“Looks like I have a long road ahead of me” I think, trotting along the dusty pathway down the mountain. The air just doesn’t feel right; it just doesn’t taste as clean as the air within the stable. I look around at the barren wasteland that is now Equestria, I see what looks to be a small village just south at the bottom of the mountain that leads up to Canterlot.

“Should probably stop there for some supplies, and possibly meet a friendly pony or two”

Then suddenly the path just seems to end… “Luna damn it” I whisper, peeking over the edge. “The slope isn’t too steep, I could probably just slide down” I take off my saddlebag and levitate it down to the bottom of the slope, I can only just see the bottom in the darkness. I’m uncertain about what the ground looks like so I can’t just teleport down.

“Well here goes nothing” I say. I slip onto my side and start to slide down the slope. I dig my hooves into the dirt using them to decrease or increase my rate of descent. When I reach the bottom I pick myself up and brush all the dirt off my coat and stable barding. I feel like I have brought half the slope with me, my side is burning from the friction. I take a sip from one of my water bottles and then pour some of it onto my flank.

“Mustn’t waste too much” I consider, putting the cap back on the bottle.

I am now on the edge of a small wood; I can no longer see Canterlot. I pull up my E.F.S compass looking around until it was pointing east. Then, I can hear music getting ever closer to me. I dive into the nearest bush. A strange robot, playing what sounds like a big mish mash of instruments including what sounds like a trombone, and a harmonica. The robot stops what seems only a few metres from the bush I am hiding in. The music stops and my heart freezes, I start holding my breath, all I can hear is my own heartbeat. The strange robot starts looking around, as if it knows somepony is here. Then it starts to float off into the woods, continuing to play the strange but catchy music. My forehead is sweating bricks.

“Pheeeewww” I sigh.

I crawl out of the bush, and rub all the leaves and branches off of me. I look down at my E.F.S. I start to trot my way towards the east. The wood is dark; it feels like all the dead trees are watching my every move. Trotting through the forest, I feel like I am reliving one of my old nightmares. To my right I hear something galloping through the forest towards me, my body immediately turns my trotting into a gallop. I slide to a halt just outside the wood, I levitate the 10mm pistol in the direction I had just come from, two creatures jump out of the forest at me, claws showing.

My eyes widen, I use my magic and teleport myself about 10 metres to the right. I unload about half the rounds towards the first creature, it lets out a scream as one bullet pierces its chest and then finally stops as the last bullet penetrates its skull.

“Oh shit” I think, I barely have time to right myself before the second creature starts to charge at me. I slip into S.A.T.S “First time for everything” I say, as my perception of time almost came to a halt. “I’ve never actually used S.A.T.S before; I wasn’t the best mare in the stable when it came to using a pistol either… One again Tess your stating the obvious to yourself.” I think. I use S.A.T.S to lock onto first the head then the body and finally the back legs. Time then starts to continue as normal with S.A.T.S taking over my magic. I fire 3 bullets towards the creature. The first two miss but the third strikes home, the creature falls to the ground. It then starts running back into the woods, limping and bleeding.

“That will teach you to mess with this mare” I shout at the creature, firing off the rest of my round in the general direction of the creature as it disappears into the darkness of the woods.

Turing back around, I see the first creature, still lying dead; I walk up to it to get a better look. The smell is horrid; I think I just threw up in my mouth. The creature is about half the size of me and looks like an overgrown rat. I tap the creature with a forehoof to make sure it is dead and not going to jump at me again.

“Well you’re a retched thing aren’t you” I say to the dead animal. I swallow what was left of the flem I had almost thrown up not a second ago, and take a few steps away from the oversized rat. I take one of the spare magazines from my saddlebag and hold it up to the pistol with my magic.

“Now how did the teachers say I reload one of these again?” I ask myself “maybe… this button here?” The mag falls from the pistol and hits the floor with a thud. “Well that’s a start” I think, as I place the spare mag in the bottom of the pistol. “Now… there was one more thing I have to do? Oh yeah” I cock the pistol finishing the loading process. “That wasn’t so bad” I say to myself, pulling a smiling. “At least I know now for when I ever have to reload during combat.” I squee.

