Fallout Equestria: Uncertain Ties

Chapter Fifteen: An Uneasy Respite

"No matter how much you prepare your speech, you can't guarantee their response.”

The world was utterly dark as the ponies set up a small camp in the ruins. Thick clouds rained irradiated water, forcing them to hunker down as much for rest as protection. The industrial complex's warehouse proved advantageous both to take shelter in and scavenge. Further, it was free of corpses.

Rows upon rows of shelving units and shipping crates filled the rotting structure. Half of the roof was gone, but there was an elevated catwalk like the factory that would keep them dry under the remaining section. Pip-bucks cut through the gloom only half good enough. The caravaners set out a few lanterns at the edges of their camp. It was drafty, cold, and eerily open to attack. Yet it was the best they would be able to do. At least there were both walls and an outer fence.

Spurs and Blaze rested on a mish-mash of blankets closest to a fizzling campfire. Damp wood didn't burn well, but one puff from Comet set it alight. He rested beneath the catwalk on a large slab of concrete, able to stretch out in ways he couldn't within the cage. Despite their best efforts, he hadn't spoken much after their initial conversation. Leaving him be, the ponies settled in for an uncomfortable night. It wasn't as if they were much in the mood for talking either. Exhaustion smothered them, enveloping them so powerfully limbs sagged and eyes drooped.

Mumbled words slipped between bites of food. Mocha Bird and Nectar Yawn had found the slavers' food storage. It was delightfully overflowing with travel meals yet far from delicious. The dried fruits and ground vegetables at least satisfied the gnawing hunger gripping their bones. There had even been dried meat. Lonestar had been sure it was rabbit. Comet had been given every last strip, but it was far from enough. His stomach growled beneath them louder than the slamming rain on a metal roof.

"Did you find anything useful?" Misty Sparks asked Skyfire as she joined them. Grease waddled behind her, huffing from exertion. Fortunately, the security badge they’d discovered in the crumbling apartments had proven useful in expediting the process. They had been almost non-stop after a brief rest. Skyfire helped Grease along to a cushion. The green mare flopped onto it with such a heavy noise Misty Sparks winced.

Exhausted purple eyes caught her gaze. "Not as much as I'd like considering the size of this place, but yes. Despite all the elemental exposure, there's still a working engine, pristine even. We couldn't possibly carry it back however."

"Too large?"

"And we're too hurt."

Misty Sparks scrunched her nose. "Maybe Comet would be willing…"

"The wagon is fitted for a pony," countered Skyfire.

"There's got to be enough rope to make a harness," she argued back. "But given his state of health, that also seems doubtful. Plus there might be a road but it’s gonna be muddy from rain. It risks getting stuck in the open. I guess we'll just have to see what tomorrow brings."

A wistful sigh escaped Skyfire. Hooves slid out lazily until she melted against the grated steel. Discontent grumbles followed as she tried to get comfortable. Eventually she gave up. "As long as it's only half as exciting as today."

Chuckling drearily, Misty Sparks shrugged. "Can't promise that."

"Boo…"

Misty Sparks reached down and patted Skyfire's head. An ear flicked and the mare chuffed. "How are the wounds?" Misty Sparks asked as she moved aside crimson locks. Bruises and cuts speckled a gray coat, nothing too severe.

"Better than yours," Skyfire mumbled.

"And the mental ones?"

Tensing, Skyfire turned her head away. "I'm trying not to think about it. At least until we get back home."

The unicorn settled next to her. While she had downed plenty of health potions and recovered enough magic to edge the team back from severe, every wound still ached. The stabbing on her flank burned the worst. "Just don't not think about it for too long," she cautioned.

Purple eyes glanced at her. The emptiness in them made Misty Sparks stiffen. She had often seen that same hollowness in a mirror. "What do you suggest then?" Skyfire's voice trembled. Moisture dampened her cheeks. She rubbed her face with a sniffle.

Stalling to form her thoughts properly, Misty Sparks looked at the others. Lonestar and Pecan Pie were asleep, surrounded by their children. Ashen Lace watched one side where something could arrive, peering into the dark without a hint of emotion. Mocha Bird sat next to Grease, letting the gunner rest while keeping an eye on the other direction. Soft mumbles flitted between them, too quiet to be heard. Everypony was exhausted, not quite recovering from the violence of the day nor their imprisonment.

A stone settled in Misty Sparks' gut. Would they be able to make it home? "I might not have delivered a killing blow, but I not only asked but ordered you all to kill ponies. Bad, evil, cruel ponies, yet ponies nonetheless. Blaze was eager to kill. Grease accepted it. Lonestar and Pecan Pie demanded revenge. I can't blame them either."

"They would've killed us, and them. They killed their own ponies," whimpered Skyfire gently before she stiffened, “Or apparently taken me prisoner?” Clouded eyes stared away for a moment. “It was only winged creatures in that cage. I bet had there been a griffon they would have been there too.”

"Probably," replied Misty Sparks. "It worries me why they focused on winged creatures. Is somepony, or creature, out there trying to make an air force? Labor force? Slavery is disgusting enough as it is. Stopping them was the only thing we could do."

"Why couldn't they just talk to us?" Questioned Skyfire, jaw clenched.

"Because four Stable Dwellers, even with a big gun, is nothing. It's only a miracle we're alive."

Wings flapped as Skyfire shook her head. "We shouldn't be doing this to each other. Comet was right, ponies shouldn't hurt ponies."

The weight in her gut only grew. Misty Sparks sighed. They'd washed the blood off, but her armor was stained. She would carry the slavers all the way home. Perhaps long after even. "The world… it doesn't let us be soft- kind. It shouldn't be like this, but it is."

"So we become like it?" Skyfire challenged, eyes wide and ears back as if she'd seen a monster. A grim thought mused that it was Misty Sparks.

"...as little as we can. Sometimes words aren't enough. Sometimes death is the only way to protect ponies. That doesn't mean it isn’t fucked up, that we shouldn't try every other option first. It just means we have to try harder, do better, make the world less shit."

“That’s the difference between… between these slavers, and you? Us?” Skyfire asked after a moment of thought. “You and Blaze risked so much to give me a chance. I had to pass that chance on to Comet.”

Skyfire looked beneath the catwalk and observed Comet. Between him, and everypony else, the group looked quite bizarre. “I might be wrong about him one day, but I like to think he’s a bit like me.” Purple eyes clouded up as Skyfire started crying for a moment. Soft, whimpering noises of both exhaustion and pain rose. “We both were abandoned it seems. Maybe that’s why it resonates so much for him to get a chance.”

