamed a manticore in a long time does not mean we can't! I want a merit badge for it, just so I can say I can!” The purring of the kitten creature and her cooing with a case of the giggles, were completely tone deaf to the stare down behind them.

Scopola please tell me you are really really high on drugs right now? I thought as she continued to play with Snuggles, ignoring the conversation behind her.

“Alguacil's instinct is to kill and survive but law is your compass and guide. Tell me what crime this creature has committed, for its life to be so quickly forfeited.” Chifundo expressed to him, trying to talk calmly and cool the tension. I started to relax because for just the briefest of moments I thought Alguacil might reach for his gun.

What would I do if they actually came to blows? How could I deal with that? How could I stop them? These were my friends and the threat of violence rising was not a comforting one.

Alguacil's talon returned to ground and I heard his gun click safe instead of drawing it. For the first time, he wasn't going to violence first. “The fact that they can cause so much harm to so many folks without a second thought. They are completely unreasonable to tame!” Alguacil’s squawk had a heavy hint of experience with it. He was speaking now like a retired elder to a new generation. “Nyota all ya ever do is try and tell me t' shut up, yet I don't treat you with that level o' disrespect now do I?” he paused his words to see if Nyota reacted or responded. Nyota just snorted and Alguacil continued his rant, “I didn't have t' look into bounties on yall, didn't have t' give Sunrise that docket on Stable-Tec either! Th' times yall've ignored my warnin's on how thing'll go and it happened like I predict'; what happens when it gets someone killed?”

His words were intentionally trying to wound all of us and Chifundo who stepped between the two of them, “Alguacil if you speak to my kin, by birth Nyota has committed the greatest of sin. Yet here we band, Nyota's morals I will stand.”

I had to stop this, before we lost a friend one way or another. I had to get them to listen to some compromise, “Alguacil, Chifundo, Nyota; stop it!” I called their names and stomped my hooves against Nyota's back as I was still laid across it.

Everyone of them turned and looked at Nyota’s back, he winced from my hooves stomping against his back and ribs. I felt him take a stutter step to ignore the pain as I waited for all of them to give me their full attention. Even Scopola Mina stopped playing and Snuggles went completely still.

“Ignoring you, we usually end up in a life or death fight. Followed by us making friends with half the ponies we were in a fight with. Then proceeding to returning to a town with a bunch of new citizens for them. On top of this, I get shot, stabbed, punched, kicked, grenaded, burned, exploded, and honestly I really am liking Med-X. I can just add partially digested to the list.”

I got all this out and dropped my head against Nyota's back petting his mohawk with my face. My cheeks burned from the poking hairs of his mane. I was crying, I had been crying the entire time. I was frozen because of the welling up emotions of my best friends openly fighting; nearly coming to blows and my reaction had been to freeze.

“Now, how'd yall think Silverfang will respond to folks comin' into town with a manticore cub in tow! I don't know how manticores work but what if it's daddy ain't dead?” Alguacil proposed pointing out the danger that an adult manticore parent might pose.

Scopola piped up with a smirked up at him and tugged on Chifundo's tail, “Well let us see what we have here,” She kept rubbing at the belly with a grin. “Well it is a colt? Nope, wait, it's a Chifundo!” I swear I heard this weird musical chime and looked around as I realized what Scopola meant.

“Al, the reason I'm telling you to shut up is because you've been harping on about this we left the garage, you haven't made a case that's going to change anyone's mind and it's getting on my nerves.” He paused and turned back to me with a half-hearted smile; then grimaced when he returned to Alguacil. “I'd rather not listen to you bitch and whine the whole way back. So please, just drop it.”

Chifundo turned around Scopola with a gasp of shock, “I must know how, I became a gender now!”

I rapped a hoof over Nyota's head, “You two would argue, till you were both blue.” I blushed and hung my head, “You made me pull a Chifundo!”

Alguacil just huffed and started to walk away, “I'm tryin' t' talk s'me damn sense int' yall and yall won't listen! I swear if not for me, yall would all be dead.”