I scan the horizon, looking for anything that may also decide to attack me. Pulling back up my E.F.S I start to walk in the general direction of the little village hidden within the shadow of Canterlot.

After what feels like hours of walking, I finally reach the top of the hill that overlooks the village. “Looks more like a town now that I think about it, wonder if anypony is around” I think, squinting my eyes and taking a quick glance around the town. It looks pretty much abandoned; there isn’t a building around town that doesn’t have either a wall or part of the roof missing.

“Time check” I think, raising my forehoof to check the time “16:48” the pipbuck says it is.

“It will be getting dark soon” I think, as I look up to the sky “although I can hardly believe it can actually get any darker”

Down the hill just to the left of the town was a small barn surrounded by a vast amount of dead trees. Curiosity takes over my mind. I start to trot over to the old barn. I’m about 100 metres from the barn when my E.F.S flares up a sign in the left hand corner of my vision “Sweet Apple Acres” the sign says. As I walk into the barn I spot a computer terminal.

“Why would an old apple farm need a computer terminal” I think, as I walk up to the computer. “Let’s see here” I say pressing my hoof on one of the keys. The terminal has a password. I rub the top of my head with my forehoof, seeing the many different symbols and words on the screen. It is starting to make my head spin. I press one of the symbols. “} entry denied, 0 out of 9 correct” the more I look at this terminal the more confused I’m becoming.

“How does this blasted machine work” I shout, at the top of my voice. My stable brain just isn’t comprehending this, I give up. I trot up the wooden stairwell to the second floor of the barn. I look around and see old barrels and boxes along with 100 year old hay. I walk over to one of the boxes that catches my eyes. I take a deep breath and blow on the box, it send lots of dust and dirt into the air.

*cough cough cough* I splutter, as I try to breath in clean air.

“Property of Stable Tec, for all your stable needs” the box has engraved on it. Without thought I push the lid of the box. “Let’s see what we have here” I say, more dust is sent into the air. In the container is a load of old stable equipment, spare parts and scrap metal.

“Not what I was hoping for” I say, pulling a frown, not seeing a water talisman “Maybe I am being too ambitious” I think. At the bottom of the barrel there is a note, I levitate the note up to eye level and turn on my pipbuck light, as it is very difficult to see without any artificial lighting.

“My dearest friend Apple Bloom, here is the rest of the equipment you requested for the development of Stable 2; including a spare generator, spare flux vector, spare mainframe and some new drainage pipes, signed by a Ms Scootaloo.

My mind begins to process all this information, “What in the name of Celestia is a flux vector” I think, scrunching my nose a little, pulling a look of confusion. I place the note in my saddle bag. I look at the text on all the other boxes and barrels; they all read property of Stable Tec. They also all have similar notes inside, all giving ownership to this so called Apple Bloom of stable 2. Then realisation sets in. “There must be another stable nearby… but where?” I think. I spot a hole in the roof of the barn; I walk over to it and peer through the gap. I look over the nearby town, many thoughts start to run round my brain. “If I was a stable, where would I be? They are all meant to be in caves right” I say under my breath. I scan the horizon for a cave entrance that could lead to a stable, but it’s way too dark, I can’t see anything far into the distance.

“Oh, horse apples” I say.

Hope begins to fill me when I spot three ponies walking on the edge of the town, I pull a big smile and a squee erupts from my body.

“HEY!” I shout at the top of my voice.

Climbing onto the roof I slide down, falling off the side of the barn I use my wings to glide me to the ground. I hit the ground a little harder than I expected, shaking off the dirt I continue to try and make myself heard.

“YOU PONIES, OVER HERE!” I shout, galloping down the hill towards them. They turn toward my direction to look at me, spotting my pipbuck light.

I gasp as the three ponies draw their weapons and start to walk towards me. I abruptly come to a halt.

“DON’T MOVE!” the deep voice of the stallion shouts at me.

Before I have the chance to even think about pulling out my pistol from its holder, my own weapon is pressing right on the side of my head; in another unicorn’s levitation field.

