Breakfast consisted of a decade old box of cereal, some stable Apples, produce from the city that looked and tasted bad for something 'fresh', and meat from a Radhog, whatever that is. The meat tasted delicious and left my mouth watering after each bite. Once we had our fill, Torchlight and the other ranger headed back to the police station. That left the four of us to wander around Trottinghame. Boom pointed out shop after shop. Eventually we found what I assume Boom was looking for. There was a massive market right at the back of the city. Stalls lined the roads, selling all sorts of odds and ends. Some looked enticing, others felt off. Before too long, Boom gathered us in the center of the market.

"Alright! We have a few hours before we need to get going. So, I feel a bit of shopping is in order. Stock up on what we need and watch your cap bag."

We split up after that. I quickly found a book stand selling all sorts of pre-war books. None of them looked to be any good. Next was an armor stand. Most of it was too expensive but after some, rather bad haggling, I managed to buy a Stable 53 mare security banding and helmet for Nightlight. It seemed better and safer then giving her back her raider's armor.

"Oh young stallion! Would you help an old mare?"

Looking around, it took a moment to figure out the voice came from the alleyway. I walked over so I could get a better look. Her skin looked burned and her eyes had almost gone completely white. The wasteland must have been hard on her.

"Thank you, I must get food back to the children I aid. It's dangerous for an old mare alone but I'm sure with you they won't go hungry anytime soon." We traveled down the alley which was quite safe despite her worries. We reached a clearing and the old mare looked happy.

"Thank you. Now the children won't go without food. I'm sorry I can't reward you".

I gave her a nod but as I began to turn, several red dots appeared on my E.F.S. I looked back to see them. Burnt out ponies with pure white eyes. Their skin rotted like they were dead and then they charged. I was about to call out to the mare when they passed her by. It's at this point I put two and two together.

I backed up as one lunged at me. I managed to get my forehooves up in time to stop it from getting my neck. I tried to buck it off but that only allowed another to tackle me onto my back. It got at my back legs, biting down hard on the unprotected flesh. I let out a painful scream. I couldn't help but think how worthless my battle saddle in this position. So I grabbed the pistol Boom had given me and fired blindly. The bullet, to my surprise, came out like a ball of fire and shot into the air before exploding in a loud bang. It did nothing to help and the final one jumped onto my chest. I used my last free forehoof to try and hold it back but it still got a good bite on my shoulder.

I began wondering what I could do just as the thing was thrown off me with what sounded like thunder. Straining to look over, it was Stitch holding what I think was a shotgun in his magic. The thing got back up even with its stomach and intestinal track falling out around its legs. It charged at him, Bang! A shot to the chest. Tearing the rotted flesh back, Bang another shot right into its leg, ripping it free but still charging. Just as it came over me, Stitch levitated Stability out of its holster and fired it straight into the head. The thing disappeared in a flash of meat and bone.

Now with a free hoof, I was able to buck the back one right into Stitch's sight. With a steady bang, it went down. The final one gave up on getting to my neck and charged after Stitch. But found its eye shoved right into Stability and with a magical pull of the trigger, it was dead as well.

Looking at where Stitch was standing and how his magical aura was still wrapped around the shotgun, the question, like all my questions, formed.

"Sho was using Stability?"

I pulled back my head. There was an almost familiar yellow unicorn standing there dressed in what I assume is high class fashion. She slowly trotted over to the old mare who was attempting to hide in an old doorway. What followed were screams to the sound of Stability firing. The mare then proceed to walk over to me and return my revolver. The mare looked just like Sunny.

"Hey Slashy, good thing I saw that flare."

"Sunny!?"

This was unreal. The mare I knew as Sunny wore leather armor, carried around a sawn off and had dirty hair. This mare was clean, had a dress on and the only weapon she had seemed to be a small pistol. My question however got me a Sunny-like response.

"Yeah, it's me. Surprise! Told you I grew up in Tenpony. Aristocracy for the most part is in the blood. Besides, Torchlight knows the only way into the Royal's castle is with somepony of high class."

Stitch decided now was the best time to look at my wounds.

"The one on your back leg is the worst. Multiple bite marks with tearing of both the flesh and fur. The other wounds can be handled with magical bandages but for this leg injury, you will need a magical healing potion."

So, for the next few minutes, Stitch covered my bites with magical healing bandages before giving me a potion, which tastes awful, to heal my leg. Once that was done, we left the alley. We didn't like the idea of staying long. Torchlight, Boom and Nightlight had gathered in the central area of the market by the time we arrived. After a quick exchange of the adventure, we once again set off as a group.

"So Stable, been wondering this. How's a Pegasus like you end up in a stable below the cloud lines?"

Boom brought the question up, in my guess, to bring some conversation to an otherwise boring travel. I found it strange considering Boom met both my parents back in Stable 54. But I guess she was still confused seeing as neither were Pegasi.

"Slashwing is a result of recessive genes on his mother's side. Family records indicate her great grandmother was one of several Pegasi military members who took shelter in Stable 54." Leave it to Stitch to have an answer to something medical.

Author's Note

wish this one wasn't as short but I really didn't have much of an idea of how to write this part so thanks for reading and thanks to my editor