Left, Right, so so oh so uptight. Everywhere I feel like an ambush will come out and take us out. The extra gun of Macintosh gives us a edge in gunfight. What happened to the old mayor anyways? Went to Canterlot to stop the disarray of ponies I heard, but the logic would be that ponies panic in Ponyville and just confusing? I'm pretty sure the mayor is smarter then that. it feels off, save that for later and focus on the now. Cliffs of valleys is a good place to hide, surprise, witness anything in the center. Train system in Ponyville is busted and its safer to travel on hoof nowadays. Safest path my flank, no path is safe when it screams ambuscade. I think that's the reasoning behind the silence because if it was safe, there wouldn't be a need for silence. The dread rises as we get farther, farther... father.

Why did I leave my home... it was a fine place without killer ponies. What does father think of me now? Hurt? Disgraced? Dead? What is known of me is not known unless you're with me right now. Focus Starlesa, focus. I can't be distracted by my own thoughts of guilt... or is it homesickness? AUGH, why do emotions carry so much power?!

Stay focus Starlesa, anything could come out around any corners and you would be to busy worrying about the past. If a group of bandits were to attack, you'll be dead so pay attention and nothing can surprise you, or can it? Why do you do this to yourself Starlesa? Ask too much questions and overthink the current situation. Would help if Macintosh or anypony would talk. But that's the thing, I heard fighting and due to the battiness of my ear, I heard it before anyone else did.

"There's fighting ahead, sounds a bit rough ahead," I told the others.

"We're going to check it out then, if it's the bandits, they'll need help," Clover said. Macintosh just nodded his head and we sped up a bit. Once we did get near the fighting, near because we saw plenty of blood to show that we are getting closer and the noise being louder. As we lurked we saw a minotaur wielding a battle axe and a type of shotgun, slashing bandits with the right and blowing the brains with the left. Unicorn prepares a spell and I aimed above the head of the minotaur, three seconds later, a dead unicorn was laying down next to the minotaur's feet. Teleportation is a hard spell to cast I heard, so they have a lot of advance unicorns or just very lucky. There's something up with them and I'll find out about it later.

"You help an unfamiliar face in the heat of battle and don't expect any rewards, I don't think wasting ammunition was intelligent but you're quick-witted," The minotaur said.

"Well, the least you could do and tell us your name," I said kindly. (trying not to piss off the giant bull)

"Bella, Bellathorn if you prefer the whole thing," She responded.

"Nice to meet ya Bella," Penni said, holding her hoof out. Bella took the hoof and shook. "My name is Pennilope and might I say that your combat skills are might impressive,"

"Yeah, we could use someone like you with us on our way to Appleloosa," Clover Said.

"My destination is on the way," Bella said with thought. "Sticking with others would make the journey less harsh."

"That's... reassuring?" I said with slight concern. Then again, a badass like her would be hard to deny having around. She doesn't seem evil at all but a bit crazy like a barbarian. Either way, I'm grateful for having her with us. Still within the valley of death and I just want to leave. I can fly but I don't want to leave the others behind.

Now coming up to a hill going up, I felt my mood rise to see this death path be left behind as we are met with open meadows. Still quite the walk to Appleloosa though, we won't be anywhere close until we hit the desert. We did get enough supplies before venturing out this far, so we should be fine when it comes to that. The green-brown grass looks beautiful in its own way though. Wait, why am I think about the grass all of a sudden? My thought wanders to much when it comes to these sights.

"We should start following the trail now to Appleloosa," Clover Said.

"It would be smarter to stay off trail, it seems like a natural place for bandits to set up. The amount of highway tolls or just straight up robberies would be greater on a path leading to your destination," Bella said.

"Our ammunitions might run dry if we walk and shoot down every bandit on the path and until they are stopped for sure, new ones would take their place," I said. "It would be better if we continue in the field towards Appleloosa where we have less chances of meeting up with any, plus Macintosh can guide us." With a nod, Macintosh led us off road and towards our destination. We should be there within 2 days Macintosh told us before we left. 2 days of on hoof travel through meadows and desert, not how I planned on living my life here.

The sun began to set into a wonderful twilight, spreading across the sky. That means we should start looking for a spot to anchor down for the night. Poor Tulip I on my back fast asleep and Penni is starting to show her limp off a bit with her tire eyes showing as well. The amount of stress I've been through is quite a lot. Seeing her like that keeps me going. But the shots of bullets pinging off of metal hit my ears first.