Misty Sparks started to say something, before scooting closer to hug Skyfire. Rough leather reinforcements made it far from comfortable, but neither pulled away. “You are probably right on all those things. There’s a chance of it. But his unwillingness to attack ponies gives us the best chance of finding an ally… perhaps even a friend."

Crackles of fire filled a moment of pause. Both mares peered at Comet. He was not intimidating despite his nature, at least after the initial shock. He reminded Misty Sparks of a lost dog, desperately in need of a home yet not knowing where to find it. Though this dog was far larger and sharper toothed. “Mom’s going to kill Blaze, thinking she coerced me into this.”

“Wasn’t that me as well?” Skyfire asked. Her sniffling subsided as she smiled faintly and leaned deeper into the hug. “We both did our best.”

"You and I both know she likes you too much to stay mad," snickered Misty Sparks. Lingering for as long as she dared, Misty Sparks pulled away with a sigh. "And the only trouble you've caused wasn't your own fault. I think she will come around. Might need your help though.”

“Part of me wonders what he will end up wanting. It’s a little unfair to compare my goals to his if he really was that alone.” Skyfire murmured, staring a little longer at the resting dragon. With a shudder she adjusted to look at Misty Sparks. Lime eyes surrounded by exhaustion met her, a glimpse of light within them. “I wanted so desperately to go home but I’ve since realized I found somewhere that could be a great home. I don’t think the old one is going to ask me to return anyways.”

“I’m sure Mom would be happy if he found a new home one day,” Misty Sparks admitted. She paused as she found herself looking back at Skyfire. It felt like looking into a mirror. The day’s events flashed through her mind. With gritted teeth, Misty Sparks shifted her weight against Skyfire. Soft warmth filled the small space between their coats. “And she would accept it if you wanted to go somewhere else too… eventually.”

Skyfire thought for a few seconds, then shrugged her wings. “It’d have to be a really cool place for me to even consider right now. Neighvarro is where all my foalhood memories are, the Stable is where my friends are. I can’t go back, so why would I give up the good in my life?”

A small smile pulled at Misty Sparks’ face, one she didn’t bother stopping. So much of the day had felt like wearing a mask. Something sharp and cold had settled over the little unicorn so unfamiliar it scared her. The slipping thought that it was the mask her mother always wore burrowed its way into her. “I… am glad you like it here, with us,” she whispered. Her hooves trembled and she blinked rapidly.

Crimson drifted into her vision. A hoof took her own, firm like solid metal. “I am too.”

Blinking away the swell of emotion, Misty Sparks let herself slump against the pegasus entirely. Skyfire made a soft noise then shuffled a wing free. Neither of them spoke as Skyfire draped it over Misty Sparks’ back. The silent comfort was plenty, a reassurance as undeniable as any words. With steadily deepening breaths, Misty Sparks relented to the weight upon her body. Lime eyes fluttered closed as Skyfire watched on. The gray mare’s face slowly turned a similar shade to her mane as Misty Sparks fell asleep. Skyfire glanced at the others, but they were as sleepy or self-reflective as the pair had been. Allowing herself to admire her friend, Skyfire wiggled into a comfortable spot and tugged the small mare closer beneath her wing. Sleep, despite the day, was not something that would come easily.

“Rise and shine little ponies!” Lonestar’s heavy twang was accompanied by the sharp rapt of a metal rod against something even stronger. Shouts came from the snuggling mares. Blaze continued to snore louder than the clanging.

Misty Sparks glared up at the stallion who appeared far too chipper for the early morning hour. “Aren’t you in tremendous pain?” She growled and tucked her head back against Skyfire.

“Oh, incredible amounts of pain! But that means I’m still alive right?” He snickered as he strode past.

Violent murmurings were muffled against the pegasus’ neck. With a huff, Misty Sparks began to rise. Every inch of her body ached, an even deeper pain in her chest from the magical burnout of the day before. Equally pained noises followed her as Skyfire began to stretch. To Misty Sparks’ surprise, the entire trading caravan was awake and getting ready. Grease was chatting with Mocha Bird in chipper tones. The brown and cream mare chuckled at some joke Grease said. Cream feathers mindfully tugged on a pair of goggles. The rest of the caravan siblings were tending to their parents or uncle. One glance through the catwalk revealed Comet had likely not moved an inch the entire night.

A flurry of crimson feathers whisked past Misty Sparks as Skyfire flew down to the dragon. Leaving them be for now, Misty Sparks approached her still-yet-snoring cousin. “Blaze,” she groused, “come on. We need to get moving.”

One ear twitched and little else came. Lonestar limped past them and clanked the portable cookware a few more times. Blaze remained unstirred. “Is she dead?” Drawled Pecan Pie from where she was packing supplies up.

“No, just very very tired,” Misty Sparks grumbled. “I’d be impressed if I wasn’t so annoyed.”

She began prodding Blaze with her hoof. Each poke was met with no response until she reached the mare’s neck. Snapping forward like a sprung trap, Blaze bit the air. Lonestar tugged Misty Sparks back with his magic just in time. “Sweet Celestia you are feral!” He chastised.

Reddened emeralds glared at him. Blaze was breathing fast, ears alert and tail twitching. “Shut up,” she ordered as sluggish limbs attempted to stand. “We’re leaving?”

“Here soon, yes,” Misty Sparks mumbled. “How do you feel?”

“Like shit.”

“Naturally. Can you walk?”

A few wobbly steps carried Blaze forward, only for her to stumble into Misty Sparks. The mare staggered and focused her magic to keep Blaze from toppling her over entirely. “Not really. Can I have some chems? That’ll square me away.”

Lime eyes squinted. “Absolutely not. We’ve barely been gone over a day.”

“I have a daily prescription.”

“And that’s all you’ll take.”

Blaze clacked her teeth loud enough to draw the attention of the others. She pulled back from Misty Sparks with a growl. “Go get them for me then, doc. I can’t exactly go far without them, even if I hadn’t taken so many bullets protecting you all.”

Incapable of finding a retort, Misty Sparks shuffled to her saddlebags. Grease trotted over to her, yellow eyes fixated on the giant mare. “You shouldn’t let her talk to you like that,” she whispered.

Misty Sparks sighed as she used her Pip-buck’s organizer spell to find Blaze’s daily dose. “She did push herself hard for us yesterday,” she conceded. “Plus she does sincerely need these meds.”

“Chems, meds, it’s the same thing isn’t it?”

“Intention has a factor. I don’t see how any of us will get back home if we have to put her in the wagon. Who else can pull it? Spurs will need to go in there too given his state.”

“Sounds like we need the dragon to pull the wagon after all, even if it weren’t for the salvage we’ve found.” Grease rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. “Okay, I’ll get Blaze in a less cantankerous mood, you see to Comet and Feathers.”