Chifundo scoffed at him and they clearly were not listening to me as the anger levels continued to accelerate, “Alguacil, when do the actions of the mom, make us punish the son?”

Alguacil grumbled but finally let his points go as we all knew he was backed into a corner. I looked at the kitten and grimaced when it sought attention from me, “Doesn't this thing eat meat, and therefore ponies?”

“A base nature is to eat meat Sunrise, you just try to not do so. I am still concerned with all the weapons that hit you; you aren't getting enough protein.” I held my tongue on him being over protective and shook my head. I wasn’t about to give into the whole meat thing unless there was no other choice.

“A base nature is to survive, it had a mother who supervised. We observed its family situation and others take close consideration.” Chifundo explained and I was starting to understand what our Manticore-dun-dee was getting at.

I relented and nodded, “Fine, you can keep it. We killed its mother, even if she did eat me.” I shuddered hard at remembering what it was like to be inside a manticore's stomach, twice. My eyes snapped closed on their own and I talked through gritted teeth to get through the painful recollection, “If it comes down to needing to be done, I'm sure Chifundo can do what he has to.”

Chifundo looked very proud at this statement when I opened my eyes and he stared back determined, “I will do what I must, for this you may trust!”

Alguacil seemed to finally give in at this and Nyota gripped my hoof, “Hun, I'm here for you. What's wrong.”

“Bits and pieces, flashes of memories I don't have anymore. Digesting inside a manticore for one. The larger issue is realizing Coffee Stain and I were lovers every time I've come around for a long time.” I looked up at him with a guilty expression but he just smiled at me.

“That would explain her hurt expression when you failed recollection.” Chifundo spoke as he walked away to deal with his new pet.

Nyota stroked my cheek and smiled, “How many times have you been out in the wasteland love? I would be surprised if you hadn't found security in another's arms before me.” The words made the confession hurt so much less and made me actually finally smile.

“I didn't know how you would respond when I remembered it. I should have told you sooner; all of you.” I looked to my friends, blushing a bit but realizing that airing it out felt so much better than holding it in.

Nyota just ruffled my mane as the tension from our earlier disagreements abaitted and started to process our actions from the previous day. “You worry far too much about what others think, if everyone doesn't like your actions; that's tough. They can get bent.” I blinked a few times and it took a moment to process what he meant and then I hid as I hadn't told him the decision I came to while Quick Stitch had been tending me.

Chifundo came back from the manticore cub and laid a hoof on Nyota and my own shoulder, “Sunrise affairs of the heart are yours to keep or tell, Nyota's reaction speaks for your relationship to be well.” He shifted away and I felt a sense of relief. I wondered what else I needed to tell him but hadn't remembered yet.

I was genuinely surprised by their reassurances. I had completely expected the narrowing eyes of Alguacil and his growling. But Chifundo and Nyota were supporting me and the shame of things with Coffee Stain faded immediately, “Nyota, thank you. You constantly endeavor to make me love you more with how understanding you actually can be.”

My attention turned to Alguacil. His eyes were looking for answers but his face was still just has hard as a stone. “Alguacil, have you ever loved someone?”

She grumbled and spat at the ground, “If'n you mean like my parents 'showed' love toward me, then no. If'n you mean like they did toward each other, then again, no.”

I slid off Nyota without a word, he started to stop me and found my armor gave nowhere to grip. I jumped up and hug Alguacil around his neck and he was more flustered than we'd ever seen him. I wasn't sure if it was the affection or the fact I still smelled like manticore stomach, cordite, and gunpowder. “You need to open up and let somepony show you what love actually is.” I looked up at him, his feather were rough and uncared for. He didn't return the hug, it seemed like he didn't know how to react.

“Alguacil I get the way you show you care is your concern and making sure we don't get hurt but this is mine.” I explained and slowly released the hug waiting for his response as I seemed to be frying a his brain with a hug.

“If I didn't care I wouldn't offer advice but I don't know how to op'n up more.” He remained stiff as if expecting me to strike him.