"Keep a slow pace," I warned. "I hear gunshots ahead and they don't seem friendly." This time, we get another shot at sneaking up on bandits. Thank you ears for being so keen.

As we closed in, the gunshots rang closer, and soon we saw a assortment of pipes bending up and down and structure, some even penetrating the earth. We saw a couple griffons pinned down by gunfire and the bandits keeping them down were high up. The arsenal these ones have are of a different league. The last few I fought had pistols and smgs but these had full on assault classed weaponry. Fully automatic and semi automatic rifles aimed down and suppressing the griffins before they can even peep a shot at them. Luckily enough, my skill could take them down in no time. Just the amount of energy I used today I can expect not doing much for longer. I dropped Tulip off onto Penni and toke to the air.

The cover they have is impossible to pass with bullets. Only shots that are aimed had chances of hitting but the griffins were pinned and unable to move. Unlike griffins and pegasi, bat ponies had developed wings to fly swiftly without sound, but with this we can't fly as fast. Sneaking up on those bastards shouldn't be too hard to do but seeing how dead accurate their shots are, I shouldn't take them as casuals.

As I fly above them, they continue to shout orders. They were moving ammo boxes up to keep the barrage going until they are dead. Sadly, they couldn't keep it up any longer. A few quick shots to the back of their heads and they were out. Then as the next came up the stairs, an arrow went into his throat to keep him silent. Down the steps and into the covered area, there were five of them gathering equipment to replace the silent gunshots. It didn't help that the fifth one was behind me and almost got the jump on me. But dodging at the last second and my vision tinted with blue, I turn towards her and shot an arrow at her face. I then proceeded to line up the next four shots and take them all down. Stealth operations at its finest.

As I finished up with the bandits, I heard hoofsteps coming up the steps. As I turned toward the door I was met with a barrel pointed right at me.

"Stay right there scavver," The griffin stated. "I will shoot if needed."

"Of course when you realize the true threat is me, its to late though," I said, cockily. "These bandits would've had you folks down in no time if it wasn't for me."

"Hah, like they could keep us down," The griffin replied. "But owing favors isn't something I like to do. My squad will be leaving so if you come to the griffin lands, hit up Victor."

"I plan on doing so if in need," I said. Not too soon after, my group arrived and the griffins left. We now have a solid place to sleep and we can get some more ammunition with us, as well as some new weapons to use. I would love to test out that semi auto rifle soon.

As the griffins set off and we get the place secured, we decided on sleeping inside the break room as its called. With the sleeping bags we have, and the shifts we are sure to be fine for the night. The moonlight in the sky shines elegantly off the metal pipes. The reflection could only be seen at close distance, but still is a beautiful sight. The night will be long but it should be a nice break from walking and give the non-combatants rest for a full night.

As the moon set position at the highest position in the sky, I continued looking throughout the night at the main path. I sighed as the breeze flew past me, giving a chill down my neck. The soothing wind brought peace to this watch and the wasteland itself.

"You know the night is still long, and you can't stay up for the whole of it," said a voice from behind. The smirking stallion Cloverul, was staring at the stars. "You should get some rest while I take shift."

"You may be right, but seeing the sky like this reminds me of my home sometimes," I replied. "It's so peaceful and nice to be out here and looking at the same sky I did while I was a filly."

"You sound a but homesick, you did run away if I was right because normal ponies don't just fly from another place, they would just take a ship to travel," He said. "After all, you are a noble who ditched duties for their own stubborn, selfish reasons."

"No need to remind me," I pouted. "I was always like this and only few others knew this side of me, one being my not so recently deceased mother and another being my dueling teacher. Its hard being a noble sometimes, especially one of my kind, constantly rejecting the other houses."

"Do you ever wonder about returning home?" he asked. I wondered many times if I could go back without hatred surrounding me. It would be pleasant to think that hope would be on my side, but after leaving I knew that going back would be the worst nagging sentence of my life.

"I would love to now, knowing this wasn't the life I had in mind." I said, reassuring myself. "But I knew what I was doing when I left. Its not the kind of place you would expect an easy life, we are very tight about outsiders. I'll be heading off the bed now so keep a good eye out on any passersby." As I head into the sheltered break room.

The cool metal of the floor stayed with me all the way to Penni's cot, with Tulip sharing it. The white filly was fast asleep next to the pink mare of my love, and to end the night, I kissed Penni's forehead good night.

Author's Note

Welcome back after a 2 year hiatus or about. Please leave any feedback so that I may improve this story for the better.