Nodding, Misty Sparks passed the marked bottle off. The grated stairs creaked with each step. The familiar sounds of Skyfire’s cheery voice brought a smile to the mare’s lips without her realizing it. Despite the incredible power the dragon had, the many teeth he could snap her in two with, the sharp claws and fire he could create with a single puff; Skyfire smiled at Comet and offered him her canteen. He took it carefully. A claw slipped along its edge and perforated the metal. It immediately began to leak. In a moment of panic, he shoved the entire canteen into his mouth.

Confusing both mares further, Comet swallowed.

“Uh-” began Misty Sparks though she had no clue what to actually say. “You can… do that?”

Comet’s ear-like fins were folded back and he looked at the concrete beneath him. “It like eating rocks… it won’t… kill me.”

“Aren’t gems just really sharp rocks?” Questioned Skyfire. “They come from rocks. Also did you just eat my canteen? We could’ve fixed it.”

He gave no answer. Misty Sparks sighed, rubbed her brow, and then sat down. “Okay we’ll just… okay. Comet, I hate to ask you this but we need some help. Blaze is too hurt and we need to get not just us but Lonestar Caravans back to our stable. It’s a solid half day away at a normal pace, but I imagine we’ll be going less than that in the condition we’re all in.”

The dragon tilted his head. “You want me pull wagon?”

“Yes. We can figure a way to fit it on you, but otherwise I don’t see us getting home nearly soon enough. There’s a solid chance that the slavers could have reinforcements or the sort coming. As much as I wish we could sleep more, Lonestar is right that we need to get a move on.”

“I wish he less loud about it,” Comet remarked in a soft grumble. Skyfire snickered, patting his side. The dragon squinted and moved his lips with care, clearly putting more effort into his words. “I can do, yes. I would like help.”

Misty Sparks perked up. She’d expected it would take far more convincing to get him to agree. “Really? That’s fantastic, thank you. Grease and Skyfire can get you rigged up. Everything should still be in there from last night, right?”

Crimson feathers curled into a salute. “Everything’s there. Ashen Lace said she checked it three times over. Apparently she couldn’t sleep.”

“I don’t blame her, but hopefully that doesn’t mean another tired pony on the wagon. It’ll be pushing it to have those two big ponies on it.” The unicorn's voice dipped into a calculating tone.

Purple eyes met lime ones as Skyfire gave a confident smile. “I can guide Grease through rigging that harness up to fit Comet. We’ll have it done shortly.”

A brief smile broke through Misty Sparks’ rapidly increasing thoughts. “Thanks,” she said with a flick of an ear. The logistics of the journey back were rising like procrastinated paperwork. She mentally weighed how equipment would need to be parsed, who would carry what supplies, and just when they would need to stop to rest. She absentmindedly left the pair, studying her Pip-buck as she exited the warehouse.

Muck dirtied her hooves. She didn’t bother trying to shake it off, every bit of her armor was soiled from the fighting. A sharpness lingered in the air she didn’t like, setting the back of her neck alight. There wasn’t a hint of danger anywhere she looked. Yet every part of her body wanted to leave the blood-soaked place. Birds swarmed the office building. She didn’t need to see them to know they were devouring the corpses left within. At least the sounds of feasting avians wasn’t enough to make her lose what little appetite she had.

Once more she felt the kind of discomfort as when they’d left the stable. There were far too many possibilities for what the Wasteland held for Misty Sparks to feel any kind of confidence. It was an undeniable fact that they were far from a fighting force now, though it was hard to suggest they were beforehand. Ammo was low, with healing supplies barely any better. She tapped her blackened horn with a grimace. Even if she could cast a spell, it would not be a powerful one. It somehow felt more daunting to return home than leaving its safety after all they had been through. A worrisome thought that Flare would somehow be upset at their condition alone before even taking the dragon into consideration would steadily grow louder with each mile closer they’d get.

A weary sigh escaped Misty Sparks and she trotted to a turned over barrel. Rust adorned it so thickly she hesitated and instead opted for a large rock. She pulled up her Pip-buck’s map and scanned the area for anywhere they might rest, but there weren’t many options beyond what they had already scouted. The vague memory of a blasted out shopping strip wriggled free of her mental fog, and she marked it down. By the time her companions had shuffled out of the warehouse she had found three more options. Comet led them, a hodgepodge of ropes fastening him to the wagon laden with ponies and loot. His ribs were more pronounced from the strain, but his eyes held calm anticipation.

Skyfire flapped over and laid a dirty hoof on Misty Sparks’ shoulder. The little unicorn did her best not to show her dislike of the smell. A spark of relief that they would have warm showers waiting for them and proper meals soothed her. “Everything is set,” Skyfire said with a smile. The corners of her lips were too tight, strained like pulled string.

Rather than point out the obvious, Misty Sparks gave a nod. “Blaze?” She called out. The mare waved a hoof from the back of the wagon. “And Spurs?” Another hoof, this time dark rather than wet sand colored, flicked in the air. The low rumble of a snicker followed but Misty Sparks couldn’t tell who had laughed. She didn’t quite care either.

“My brother won’t be able to walk at any point,” Lonestar said as he did a quick final check of his children. The pegasi scanned the area with a level of scrutiny Misty Sparks appreciated. They would make fine lookouts on the road.

“I wouldn’t want him walking in his condition. What about you though? Your legs got hurt pretty bad after all.”

Lonestar gave a snicker and shake of his head. “Nah, I’ll make it on my own as long as we rest every so often. I don’t want to exhaust the dragon any more than hauling those two and the loot around. Maybe if Spurs wasn’t so damn fat we could fit three ponies!”

“I’m not deaf,” came a low grunt. It was the first Spurs had spoken since the caravaners had been found.

Misty Sparks chuckled softly and shook her mane out a bit. “Anything else before we get going?”

Pecan Pie fluttered close. The bags under her eyes were marginally smaller than they had been the day before. “Thank you again for this. We won’t forget what you’ve done for us.”

Warmth blossomed in the little unicorn’s chest and she tucked her head. “It’s the right thing to do,” she deflected.

“You’d be surprised how many ponies specifically do that opposite,” the Dashite chuckled. “You’re good folk. Let’s get to your home.”

Over an hour had passed before anypony spoke beyond simple warnings. The early hour after such a harrowing encounter clung to them like rot. The family’s hooves were the heaviest, clacking over the worn down asphalt with a disjointed pace. More than once a curse followed somepony tripping over the poor condition of the road. Misty Sparks’ braced for an ankle to get sprained, but fortunately no such event had occurred. She suspected it wasn’t that far off however. Only birds and beasts on the horizon greeted them, staying far from posing a threat. Every so often Mocha Bird did a scan from the air. So far no slavers had been spotted, and they intended on decreasing the likelihood as quickly as their exhausted bodies could carry them.