I disappointed him with another tighter hug, tears forming in my eyes as the weight and depth of pain he had live with hit me. He had never felt or seen love from another creature. “Alguacil if you don't learn to hug me back, I promise I will hug you everyday no matter how uncomfortable it gets and say something nice about you when I do.” The threat was very real despite my weakened state. I wanted him to feel and be able to express himself in something besides angry squawks.

Alguacil gave me a small pat on the head and then the stiffest hug I'd ever felt. It was a start but both of us knew it wasn't enough. “Alright, is that what ya wanted?” I shook my head.

“Alguacil, we want you to open up to us. Tell us why you seem so hateful.” I replied looking up at Alguacil through my tear filled eyes.

“Fine I'll tell what made me this way!” He squawked and shoved me away to stop the hugging.

He took in a deep breath and I released the hug while the group gathered around to listen, “I had to put them down like dogs. My father's the' reason I'm missin' my right eye, he carved it out with a kitchen knife. My mother slapped me in it when I was going to the town doc to get the wound cleaned. She refused to pay him so she could get another dose of jet. I can't say what kinda folks your parents were, but they cared enough about you to try and be decent.”

He let out a long exhale and I realized how blessed I'd been. Even if it were before the megaspells, my friends hadn't been nearly as fortunate with their fates in relationship to their parents. I was certain all of them had something terrible to say about those they came from or something awful happened to them.

“Sunrise, there is a lotta orphan in the wastes, not many say their parents died while tryin' to get 'em to safety, and if'n your parents are alive, frozen like you were. It's worth trying.” He paused and leaned down. “That is why we don't mind seeking out your parents. It's something rare in the wasteland, and rarer still that they was good folks.”

Scopola Mina had approached and looked us both over before joining us in a renewed hug, “Alguacil, do not let your parents cruelty shape your whole life. There are those of us who care.” A grin spread across her face that I could barely detect as she whispered, “We're still keeping the kitty.”

We broke the second hug and I looked up at Alguacil, “It's a start, but no. I want you to learn to mean it and understand why I hug you.”

“I get why ya do it, doesn't mean I have to like it.” Alguacil replied with a frown and pushing the two of us back slightly.

Quick Stitch had been quiet for quite a bit and thankfully stepped in to save Alguacil from further discourse about his feelings. Even I felt like he had taken too much. “So when Sparrow gets here, what do we tell them about the raider's dive we just traded with?”

Scopola snickered and smiled, “Well I say the truth. I am sure our law griffin will report in and I should let the Scouts know what happened as well. SO there is no real reason to tell Sparrow if she doesn't wanna know.”

Nyota held up a hoof and shook his head, “No, I agree with Quick Stitch. Everyone should be aware of how they acted, and what is out in Taintwood. Not to mention it might turn out they aren't as bad as we thought.”

Quick Stitch stomped his hoof and looked rather determined about his position, “I don't think they should be allowed to continue unchecked. I can't say it's a good idea to try and use force to deal with them. It's really not a safe place at all.I think any outside trade or contact would at least do them some good.”

Alguacil squawked at Quick Stitch, “I'm pretty sure they aren't raiders. If they are, they're the smartest raiders I've ever run into.” He placed a talon up to his chin before continuing, “They armored up th' garage, and took steps ta keep th' wild life out, on top of that they didn't shoot at us. I think a regulator just needs ta do some investigation.” He added on with a shake of his head. “Yeah they just felt like mercs and druggies, I didn't see any raider decor around it.”

Quick Stitch nodded in agreement and seemed to be satisfied by this, “Even if there were no obvious signs maybe an investigation and a trade caravan?”

Chifundo smiled and nodded, “Then to sparrow we talk about her giving a trade walk!” I felt better now that we had come to an agreement regarding the place in Taintwood. We didn't even know the name of the settlement.

Scopola nudged me, “Why not get on the radio and see what DJ Pon3 says about you?”

I smiled and nodded, I'd take a listen tonight once we got settled in. Maybe he could give some perspective.