The two earth pony stallions and the one unicorn mare form a tight triangle around me, without warning I am thrown to the ground in a levitation field, I hit the ground with a thud. It knocks the wind out of me.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here” the red stallion say in a sinister voice.

“You smell clean” the green one says sniffing at my mane.

“Fresh out of the stable are we?” The purple unicorn mare says as she looks over my stable barding. She pulls a look of confusion as she notices my wings and horn. “They shall pay double for you” she grins. I try to speak, but the levitation field is preventing me from shouting all the curse words going on in my head at her.

“What does she means pay double for me?” I think, I was in shock “Why are they doing this to me?”

“Shackles” The purple unicorn shouts over to the red earth pony.

“Yes Dixie” The earth pony, who I now assume is called Shackles, replies.

“Give her the traditional wasteland welcome” Dixie grins.

“With pleasure” Shackles replies, he starts to walk over to me, grinning.

“Enjoy it while it lasts kid” Dixie chuckles.

*CRACK*

The neck of Dixie explodes into a spray of blood, her magic implodes. A long thunderous boom follows the crack. Her body drops to the floor with a thud.

“SNIPER” Shackles shouts at the green earth pony. They both gallop in opposite directions.

I scramble to my hooves and gallop towards one of the buildings, focusing my magic I teleport just outside of the door, I gallop inside as the crack of another bullet hits the door frame, and the boom shortly follows. I close the wooden door behind me and turn of my pipbuck light, the room turns to darkness.

“Sweet Celestia’s mercy” I pant, I collapse in a heap on the floor. I spot a blob on my nose; I wipe my face with my hoof.

I scream, the blood of Dixie all over me. I levitate the towel out of my saddle bag and wipe my face with it, covering it in Dixie’s blood. The light from my magic is allowing me to see the building more clearly, it is full of old sofas.

“A… sofa shop?” I question. I decide to keep the towel levitating beside me, allowing the magical aura to light up the room enough for me to see objects in front of me.

My E.F.S compass flares up again, showing a red dot.

*BOOM*

The loud gunshot echoes throughout the building, the red dot disappears from my E.F.S.

“What do I do now?” I worry. I get up onto my hooves and look around the room. I walk over to a counter at the other side of the room and take a look behind it, an old business card lies on the counter.

“Quills and Sofas, for all your sofa and quill needs” I read aloud “Although I’ve not seen a single quill… must have been out of quills” I think, shrugging my shoulders. I look on the different shelves behind the counter.

“8 bottles caps, 1 shotgun shell, a piece of paper, a paper clip and a small mirror…nothing of any use whatsoever” I think “Maybe the mirror though”

I place the mirror in my bag and walk away from the counter, towards the door to the back room. Before I open the door, I hear something smash on the other side. I use my magic to pull my gun out of its holster

“BUCK!” I think as I realise where my gun was, it was out there under the dead body of what was Dixie. I slowly push open the door; all I see is a cat in the middle of the room.

“Hey there little fella, what you doing here?” I say to the cat, it hisses at me then jumps out of a nearby window. “Not even the cats are friendly” I think.

The room looks like a kitchen, there is an old cooker and fridge along with multiple cupboards which I hope will contain something of use. I open the first cupboard to see some old cups and dishes, mostly smashed.

“Nothing of interest whatsoever” I sigh, as I move onto the next cupboard, this one has old boxes of cereals. “Cupcake Crips…so sweet and tasty” The box was unopened.

“Only 98 years out of date… how sweet and tasty can they be now?” I think. There is also a box of pinkie puffs, “Stays crispy… FOREVER” I read, the box was already open “Probably not crispy anymore” I think. I levitate one of the puffs out of the box. “Hopefully this won’t kill me” I place it in my mouth and bite on it. “Well what do you know…still crispy, also still has a slight honey taste” I say.

I vote on the Cupcake Crisps as it is the only box that isn’t open, I place the box of Cupcake Crisps in my saddle bag. I walk over to the fridge and open the door, inside is an unopened bottle of a drink called Sparkle Cola.