“So is nopony going to ask?” Pistol’s voice split the relatively peaceful silence.

“Ask what?” Drawled Lonestar.

“Why in the name of Celestia there’s a dragon with us? How did they capture you?”

Comet tilted his head down at the earth pony. Immediately the young stallion tensed at the fire-breathing creature’s attention, as much as he had summoned it. “I told you.”

“Not really,” he countered with a brave face. Blue Grass rolled her eyes and tugged him a few paces away from Comet. “You said you didn’t fight back and you weren’t asleep.”

One by one the ponies looked up at Comet, though no one asked their burning questions. Misty Sparks was wary of pushing him, but she too wanted to know. It would certainly play a factor on what would become of the dragon. There was a part of her that also was simply curious, and she could see it on the others’ faces. Skyfire was practically fluttering in place to know more. Golden eyes skimmed over them, hesitant, before sighing. “I was alone.”

“Are dragons always alone?” Inquired Skyfire.

“No.”

“Why were you then?” Grease asked next, keeping her eyes on the road for any obstacles. The potholes were more numerous than the clear sections of roads. “If… that’s okay to ask.”

Comet grimaced and lifted his head to the thick expanse of clouds. “I… been alone long time. Not know why.”

Skyfire’s ears folded back. “I’m sorry.”

“Why? You did nothing.”

Blaze cracked a snicker from the back of the wagon. Before she could give some snarky remark Misty Sparks spoke up. “How long have you been alone?”

“What… year it?” The ponies stopped walking while the dragon carried on for a few paces. He swiveled his long neck around at them. Scale eyebrows furrowed and his fin ears flattened against his neck.

Misty Sparks gestured to her Pip-buck as if it would give him the answers. When he only blinked at her she blushed. “Year two-hundred Post-War.”

They resumed walking as he ruminated on the time passed. After a minute he confessed, “Ah. That… no help me.”

“Have you been alone that long?” Balked Grease. She cursed as she tripped on a rock, stumbled a few feet, and then stabilized herself. Skyfire trotted over with wide eyes, but the earth pony waved her off and mumbled she was fine.

The dragon gave a low sigh. “I… stopped counting. It cold twice before I left grotto.”

“Two winters then,” Lonestar said, “so two years. Well- depending on what you claim cold is since it’s rarely warm these days.”

“More than two,” Comet whispered. His eyes were no longer focused. Instead they stared into the past with a pain Misty Sparks knew all too well.

“Where was your grotto?”

Comet blinked, and then scanned the sky. In a painful realization, he shrugged. The movement jostled the wagon and the wheels creaked ominously. “Behind?”

“So you have no idea how long you’ve been alone, or where you are?” Scoffed Blaze. “Great.”

“There was lot of water nearby,” he offered.

“The coast, or Smile Lake,” Pecan Pie suggested. “They’re the largest two bodies of water nearby. Anything else you remember?”

The dragon puffed out his cheeks as he reached into what could only have been a haze of memory. “Mountains?”

“That’s a question?” Once more prodded Blaze.

Misty Sparks whinnied and slowed her pace to glare at her cousin. “Can you not be rude to the dragon kind enough to pull your wounded body all the way home even though he’s starved?”

Sharp emeralds pierced Misty Sparks. The little unicorn lost her anger immediately, cast into the bruiser’s shadow. “Maybe you should try not pissing me off for five minutes?”

“Blaze-”

“Quit whining. I’m the only one not quivering in her boots at his presence.”

Pistol sneered quietly, “Because you’re not in the blast radius.”

“What was that?” She snarled and pushed up as much as she could against the wagon’s side. “Wanna say that louder you little punk?”

Lonestar limped between the mare and his teenaged son. The braces for his legs were only part of the fix for him, pain medicines and a hefty healing spell getting him stable enough to make it a short while between rests. “I appreciate you saving us, but that doesn’t mean you get to talk to my son like that.”

“Awh, he needs Daddy to step in? Can’t fight his own battles?” The lilting mockery dropped into a low hiss. “Maybe he shouldn’t pick them if he can’t stand on his own.”

“Are… Are ponies, always this… hostile?” Interjected Comet, peering back at them in a manner that suddenly made Misty Sparks recalculate just how large that ‘blast radius’ of his was. “You friends, right?”

The unicorn gave a low sigh. “Tired, hurt, stinky ponies fight more often than otherwise,” she explained poorly.

“You stink? You smell better than cellar.”

Misty Sparks snickered and shook her head. “I suppose so.” The others gave small laughs of their own, the sudden tension defusing. Blaze grunted and leaned back against the veritable mountain of scrap. The way her hooves tapped and ears flicked made Misty Sparks’ hide itch. She suspected there would be more flare ups as they went.

“I hope I stop smelling like cellar,” Comet muttered a moment later. He rolled his shoulders as he walked, trying to relieve some pressure but all it did was rattle his passengers and loosen a rope. Lonestar helpfully tied it back with his magic.

“That’s really easy, we have some industrial grade cleaner if it really is stuck in your… scales?” Misty Sparks said, turning to look at him. “When’s the last time you had a shower?”

“When it rain,” Comet replied simply.

Skyfire turned back, blinking “That’s not a shower. That’s dirty radiated water most likely. Have you ever gotten into nice hot water and been scrubbed clean?”

“No.”

“And I thought Enclave life was sparse,” Skyfire muttered. “What you need is some good food and rest, topped with a nice soak!”

Misty Sparks squinted at some distant point on the horizon. “That… would be a lot of water.” Skyfire arched a brow at her, as if daring her to refuse. The unicorn sighed. “We just need to find a big enough tub is all.”

The satisfied snort Skyfire gave made Misty Sparks wilt a little. Her steps slowed and a large unicorn brushed her side. “Mares,” Lonestar chuckled in her ear. “They know just how to work you, don’t they?”

“W-what?” Yelped Misty Sparks, a blush lining her cheeks.

Lonestar nickered and kept trotting, leaving the stupefied mare standing there for a few seconds before she picked up the pace. Distracting herself with her pip-buck’s map, she gave a small sigh. It would still be a while before their first break. With a huff she pulled back to the head of their little herd, silent as Skyfire peppered Comet with more questions. His answers came in a rasped, exhausted voice. Yet there wasn’t a moment he sounded insincere, if anything the conversation was breathing an energy back into him absent that morning. Perhaps the journey wouldn’t be too arduous.

Bags dropped onto an old concrete slab with exhausted heaves. No one had spoken for thirty minutes. Rain splattered down on the road they’d pulled off of, heavy enough to ground the pegasi. “Well,” drawled Lonestar, “I suppose we were due for a rest anyways.”