“I'd say no to trade till some proper recon is done and the investigation regulator does their thing.” Algaucil stuck his chest out all proud of himself, “I've done my job right if I put enough fear in their hearts that they stop from being raiders. ”

Well he was right, if we had stopped them from being raiders maybe they would develop into a settlement like Silver Fang or The Roof. I realized I hadn't tuned into Blackhawk's frequency since we'd been in Taintwood. I would need to fix that tonight, I set an alarm on my PipBuck while they continued to talk and discuss the fate of the place we had just been.

Something was nagging at me and while I stared into my PipBuck, everyone got very distant.

I was back in my own home. Mom and Dad were seated at the table staring at me. It was like I had just announced I was pregnant without ever introducing them to a stallion-friend. “Sunrise what were you thinking!? How long have you been in this deal with Pinkie Pie?” My father demanded standing up and stamping his hoof on the table hard enough that the plates physically lifted from it.

I winced at him and realized I had started a family fight. They hadn't know that Silver Zoom was using me for bait. They didn't know Pinkie Pie was using me as an agent to catch 9, 88, and 71. They asked who had saved me the week before and why I'd had used a grenade; I had told the truth.

“Since we went to Canterlot and I was whisked away from the party.” I replied looking away, rather ashamed I had deceived my parents.

“Dammit Sunrise, I get the ministries don't get along all the time, but I had no idea my own daughter would be working against me!” Rainbowrise declared and stomped over and stood in front of me. “Explain yourself right now!”

I looked down, unable to meet his stern gaze that cut me down to the soul. “Dad, I was under the impression I didn't have a choice. Pinkie can be very persuasive,” He forcefully pulled my chin and made me look into his eyes. He motioned with his other hoof for me to continue. “I thought it was the only way to stop them from tormenting us.”

There was a pause in the house as my mother came over and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “listen you were right about how the ministries treat zebras. I feel I'm right about this, we aren't going to get through this by not communicating what is going on.”

My dad grimaced in frustration and his eyes slammed closed under a furrowed brow. “I thought I'd done my job in Canterlot and this would be resolved. Just like when they took her the first time for interrogation.”

I didn't want to burst his bubble but I had to do say something, mom was right. “Dad, you didn't get me out of being sent to a friendship camp or worse.” He opened his eyes stunned at the words, he reached up and gripped my shoulder, his face searching for the answer desperately. Even mom was caught off guard.

“Sweetie, what haven't you told us?” Mom asked and reached up to loosen my dad's grip on my shoulder before he bruised me.

“While they were interrogating me, a pony named Apple-Bloom from Stable-Tec came in and gave me an injection. She said I was now under her jurisdiction and the Ministry of Morale had no right to attempt to challenge her on it.”

My dad's jaw dropped and he looked at my mother, who nodded to him. He reached into his work jumpsuit and pulled out a couple of slips of paper. “I had thought my work for The Ministry of Wartime Technology had granted us entry.” On the paper were several Stable-Tec logos and the number 43 notarized in obnoxious yellow. “But it appears you are the reason we've been granted entry in the event of the worst. I think it's time we all came clean about what I've been working on and your interactions with the Ministries.”

My mom nodded to him and nuzzled his cheek, “It's the only way we can know for sure what is actually going on.” She paused and turned her gaze to me, “Regardless if you have your cutie mark or not; we're gonna have to treat you like an adult, you understand what that means Sunrise?”

I nodded softly and dad moved his hoof to give me a soft hug. “Alright. So Sunrise, tell us everything.” So I told them, all of it. All the interactions with Pinkie Pie, Princess Celestia, Silver Zoom, what was actually going on with the Ministry of Morale; all of it. I didn't skip the parts of torture even if they knew already. When I finished both my mother and I turned to Rainbowrise and he nodded.

“My turn I guess, I'm working on a device to achieve immortality for our soldiers.” Immortality was impossible wasn't it? At least not for anypony except the alicorns, right?

