Regicide

Chapter the fourth: In which thou discovers a partner

Dust storms don’t pass easily, as Nightmare has discovered, and it was unbelievably annoying for her. But it was getting worse.

If i don’t find shelter… i’ll get lost.

In the distance, she could see an overpass.

Right next to the thug that had taken refuge there.

She didn't want to fight again. But if she didn’t, she might still get lost. She began to approach the cave when a she heard a thundering bang. Her pupils turned into pinpricks as a bullet went right through one her her wings. For a moment, everything froze, but just for a moment as she hunched other and screamed out in pain. Fletcher stood in front of her, taking another bullet that was shot out. In his current form he was made out of sand, so a chunk of sand blew off. It was quickly replaced by more.

“Fletcher… Go fetch”

She needn’t say much more, as he sped towards the foe, his maw opening like a whale catching a school of fish, he chomped down, and just like that the fiend was gone, weapon and all.

Nightmare slowly traveled off to the overpass, and, the fire still blazing, she couldn't help but become victim to sleep.

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Nightmare awoke to sand. She had slept wearing her mask and cloak, so her goggles were covered in sand. She shook her head, seeing Fletcher had been watching all night, his fur taking the form of sand, the tips of them glowing blue. His breathing was slow but massive, inhaling large amounts of oxygen. His ears flicking about, acting like sonars.

The fire had gone out during the night, but the cloak had kept her warm. It only remained as smoldering embers, the ground around it blackened by the fire. Now that the dust storm was gone, she could see the area more clearly.

The overpass had grass hanging over the side of it, and the surrounding area had the same thick grass. Bushes were everywhere, but still, the dirt around it look barren of anything that could grow plant life. Past the overpass, it was dead and barren from there, much like the rest of the wasteland, as she had found it to be called from the few journals she had found.

Nightmare noticed when his ears fixed on one point, and he started to sniff the air. His eyes suddenly became alert, and he patted Nightmare a few times.

She stood up, staggering towards the opening of the overpass, and she saw a stallion who was inside a yellow suit that had a mask that appeared to function much like her’s, and he was approaching the overpass.

Wanting to make her presence known, she stepped out of the overpass and unsheathed her sword. “T-that's close enough”

He froze on the spot, his mask blocking any way of knowing where he was looking or what he looked like. “...Now is that how you greet everyone?” He said dryly.

“It’s how everyone else has greeted me” She fired back. He merely nodded, and removing his mask, he spoke again.

“Well I know a different way, and it doesn't involve either one of us being killed’ His voice was now chipper and happy, ‘My name is Blue Trails, but people usually calls me Bluey” He approached closer, holding his hoof out.

Nightmare merely looked at the opposing limb, not knowing what to do, and awkwardly stared it.

“Or not… well, i'm of no danger, just merely wandering.’ He took a glance at her wing’ and you look like you need help. Why don’t we go into this overpass here and get you fixed up.” He began to walk into the shelter.

For a moment she stood there before realizing a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

Well… he seems nice enough, might as well get this fixed.

She walked into the overpass to see him sitting down reigniting the fire. “It’s safe to take off your mask in here, not much radiation.”

Nodding to him, she used her magic and removed the mask, placing it within her saddle bag.

“Alright, let's see what you got `ere” He gently grabbed her wing, extending it fully, a visible bullet hole through her the midsection of the wing “Oh… that's much worse than i thought.”

Nightmare whimpered at those words, never really taking a look upon it.

“Damn, I can’t fix this with just some herbs, you’ll never be able to fly again… look, my adopted daughter, she’s a unicorn, a mighty powerful one at that, her ancestors are the ponies Before the Bombs, name are Twilight and Vinyl Scratch”

It took a moment for his words to register, but when they did an intense pain ravaged her head.

I remember, those ponies…

Ponyville, Nightmare Night. The Sixth Era.

“NOW, MY LOYAL SUBJECTS, GIVE US SOMETHING SWEET TO BITE, OR WE SHALL’ she stopped for a moment to put on a terrifying smile “EAT YOU!” She popped up behind the group,

Her voice boomed throughout the forest, terrifying all these little ponies.

However, one came back, and although she couldn't remember what he said exactly, he asked if she could scare them again next year, his name was pipsqueak.

And if not for Twilight, she would have never discovered how to interact with these ponies.

Nightmare found herself staggered against the wall, breathing heavily, a few more memories flooding in. She found herself just barely standing. Blue Trails was trying to calm her, but did not approach.

“Lady? Are you alright?”

“Yes… I’m fine…”

The elements of harmony. I HAVE to find them.

“Um, Blue Trails?”

“Please, just call me Bluey”

“Bluey… do you know where the Castle of the Sisters is?

His whole body tesesed up as if he was afraid to say. “Yes…” He eventually said. “But it’s much too dangerous to go there, it’s impossible to get out of there with out of there without some type of injury, if not being killed entirely.”

“Doesn't matter… There's something that we have to get”