“We’re not nearly far enough along,” Misty Sparks replied, mane plastered to her face. Muddy silver hooves wiped blonde strands from her eyes. “If it keeps up we might need to brave it in a lull.”

“And get sick?” Blue Grass asked.

“Or get caught by slavers,” Pistol countered. “We can’t stay in place for too long.”

“I didn’t see any signs of reinforcements. If they’re going to the Good Wing factory, it’s not from this direction.” Nectar Yawn, the mustard yellow pegasus, reassured as he downed an entire travel ration. His sisters stretched their wings with winces. Ashen Lace started poking her head through the old convenience shop they’d taken shelter in. Mocha Bird followed with a rifle strapped to her side. Without being asked, Grease trotted after them as they verified it was safe for them to rest in. Glass and trash rustled beneath their cautious hoofsteps, but no warnings came.

Pistol and Blue Grass shuffled Spurs onto a turned-over barrel with sacks of what was likely once apples spilling out of its sides. Any such smell was long gone. Blaze grunted as Misty Sparks helped her limp to the gathering group. Fresh potions were pulled from an uncomfortably lighter satchel. A bottle of Rad-X was given to Blaze who chomped a pair of pills down. A slow, steady tick came from their pip-bucks. When the rain worsened, the ticking became faster. Glassy emeralds stared at an old poster for a half-off sale on Sparkle-Cola as Misty Sparks began administering Radaway. Exhaustion kept the giant of a mare from acting upon the pit of dread in her gut at the familiar ticking.

Detached from the wagon’s rig, Comet curled up behind the ponies most in need of rest. His tail twitched periodically as his fin ears drooped, alert yet finding a chance of his own to recover. Debris formed a half-cushion, better than cold concrete but not by much. Blaze scooted closer to him with a hint of hesitance, before deciding to commit and resting against him. Warily, Misty Sparks followed to patch her cousin up.

Lonestar glanced around before huffing and sitting down, horn glowing as a faded deck of cards floated out of the unicorn’s bag. The case was cracked open. Worn cards glided with a flourish as the unicorn shuffled absentmindedly. Tired red eyes looked around for who was interested. Pecan Pie, Nectar Yawn, and Pistol all gathered with Lonestar around a half broken table without needing to be asked. Cards were dealt out with a precise flick of copper magic. It was a ritual, well trained into the family of merchants.

“You know, something feels fishy, looking back,” Nectar Yawn murmured, glancing between them as he picked up his cards. Orange wingtips curled invitingly to Skyfire. She pushed over a stool and settled in. Skyfire sniffed down at her own before lifting them with her feathers. She sneezed at the old smell. Pecan Pie chuckled as she sorted her cards and Skyfire blushed.

“Yeah? You might be right,” Lonestar sighed, ears pinned back. He took his hat off and let it dry on a nearby shelf. “It’d be one thing if they were camped out, but that looked like it was a long-term outpost. The razor wire, the barricades; those were all post-war modifications… recent too by the looks of it.”

“Do you think then somepony wanted us to get captured?” Pistol asked. His tail twitched as the game played out silently, hooves tapping, gesturing, and cards flying. This was a family game to unwind, yet Skyfire slipped immediately into the flow. She had played countless games with Jolts’ team.

Pecan Pie sighed softly and folded her cards for the round. “Somepony in Dryrock clearly didn’t like us then.”

“Well Sharp was the first one who said this area was safe, no raiders for days,” Lonestar huffed out, laying out his cards with a winning hoof. The group chuckled for a moment as they looked over each others’ cards. Pecan Pie grinned at her wise choice of folding, while Skyfire had lost big. Pistol gave the mare a brief smile before the next round started, cards floating out quickly. Lonestar paused for a moment to light up a limp cigarette, the faint glow shimmering as they picked back up the game.

“Sharp’s not the only one. Though I guess they weren’t raiders!” Nectar Yawn chuffed for a moment, his tail lashing. “Failed to mention the slavers, though that’s not what I asked Trails at the Quartered Horse. The folks there have usually been good with giving those ever so important details.”

Pistol fumbled his cards at the suggestion. “Do you think that somepony really wanted us dead? We have a good reputation as a caravan team.”

“Someponies don’t like competition, son,” Lonestar sighed. “We’ve had more than a few groups wanting to get in on the action. We make good caps on these runs after all, eventually you get attention. Not everypony is willing to play fair.”

The teenaged stallion frowned at his father, not quite understanding. “And we didn’t because they weren’t good partners?”

Nectar Yawn leaned over his cards and ruffled Pistol’s black mane with a wing. “This is a family caravan Little Gun. We’re a tight group. Family can trust family to be honest, but most other ponies in this game not so much.”

“We tried to raise you all with a sense of honor. The wastes might not have any, but we do,” Pecan Pie rasped quietly.

Skyfire leaned into the conversation, accidentally brushing Nectar Yawn. He squinted and pulled his cards away. “What’s Dryrock?” She asked slowly.

“Home. Simply. Home.”

“Do you have ponies waiting for you back there? Or uhm, a place that’s kept safe?”

Immediately Pecan Pie gave a whimsical sigh and leaned back on her makeshift seat. “Oh darling, don’t we ever? Lonestar here has enough family to fill a whole stable! What, between the cousins, uncles, aunts, and your… six siblings?”

“Seven.”

“Oh yeah, I always forget Ginny. Either way, Lonestar Caravans has enough kin to have a sizable voting block in Dryrock. If you ask me, that gets us enemies too.”

Pecan Pie threw down a winning hand. Nectar Yawn grumbled. Skyfire revealed a higher hand, and they all cheered her victory. The grin she wore earned a blush from Pistol. “So, is Dryrock a large town?”

Nectar Yawn folded the moment he looked at his hand. “Fuck me, you’re dealing me dirty,” he accused Lonestar.

Gray blue feathers swatted him upside the head. “Go find some manners if you’re going to be a sore loser. Your sisters aren’t back yet, check in on them.”

He slipped from his barrel seat with a dramatic grumble. “Fine, fine.”

“Put him in a hole for a few days and he loses all sense,” she chided, sighed, then addressed Skyfire. “Dryrock is south of here by a long ways, where the ground turns to red clay and the trees are mighty short. What’s left of them anyway. Ponies are getting things decently together down there, but food is hard to come by so we started a trading company. My handsome husband worked hard to get us off the ground, and now here we are.”

Pistol’s voice was tight as he spoke up. “A wonderful place that is…”

Her eyes lowered to the half-broken table. “I know… I’m sorry. This isn’t what any of us wanted, but it’s a risk in this life.”

“Not as much if ponies don’t sell us down the river,” Lonestar growled. “Maybe our pals in Hoofsten can help us figure out what happened.”