“Well I am kinda thirsty” I think.

I levitate the bottle out of the broken down fridge and pull the bottle cap off with my teeth, spitting it onto the floor. I gulp down the Sparkle Cola, my pipbuck starts to click.

“Must have been a small amount a radiation within the cola, nothing to major though” I guess. I place the empty bottle in the fridge. I open the final cupboard next to the fridge, inside is an old combat knife.

“Not exactly my old 10mm pistol…but it will have to do” I accept. “Not much else here” I conclude, heading back towards the front door.

I place the towel back in my saddle bag, which brings the room back into darkness. I open the door with my forehoof and take a peek outside.

“All seems clear” I think. I can see what looks like the town hall to the east, a bell tower to the north and a huge dead tree to the west. “Where do I go from here?” I ponder. I gallop towards the huge dead tree.

*CRACK… BOOM*

The bullet flies through the hairs of my tail as I run through the door into the tree, I dive round the corner. I close my eyes and hug my tail; this sniper is determined to kill me. I open my eyes; I gasp and cry a horrible scream. Hanging from the roof were dead ponies, some with limbs missing, others had their entire head removed.

“How can ponies do this to other ponies?” I cry, tears going down my cheek. My E.F.S flares up; another notice appears “Golden Oak Library… So this tree is a library” I think, still sobbing.

I try to blank out the hanging ponies as I get back on my hooves. I walk over to the book shelf and quickly scan some of the books that were left.

“Arcane science for dummies…no, You’re SPECIAL…no, How to make apple cider… no, The Elements of Harmony? That could be interesting” I contemplate, I throw the other books over my shoulder and place the ‘The Elements of Harmony’ book in my saddle bag. I quickly look over the books on the shelves once more; nothing else seems to catch my eye. I walk away from the bookshelves and walk up a set off wooden steps. Reaching the second floor, I look around; I’m in some sort of bedroom.

“Did somepony live here?” I question. On the wall is a poster, it was slightly torn and had holes in the image. The picture depicts a lavender unicorn with a purple mane; next too what looks like Princess Luna, Luna’s face has all sorts of dirty comments written over it. I cringe and take a gander at the bold text on the poster.

“Knowledge i-… join the ministry of Arca-” the poster is missing some of the text due to the tears in the poster.

I pull the poster off the wall, being careful not to damage it any further, then, after folding it up, I place it with the book in my saddlebag.

“Tess you haven’t been in the wasteland for one day yet and you’re already starting to hoard things; you have a serious problem… I’ve already started talking to myself this can’t be good for your *cough cough* I mean my health” I argue with myself.

I walk up to a dresser next to the old bed, Opening the draw, I see a book “Starswirl the Bearded” is the book’s title. I begin to place it in my saddle bag.

“NO! Don’t start this all over again” I shout at myself, throwing the book across the room. It hits the wall with a thud. I tap my head with my forehoof “You’ve already gotten this far don’t spoil it now” I think. “But, no harm in taking one pee- NO!” I force myself to ignore the rather… interesting looking book.

I take a deep breath and walk out of the room, still trying my best to ignore the book. I take the mirror out of my saddlebag and look at it. Blood stains cover my face and mane.

“Hopefully you will stay the same on the inside Tess” I sigh, placing the mirror back in my saddlebag.

I walk up to the front door and peek around the frame trying not to expose myself to a fate similar to that of Dixie.

“Where to go now?” I question, the bell tower is now ahead of me and the town hall to my right. “Bell tower it is” I decide.

Without hesitation, I gallop towards the bell tower. Half way down the street I see something move in the bell tower, I focus my magic and teleport behind an old apple cart.

*CRACK*

The bullet flies over the top of the apple cart and hits the path where I was just running.

*BOOM* the sound of the gunshot echoes down the street.

“pheew… that was close” I sigh, wiping the sweat of my forehead.

I levitate the mirror from my saddlebag and hold it above the cart. The sniper is in the bell tower, I can see the shadow of the pony in the reflection of the mirror. Then there was a flash.