“Immortality? What? How?” Before he could explain he and mom became distant. So very distant that I couldn't hear what he was saying and I was back in the wasteland.

Scopola Mina and Nyota were both shaking me as I snapped out of the memory. I looked at them and smiled, “Sorry just, remembering something. I'll be alright in a bit.” I stretched out and realized my body must have not moved the entire time I was back with my parents.

I wasn't sure how I was certain this was real but it had to be right? In the memories I had no control, no feeling, no ability to make a decision. Here if I lifted my hoof, which I did just then to look at it. I lifted it by choice, not because the memory said so.

I blinked away the feelings and finished my stretching while my friends looked on me with concern, “I just need a stretch see, we can talk it over around dinner, right?” I looked at Scopola Mina to try to get some reassurance and confirmation. I didn't know how long I had been out of it but at least I could deflect long enough to get some time to process what just happened.

Scopola Mina brightened up and looked in the distance at the reflections of the setting sun through the cloud layer, “I'm sure I can whip something up if you wanna take a stretch with mister Nyota.” She smiled to Nyota with a bit of a glint in her eye.

Nyota silently grabbed me by the hoof and led me away from the group. He turned back to Scopola, “I'm sure a walk and talk isn't out of the question, let us know if Sparrow shows up.”

My armor noisily creaked and ground against its plates as we walked away. I could feel the frazzling of the experience with my parents still reflecting upon me. I had lied to them or at least not told the whole truth to that point. They had done what they thought was best but hadn't known about my deal with Pinkie Pie or Apple-Bloom nor the reason why Silver Zoom had been hanging around us so closely.

I couldn't repeat that mistake. I needed to tell the whole truth to my friends today. But first I needed a clear head. Nyota led me out of earshot of our group so we could talk privately through. “Thank you, yes it would be nice to walk and talk.” I replied, gripping his hoof tightly and looking him over. He had saved me at least twice so far that I could count, how many more times before I would say how I really felt about him.

“Come on Sunrise, we can do some form practice over here, where no one can really see us.” He explained and I looked up at him with a shake of my head.

I stood up on my hind legs, still getting used to the poses and positions he had taught me, “We aren't here for form practice, really, are we?”

Nyota starting moving his hooves and I knew that was my queue to follow his motions. “We are, but I think talking while we practice would help. You looked terribly shaken up and it took a great deal to snap you out of whatever it was you were experiencing.” He used his hind legs to make a circle around us and indicated to not move outside the circle. “What shook you up so badly?”

I started stretching and adjusting to the heavier weight of the new armor mixed with learning the Zebrican martial arts. “You mean dying inside the manticore or the fact I deceived even my parents about what the Ministries and Stable-Tec were doing before the megaspells?” My usual cheer was gone and I was very somber in tone. I could feel how heavy the frown weighed on my face and how much all of this was eating at me.

His usual confidence faltered almost immediately. Recent events had shaken loose my memories, it was like a slowly crumbling wall inside my own mind. I was starting to see through the cracks. Pink was unusually silent and not commentating on anything, she was present. I could feel her and sense her listening but she wasn't making it where I could see or hear her.

“Nyota, there is a whole lot to unpack,” I lowered my guard and stood on my rear hooves. I was starting to find my balance with this stance. “I mean, I remember it so clearly, the death inside the manticore; it was real.” I could still taste the acids and I wasn't sure if they were recent or the memory.

“I can see why that would bother you, I wouldn't be nearly as chipper as you, knowing that I keep coming back every time I die.” He stepped over and took the stance in front of me and we began our dance in slow punches. Every time I moved wrong he would adjust it and help me block correctly then show me how to strike back in kind. “Your resilience to the insanity of your life is yet another thing to admire. Please Sunrise, have faith in your friends. Okay?”