Skyfire cleared her throat. They’d all stopped playing. “I’m sorry you’ve gone through all of this. It’s just horrible! Betrayal is… unfortunately common in the wastes it would seem.”

The parents shared a look before Lonestar sighed, releasing the tension. “We survived thanks to you all. We’ll find out who’s responsible and go from there.”

“And by that you mean…?” Skyfire trailed off quietly. The glint of guns in magical glows caught her eye.

Pistol slammed his nearly forgotten cards onto the tabletop. “We’ll make them pay!”

“Pistol!” Pecan Pie scolded. “We don’t act on impulse like that.”

“They got Uncle Spurs blinded! They got our guards killed! They tried to sell us!” His words came erupting out, buried beneath finally let loose. “What else is there to do but make them regret cheating us?”

Lonestar cleared his throat and floated his hat onto Pistol’s head. The colt immediately calmed at its weight. “They will see justice. Your mama is right though, impulse gets ponies killed. We’ll be smart about it, find out who’s at fault, and put them in the ground; literally or metaphorically.”

Quelled, Pistol plopped back down onto his seat. Skyfire awkwardly shrugged, lost on what to do. It reminded her of watching her parents bicker over Lightningbreeze’s latest attempt at impressing Father. She almost expected Shining Arrow to slip in a calming word before a fight broke out. Instead, Nectar Yawn came back with a deep frown. “They’re fine,” he prefaced before anypony could question him. “Grease found a safe and is trying to open it. Apparently, I blocked the light when it was coming from her damn wrist. Ashen Lace is watching the rear so it’s just her and Mocha.”

“Probably more like they just want some quiet time,” mumbled Pistol.

Skyfire tilted her head, mane flowing to the side. “I think that helps lockpicking. You have to listen for the tumblers.”

Pecan Pie chortled, rose from the table entirely, and crossed to where Spurs, Blaze, and Misty Sparks rested. Lonestar followed with limping steps. Still wearing his father’s hat, Pistol asked Nectar Yawn to show him to Ashen Lace so he could help keep watch. The eldest pegasus smiled and together they left Skyfire alone. With a long sigh, Skyfire wilted onto the table and closed her eyes. Her body ached in ways she couldn’t quite remember. A short while later groggy purple eyes opened to reveal a large brown and blue mass, staring her head on. Several seconds later her brain recognized Comet. “Oh hi!” She hastily sat up, noticing his confused expression.

“Is it pegasi habit to nap with head on something sat like that? I saw one other doing that,” Comet murmured.

“Oh no, I just, it’s been a long day and the military makes it really easy to sleep just about anywhere. Even if… you weren’t in it long.”

“Has Baze been in mili-tary? She asleep within minute after Most Spurks left.”

“Uhm, it’s Blaze and Misty Sparks. Blaze is special,” Skyfire replied with a light giggle. “Anyways, you’re up and moving, do you feel any better with some time above the surface?”

Comet shuffled in place, looking down at his claws. He was hunched slightly beneath the peeling ceiling, water leaks made pronounced by the rain that now streaked down his emaciated body. “It nice to feel dirt again. Thankful. First time I talk with friendly ponies. You were, afraid.” He looked away uncomfortably. “Dragons have bad reputation.”

“How old are you Comet?” Skyfire couldn’t tell, dragons of myth and propaganda were said to be giant big fire behemoths who could shred cloud cities. This dragon was definitely a fair few sizes below cloud city smashing. In his condition, he might not even handle one ground dwelling.

“Am… adult. No remember number. Old enough go explore. Old enough be alone. I not like alone,” Comet sighed once more. “Thank you for listen. First time pony listen. Most run and scream.”

Skyfire’s face softened as she scooted her chair a little closer to the dragon. “I uhm, in other circumstances I might not be friends with these ponies here, but they gave me a chance. And I think you should also get that chance. It might not be easy to get others to, but I’m sure Misty Sparks can work her charm. She seems like she’s warming up to you. Helping others is always a quick way to prove you want to be friends, or at the least allies.”

That seemed to mollify Comet, who rested his head on the table, ear-fins flicking. “I would like have friends.”

“They tend to make things better,” agreed Skyfire. Purple eyes scanned him over, once more bewildered by just how harmless he looked despite the fangs, claws, and capacity for setting things aflame. “I’d be happy to be yours.”

With an almost comical noise, Comet tilted his head, ear-fins sagging with gravity. “You… would?” Flickers of light filled his golden eyes, something so far unseen by the intensity. Skyfire smiled back and gave a firm nod. “I… I like that. Friends.” Comet began to bob his head, repeating the word as if trying out how it sounded. A few more mutterings and he smiled. The corners of his mouth twitched as if the expression was unfamiliar to him. His tail curled around Skyfire. She eeped out of reflex as the dragon pulled her close, but again he showed no intent to harm her.

A hoof awkwardly patted his brow, uncertain if it was a belittling gesture to such a creature, but Comet only seemed to appreciate it. “We should get some rest if we can,” Skyfire said, allowing herself to relax against his scaled frame. Comet nodded once more and rested his head on a counter. Chuckling to herself, Skyfire closed her eyes. The soft noises of others shifting into places to rest or keep watch mixed with the constant downpour. Not far away Blaze snored loud enough to keep all but the most exhausted awake. Fortunately, Skyfire was one such pony.

“You can’t be serious,” Ashen Lace growled, staring ahead at the roadblock. The others were equally unhappy with the corpses that littered the path. There hadn’t been this many on their way down. “I thought you said this way was clear.”

“I said we didn’t fight anything,” Misty Sparks corrected. “There’s a difference.”

Grease stared down at her pip-buck’s map. “It’s the same place as before. Something came back through.”

Magic cautiously lifted the fresh bodies, likely no older than half a day. Unlike the skeletons of before, they were half-eaten. Rain made their mutilated corpses stink all the more. Birds flew lazy circles above, while a few were already picking at the ones further away. “I think I’m starting to hate birds,” Grease deadpanned. “Seem to always mean death.”

There was a chortle through the pegasi siblings, and Mocha Bird arched a brow. “Just because they see things from up high, it means they’re trouble?”

“Perhaps I like things closer to the ground, where an earth pony belongs,” Grease joked back. Their humor only earned a glare from Pecan Pie and Lonestar.

Comet stared at them with hollow eyes. Despite sleeping for nearly three hours, it wasn’t enough to give him back much energy. The fresh death was not helping that matter any. “Predator?” He questioned.

Lonestar grunted as he lifted another corpse, their guts spilling out. Immediately Pistol gagged. The unicorn trader gently lowered the body, trying to hide his own disgust. “Yes. Or somepony with a taste for their own kind. We should keep going before they come back.”