*SMASH*

The sniper shoots the mirror and it is flung from my telekinetic energy by the speed of the bullet, my magic implodes.

“My mirror” I cry.

I look around to find the nearest building to teleport to; I spot an alley to my left. Focusing my magic I attempt to teleport into the alley, I close my eyes only to open them again, finding myself still behind the apple cart.

“Why am I not teleporting…? I should be teleporting” I question. “Looks like I won’t be teleporting anytime soon, but does the sniper know that?” I think.

I spot a bottle not far down the street. I levitate it along the floor and up to the apple cart. I take a quick peek over the cart, making sure the sniper was still looking.

“For once Tess you actually have a plan” I smile

I turn my pipbuck light on and off in rapid succession and throw the glass bottle with my magic, hoping it would get the sniper’s attention. It smashes on the floor by a building on my right, a second later I gallop into the alley and enter one of the buildings.

I have run into an old pub, there is a bar and the room is full of tables. Above the bar was a glass cabinet, inside was an old, purple bow with silver markings, 5 black arrows with silver tips and a purple quiver. My eyes light up at the sight of the bow and arrows.

I walk over to the bar and jump onto it, I try to open the case with my magic, then with my forehooves.

“Luna damn it” I curse.

I look around the room and see a screwdriver and a bobby pin on one of the tables.

“Ah ha” I grin.

I levitate a broken plank of wood next to the table and hit it against the glass.

*SMASH*

The glass case shatters into tiny pieces.

I levitate the strap of the quiver over my head and place 4 of the arrows inside; I levitate the bow over to get a closer look.

“It’s so… pretty” I admire, bedazzled by the bow.

I clip the fifth arrow to the draw string.

*Crack*

I spin around and draw the bow, in the doorway is a grey earth pony holding a long gun with a round barrel. He is wearing strange armour with spiked shoulder pads. We are in a standoff, staring face to face, weapons pointed at each other. We were both hesitant to fire.

I spread my wings, trying to shock the pony, his jaw drops, dropping the gun at his hooves, I let go of the draw string.

The arrow flies through the air, swiftly penetrating the pony’s neck between the gap in his helmet and armour. The stallion falls to the floor, panting and in shock, blood oozing from the wound in his neck. I walk over to the stallion and look down at him, he looks back up at me with wide eyes, the only thing keeping this stallion alive is the arrow still stuck in his neck. I close my eyes wrapping the arrow in a telekinetic field, then, without hesitation, I pull the arrow from his neck. The stallion flinches, pulls one more gasp for air, and then stops completely. I fall to the floor in tears.

“Why Tess, why, why, why did you have to do that?” I sob, tears rolling down my cheek.

A strange feeling runs down my body from my brain to my flank, I quickly look over my body. There it is, the mark of a bow and arrow surrounded by 4 stars painted there on my flank.

“MY CUTIE MARK!” I shout.

I start jumping around the room, and then I realise what I had done to achieve it.

“My own cutie mark is going to haunt me for life” I sob, about to start crying again.

“Once again Tess you screwed up big time” I sob “except this time you’re stuck with it” I complain, Anger starts to take over my body.

“STUPID WASTELAND!” I shout, bucking a table, sending a glass bottle flying and smashing at the other side of the room. “YOU’VE GONE AND DANG FUCKED ME UP FOR LIFE NOW!” I curse.

I sit down on my flank with a thud, panting for air.

“Feel better now?” My own thoughts sounding very sarcastic.

“Now now now Tess, don’t let this one event stray you away from your current objective” I think, giving myself some breathing space.

I take a deep breath, standing back up off of my now slightly bruised flank.

“But I’ve just killed somepony… what if I’m forced to do something like that again?” I worry, I slam my head on a nearby table.

“Ow” I sigh “Let’s not do that again” My now aching head is telling me.

I shake my head to get back my composure. I take a second look around the bar, placing the draw string of the bow over my head so the bow is resting on my back and placing the blood-stained arrow into the quiver

“Let’s see what else is hidden here” The bar seems to have been raided already, not a single bottle was unopened nor a single object in any of the cupboards.