I was clumsy with my movements as he spoke. My body felt weak from earlier still and the brutal arithmetic of hoof to hoof combat was still foreign to me. Even in slow motion, it looks like I could genuinely hurt some pony. “Nyota,” I stopped our motions and slowly wrapped my hooves around him, missing the block but it certainly didn't hurt as this speed. He adjusted his hoof to caress my cheek. “You are too perfect,” I whispered softly in his ear as I starred back at our friends, particularly Chifundo playing with the manticore cub. “I don't think I'll ever be comfortable with Snuggles near me.”

He held me close and nodded softly, “If it comes to a choice between the cub and your comfort with the rest of us,” He followed my eyes and turned his head enough to look back at Chifundo. “The manticore can go, Chifundo will understand. I only really spoke up to irritate Alguacil and because you’re rubbing off on me.”

I looked at him and shook my head in disagreement. “It did nothing wrong, I shouldn't be terrified by it. I just, ya know, being digested alive isn't comforting at all and it's mother was well...” I trailed off and separated from our embrace, trying to find my balance again. “That was the first time the possibility I might die came to me. All the other times, I was certain I would be okay.”

He helped me into the stance and took a few blinks as he made sure I had proper balance and wouldn't falter then resumed our very slow motion faux combat. “Well at this point I can say you've taken a lot of effort to throw yourself into harm's way for everyone else. It's just now sinking in that can be dangerous?”

I nodded as I got the block correct and we moved on to the next strike, “Sunrise maybe you should put yourself first more often instead of being so quick to sacrifice yourself to save others? I love you and I don't want to lose you.” He was phrasing himself very carefully, almost stumbling over his words to avoid the very fumbling he was doing. “Don't take this the wrong way, I have become quite fond of the idea of spending the rest of my life with you; cutting that short now would be a tragedy.”

My stance completely dropped and his slow motion strike pressed into my cheek as I felt my face flush completely. I simply stood there blinking while his hoof pressed at the corner of my mouth. “Did you just, what I think you said?” I asked him, almost falling over backwards from him pressing against me if not for his other hoof moving to catch me. “We haven't, you haven't,” I stammered out words trying to find something to say and not finishing a sentence several times over.

He just softly brought me close and stroked my mane, “I've said it before, I want to settle down, start a farm, feed people with the love of my life.” He lifted my chin up and looked into my eyes, carefully removing his eye patch so I could see the cosmos of his star sighted eye. “Right now, I'm certain I want you to be that love.”

I took a step back and dropped down to all fours, looking up at him, very coyly. I was studying his every feature and staring into that eye before the schoolgirl blush finally overtook me. “You really know how to make me feel like a million bits.”

He blushed back and wrapped his hoof around my head to softly caress through my mane, “I try and until I met you, my dreams were all the same. Reliving that day I lost everything, every night. Then one night I actually slept, holding you. I dreamt of rolling hills filled with plants and a simple fence. I sat on a porch and a pair of soft green legs with little white hooves draped around my shoulders. I saw your face in that dream,” He paused to take in a long breath. “I don't know if it will come to pass but I would like it to.”

The picture he painted I could see it. I wanted it to. It felt so appealing to live a simpler life. Maybe not exactly as he described it but certainly felt beautiful. The shock and trauma of the day faded away as my mind raced with the possibility of happiness. My hooves slowly reached up and I embraced him, feeling a need to protect him as much as he did me. “I would like that.”

“Well I wouldn't make the offer if I didn't mean it. I'm not asking you to drop it all now and start but in the future, if you'll still have me?” He stroked my head softly and I pressed into his chest, the smell of sandalwood a very welcome one as we smiled at each other when I looked up at him. The apprehension was gone and instead we were exchanging a genuine feeling of loving embrace between each other. It felt so nice, his warmth, listening to his heartbeat with one ear, staring into his eyes and imagining the possibilities. A life of peace, was it possible still in the wasteland?

“Nyota, I'd be honored to be yours.”

Fan Art of the Chapter:
By Maxwell

By Dawnfire

Progress to Level 10: 19%

Quest Perk Gained: Nerd Rage, Sunrise Edition - When you drop below 30% HP or your lover falls in combat, your strength because 13 and you gain 10 DT! "Let's take this all the way to 13!"