The steady rattle of the cart leaving the asphalt onto dead grass and loose stones was uncomfortable. Misty Sparks and Skyfire kept a keen eye on it for any weakening points. A low dip caused a sharp creak. Blaze grimaced and Spurs muttered a curse as they bounced painfully against the recovered scrap. “Any chance they’ll follow our trail?” Questioned Misty Sparks as another concerning noise came from the cart. The slaughter was uncomfortably large, spilling out on both sides of the road. More than a few appeared to have been running for their lives, spent ammo and broken healing potions telling of their struggle.

The scarred pegasus approached the bodies, her ears back in concentration. While she examined the area, her siblings searched for any useful loot. Skyfire again nearly puked as Blue Grass carefully prodded a mauled stallion with her magic. The family took to it with such ease the stable ponies, even Blaze, were disgusted. Pistol appeared to be the only one uncomfortable, brown eyes fixated on the body with the spilled guts.

Misty Sparks swallowed dryly. “You’re just… fine with all that?”

“Corpses don’t need supplies,” Pecan Pie said in a firm voice. “We’ll only grab what we can quick.”

Ashen Lace was the only one of them not looting. Instead, she sniffed and twitched her ears. Bright blue fixated on the east. “It’s a pack,” she declared. “At least six, maybe even ten. Mongrels are mean things when they’re hungry.”

A confused noise escaped Blaze before she shifted on the wagon. It was a mistake, as her weight change caused them to veer a little. Comet grunted, she gave an awkward apology and then spoke up. “How can you tell?”

“It’s what I do. I handle the animals,” her voice was flat as she considered the scene. Comet pulled the wagon back onto the road and grumbled with effort. It was far smoother on the broken road than off it.

As promised, the others rejoined the caravan, an assortment of supplies such as medicines and food now in their possession. Mocha Bird gave Grease a fresh box of 7.62, a sangria colored feather wiping away most of the blood. Hiding her grimace, Grease accepted it with a nod. “Will they find us?” Lonestar called.

She shook her head and joined them with a winged bounce. “No. They’ll be full from this. Other scavengers will come soon enough though. Blue Grass, cover our tracks.”

Within moments the herbalist had pulled out a small pouch and was tossing something powdered behind them. The fluidity of the family’s movements was a marvel to Misty Sparks. Only dedicated security squads who had been at each other’s sides for years had displayed such familiarity and prediction of one another’s movements. She glanced over at her team and saw no such unity. Blaze was sure to cause another scene should it fit her whims. The speed at which she’d defied Misty Sparks’ orders was troubling in many ways. There wasn’t a single part of her that doubted they’d face more grueling scenarios. She wasn’t sure if she could talk Blaze down again.

She hadn’t even then when she thought about it.

Stones weighed down in her gut. Misty Sparks stared at the road as they continued walking. They were alive by miracle and little else. She hadn’t even kept them from arguing, threatening, or nearly falling apart. The tip of her horn burned as she attempted, and failed, to summon some magic. Teeth gritted as she recalled what they’d been through, trying to process it before they got home. Breathing grew labored at just what she would tell her mother. How would she explain pointing her horn at Blaze, or the dragon? How long would it take them to work with a fraction of the trust the Lonestar Caravan did?

She feared they would crumple apart before they got the chance.

Hills of dull browns and grays were a welcome sight to the caravan as they neared Stable 36. A watch tower disguised well with some debris was just within view, meaning they were at most fifteen minutes of walking away. Exhaustion had given way to nerves. Misty Sparks had been practicing what she’d say for hours, working every possible response she could think of. Skyfire had been happy to help point out what needed refinement, but it didn’t negate the terror. It was time to find out just how open-minded her mother was.

Sharp blue exploded above them, rippling across a blanket of clouds. The sun had set, leaving them awash in the glow of the signal flare. It wasn’t half as beautiful as the Overmare’s spells. “Quite the clever thought,” Lonestar whistled as the watchtower gave a return signal, a trio of colored flashes in their perch. “So they won’t shoot us on sight now?”

Grease chuffed and picked up her pace. “They would never! If Comet was alone though…”

“Great,” a tired mutterance came from the dragon.

Another series of colored flashes caught their eyes. Grease froze in place. The rest of the caravan staggered to a stop, with Skyfire nearly walking into the heavily armed earth pony. “Sorry!” She squeaked. “What’s going on?”

Misty Sparks sighed and sat down. “Orders are to stay put. They’re coming to meet us. Probably doesn’t want Comet in town where he could hurt ponies. Not that you would, but they don’t know that. Overmare Flare is the cautious type.”

Travel-weary noises sounded out in near-perfect union as they all settled down to wait. Pecan Pie took a pull from a flask and offered it to Lonestar who simply shook his head. Shrugging, she had more. “How long before they arrive?” He inquired.

Rubbing her brow, Misty Sparks shrugged. “They’ll bring out plenty of guards in this case. Probably some doctors too. It’ll be… maybe you could take a nap?”

Immediately he cackled, nearly throwing his hat off with the sharp movement. “That long huh?”

Blaze’s rough voice followed a chuckle of her own. “Stable-Tec has some precise rules for strange happenings and they’ll be sure to follow them line by line.”

“It keeps us alive,” mumbled Misty Sparks.

“What was that? Can’t quite hear you from up here,” Blaze jeered.

“Knock it off,” interjected Grease. “We want Comet to be allowed to stay, yeah? So play nice!”

While the short unicorn huffed but said nothing, Blaze simply waved her off. “Whatever. I’ll make sure they let him stick around.”

“And how are you going to do that, oh exile?”

There was a lapse of silence. “Fuck you.”

“Yeah yeah, fuck you too. Now be quiet,” Grease ordered. To everypony’s relief, Blaze obeyed. More than a dozen small or otherwise arguments had broken out With Blaze involved in some form. Demands for meds, dubiously legitimate given her injuries, was the most recurring battle. Skyfire had nearly taped both of the cousins’ mouths to get them to stop.

With everypony's nerves fried and bodies nearly collapsing, Grease spoke up confidently. “Everything will be alright. We're almost home.”

While most of the caravan wore hesitant or exhausted expressions. Mocha Bird smiled. Warmth filled purple eyes as she turned to Grease. Immediately the earth pony straightened up. “You haven't led us astray so far.”

Spurs gave a long sigh from the back of the wagon. “Forgive me if I don't feel comfortable at the thought of a little army approaching while we sit here under a sniper’s barrel.”

An equally tired sigh from Misty Sparks replied. “I don't blame you after everything you've been through. However, I promise we will do right by you, proof is coming.” The blinded stallion nickered, voice rough like rocks. He and Blaze began to mutter to one another, quickly rising into sarcastic jabs. Misty Sparks did her best to tune them out.