I walk behind the bar to check the till; I give the machine a tug, trying to open it. I pull out the combat knife from my saddlebag and use it as a leaver to pry open the slot. The till finally gives; I’m in shock to actually find any bits left.

“Thought someone would have made off with these by now” I think. About 150 bits are still in the till.

I take the bag of bits from my saddlebag and fill it with the other 150 bits.

“Okay so now I have 250 bits for food, once I run out of my original supply of course”

I walk over to a door at the other side of the room, which I assume leads into the kitchen. I push my hoof on the door, it doesn’t open. I push harder, but the door still doesn’t open.

“Locked?” I guess.

I look back to the table with the bobby pin and screw driver. I had heard rumours of ponies using these things in my stable to get into other ponies’ rooms.

“I guess I could give this a try” I contemplate, levitating them over to me. “I mean if those idiots could do it… how hard it can it be?”

I place the bobby pin and screw driver into the lock and start to fiddle around with it.

“Come on… almost there”

*SNAP*

The bobby pin breaks

“Look who’s the idiot now” My mind sarcastically points out. “Guess I had that one coming”

I try to not delve too deep into my stupidity as I start to walk over to the front door. I push the dead pony away from the door so it was obstructing my exit, I take a small peak round the corner into the alley no make sure no pony was lying in wait for me.

“Looks like it is all clear, for now” I guess, taking slow paces out of the bar, and into the alleyway. I hug the wall as I peak round the corner to look at the bell tower. I can’t see the sniper anymore.

“That can’t have been the sniper I killed, could it?” I question looking back down the alley. A Sense of relief rolls over me.

“You did good this time Tess” I smile, walking into the street.

I walk about 200 metres down the street when I remember Sugarcube and Hotshot. I look at the time on my pipbuck.

“7:48”

“They are probably worried sick about me” I worry.

I lie back on a wall and raise up my pipbuck to send them an audio message.

“Hey Sugarcube, hey Hotshot, it’s me, Tess. Equestria is a horrible place now; I’ve never seen anything like it. I avoided capture, rape and even death within the space of 2 hours… how do you like them apples… anyway I’m in an old town just south of Canterlot, you know the big castle from the story books. I also got my cutie mark, don’t really want to say how I got it though, I shall explain it to you when I get back… missing you lots, message end”

I attempt to send the recording to my friend’s pipbucks, but it just shows me an error.

“What?” I question, attempting to fix the error. My pipbuck starts to flash warnings.

“Error: #459b420a
Connection to stable 21 lost attempting to reconnect 1…2…3…4…5…6…7
Error: re-connection to stable 21 mainframe failed
Rebooting in replica mode… 1…2…3…4…5
Attempting to connect to nearest stable…1…2…3…
Connection success
You are now connected to stable 2 mainframe”

“What in the name of Equestria?” I question, my face turns blank.

“I don’t want some random buck ass stable tracking my every move” I think, turning off the broadcaster in my pipbuck.

“Looks like my messages to my friends are going to have to wait” I sigh.

My pipbuck starts to pick-up static. I look down at my pipbuck and start to tune the receiver.

“GOOOOD EVENING WASETLAND!” a deep stallion’s voice bellows out of my pipbuck, I turn the volume down.

“This is DJ-Pon3 coming at you with the news, those of you who are around the area of the slave trading post near ponyville have got a little more to worry about then just slavers. Turns out there is a sniper around, wouldn’t like to get on the wrong end of his rifle, so stay away from there ponies of the wasteland. Once again this is DJ-Pon3, and now for one of Octavia’s classics, I know how much you all like this one” The broadcast ends with classical music from what sounds like a cello.

“I’m not one for classical music myself” I think, turning the volume on my pipbuck all the way down.

Then, it hits me.

“Wait a second” I think pulling up my pipbuck map; I zoom out to then realise where I am, Ponyville.

“Great work Tess the one location you pick is the one everypony is told to stay away from”

I stand back on my hooves and trot down the street; I pass what looks like an old gingerbread house. I stop and look at it.

“No harm in taking one look inside” I guess, rolling my eyes.

I walk up to the door and push it open, it creeks on its hinges. The building was in ruins, tables overturned, old banners hung from the ceiling and…. “Streamer’s?” I question, looking at what had been the scene of a party. My E.F.S pops up another sign.

“Sugarcube Corner”

The sight of the name makes my heart break, the thought of Sugarcube when they tell her my pipbuck tag has disappeared from their mainframe runs through my mind.

I walk around the room looking at old bottles and plates some with 100 year old cupcakes still on them. On one of the walls is a picture depicting a pink earth pony with long pink hair. This picture is in better condition than the other one I picked up. The text on the image reads.

“Pinkie is watching… FOREVER, join the ministry of moral”

I try and resist the urge to take the interesting poster, but I cave in and levitate the poster into my saddlebag.

“Damn it Tess and your love for all things interesting” I complain. “You will fill up your saddlebag eventually, and then where will you put your stuff?” I ask myself.

I look towards the stairs; they are broken about halfway up. I look around for an alternate way to the upper floor; I then spot a hole in the ceiling above the counter.

I take a deep breath and jump onto the counter. The hole looks only just big enough for me to fit through. I crouch down and jump as high as I can, wrapping my hooves onto the ledge, I attempt to pull myself up.

“Damn it… This isn’t the first time you have screwed up my life” I mutter, my wings were stopping me from climbing through the hole

I can see into the upper floor, it was also full of streamers. On the desk next to the bed was a rolled up piece of paper, I levitate it over to me and place it on the counter below me. Taking one more look around the room my hooves could hold me no longer, I drop from the ledge and fall onto the counter.

“Shit” I mutter as a loose nail in the counter grazes my left hind leg; it draws a small amount of blood.

“Best idea ever” I mutter sarcastically.

I pull the still blood-stained towel back out of my saddlebag. I pour a small amount of water over an area of the towel that doesn’t have blood on it and press it against my wound.

I look around for the piece of paper I placed on the counter.

“Damn it, where is it… it has to be here somewhere” I worry.

I limp behind the counter and find it on the floor.

“Phew” I sigh.

I grasp the note on my telekinesis and levitate it up to eye level, it was a letter. I unroll the envelope and tear it open.

The envelope burst out streamers and confetti at me. I jump away from the envelope spreading my wings in shock.

“WHAT IN THE NAME OF-” I pause,

“Who in all of Equestria would do that to a pony, that scared the living Celestia out of me” I scream.

I take a close look at the envelope, inside was a party invitation.

“To my dearest pet Gummy, I know I’m not around too often anymore, so I set up this party just for you. Isn’t it fun? You’re the best alligator ever; also I’m having a Pinkie’s last party party next week. Hope to see you there Gummy. Love Pinkie Pie.”

“At least that explains the pa- wait a minute, ALLIGATOR!” I scream.

“What type of pony keeps an alligator as a pet?” I think. “Guess that explains the uneaten cakes”

I take one more quick look around the building, nothing else of any use.

“Just more bottle caps” I sigh, throwing then to the side as I walk towards the door.

My leg is feeling less sore now, so I unwrap the towel and place it back in my saddlebag. I walk out the door and continue on the trip down the road.

“I’m quite close to the town hall maybe I should stop th-”

*BOOM*

I scream in agony as pain flows up my left flank, I collapse to the floor. I look at my flank to see blood flowing out of a hole just above my cutie mark. I attempt to get back up only to fall back down in a pool of my own blood.

“You have me where you want me… just get it over with… arrh” I cry out. The thought of failure fills my brain, I said I wouldn’t let them down and now I’m going to die with that on my mind “Why don’t you just kill me” My vision is starting to blur.

Something then wraps me in a telekinetic field, I find myself being dragged along the floor and into a nearby building.

I look up at what looks like a unicorn mare, she drops me at her hooves with a thud.

My vision goes black, and I lose all feeling in my right flank.

Author's Note

Well I hope this is an improvement from my last chapter.

Like I always say do tell me what you think, be harsh.

Also references.