The others were chatting idly, save for Comet. The dragon simply stood there, gaze fixated on the watchtower. The glint of glass caught Misty Sparks’ eye, and despite how much she wished otherwise she knew it was a scope. Comet was undoubtedly under the sentry's crosshairs. Were he healthy it wouldn't have done much, but in his present state Comet was vulnerable. A knot twisted her stomach. She moved next to him, a hoof gingerly touching his elbow. She couldn't reach his shoulder when he stood. “It'll be okay,” she reassured, half as much for herself.

“I not scared,” he rasped.

Ears flicked back. “You're not?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Comet tilted his head and curled his neck to look at her. Exhaustion clung to his starved frame, yet he gave a small smile. “Skyfire is friend.”

Lime eyes flickered to the gray pegasus. Somehow the mare had dozed off, head back and wings twitching every so often. Heat rushed across the unicorn's cheeks at how it made her chest fluff more pronounced. “Skyfire is good to have as a friend,” she replied awkwardly. “She'll keep you safe.”

“And you?”

Lips thinned and one ear flickered. “I'll do my best.”

A smile was given, a precious treasure almost. “Then I not scared.”

Humbled, Misty Sparks waited beside him.

“You know, this isn’t how I expected you to return,” Overmare Flare’s voice was firm as she took in the group of injured ponies. She hadn’t taken her eyes off Comet since her whole squadron of Security ponies had arrived, armed to the hoof in riot gear and battlesaddles.

Misty Sparks awkwardly smiled. “Well, neither did any of us,” she joked. Flare frowned. “Sorry. We are all relatively okay, though. At least nothing urgently in need of healing. My spells and the potions kept that at bay.”

Flanked by guards who were all but aiming at Comet, Flare advanced. “If I understand the situation correctly, you found these caravaners at the Goodwing factory?” Lonestar and Pecan Pie gave polite nods, both of them waving their hats. Sharp blue eyes softened at their friendliness, and she nodded in return. Stopping in front of Comet, she tilted her head up to meet his weary eyes. “And this… dragon?”

“Comet,” he introduced himself. The disused quality of his voice made it sound more like a growl. A wave spread over the stable ponies, some flinching towards the bits of their guns.

Flare whistled. Everypony returned to their previously tense position. “Comet. I am Overmare Flare. My watchponies say you’ve done nothing but stand here while you waited. Apologies that was nearly a half hour, I wanted to make sure we were… prepared for our meeting.”

“Ponies fear dragons,” he grunted. His shoulders swayed as the long day of hauling a wagon wore down on his already exhausted body. Having such a break while still attached to the wagon only brought the discomfort back to the forefront. Comet panted lightly, the struggle of talking more than a few words after so many months of silence pushing the dragon.

The familiar mask of caution Overmare Flare wore made Misty Sparks shift her weight. She had hoped to see that less often, but she couldn’t exactly blame her mother for it right then either. They had been asked to bring home aircraft parts and instead came with a predator with a bad history with Equestria. Shaking those thoughts away, Misty Sparks stepped beside Comet. “He was a slave, just like Lonestar Caravan. He’s been nothing but kind since we freed him.”

“Has he eaten?” Flare inquired. “Is he going to need something full of protein?”

Lime eyes narrowed as she thought of the right words to allay her mother’s fears. “He eats more than meat,” she clarified, “crystals are even better for him. We have some, don’t we?”

Flare turned her attention to her daughter, blatantly staring at the blackening of her horn. Misty thinned her lips as that focus lowered to her bloodstained armor, then drifted over her team. Skyfire and Grease were less sullied, while Blaze was kept hidden by the wagon. Only her ears over the railing confirmed where she rested. Cold ice turned to Misty Sparks, ever so slightly sharper. “Valuable ammo, magical foci, and crucial engineering crystals, yes. Ones we can spare for a dragon to eat, not so much.”

“I no eat ponies,” Comet reaffirmed. The firmness of his voice, despite how much it quivered in his state, made Flare step back. Again the guards shifted. “I tell them all before, I tell you now.”

Lonestar limped over to the unicorn pair with a soothing smile. “It’s true, ma’am. Comet here was locked up with my eldest kids for a few days. Prime chance to have some pegasi snacks, yet he didn’t. He’s even been so kind as to pull the wagon so my brother and Blaze can rest on our trip here.”

Immediately the pegasi trio voiced those facts from where they stood. Nectar Yawn carefully trotted next to them. “On my life I swear, he had every reason to eat us. They had him for weeks ma’am! Chained up where he could barely move and starving because he refused to eat any kind of pony meat. If that doesn’t tell you enough about his character, I don’t know what will.”

Head tilted, Flare hummed. “Rather promising testimonies for a dangerous creature. I try not to judge by species alone, but I hope you can forgive my concerns, Comet. The closest I’ve come to a dragon is history books, and they aren’t exactly kind to your kin.”

“He’s not one of them,” Skyfire cut in, projecting her voice with more confidence than expected. There was no hiding the way her legs trembled, or wings fluffed, yet she did not back down. Brow arched, Flare bid Skyfire to continue. “If you're willing to give an Enclaver like me, a group you believe your enemy, a chance then Comet Is even more deserving. He's far too young to have fought in the Great War, he's as blameless as all of us… maybe even more so.”

Emboldened by her friend, Misty Sparks pushed. “More than that, we’re trying to do better than our ancestors right? That’s the whole point of Stable 36’s ethos, isn’t it? We’ve given up so much to do more than survive but to learn from the past and thrive. If we’re going to adapt to the surface we can’t let our history rule us. We have to be better.”

A weight clung to the air that only grew the longer Flare looked at her daughter. Shorter than the average height of any adult mare, Flare still had to tilt her head down to meet Misty Sparks’ determined expression. “You’ve thought long and hard on this, haven’t you?”

“I wouldn’t have brought him if I hadn’t.”
Staring at the little mare, Flare gave another thoughtful hum. It felt strange to Misty Sparks to see her like this, far more composed than expected at the potential threat she’d brought to their door. Worries that there would be a more private argument began to prickle down her hide, biting at already strained nerves. There were plenty of reasons for Flare to act one way and think another, especially after the mutiny.

Taking her attention off her mother, Misty Sparks scanned the squadron of guards. Most of them trembled in their boots. Even starved, a dragon was a creature of legend, and Comet rose well above any of their heads. Surely if absolutely pushed, he could kill at least a few of them. Misty Sparks knew by now, trusted even, that he wouldn’t. Her fellow stable ponies had no such proof. Hot-headed debating would only set a pony panicking, and eventually, intentional or not, somepony was going to shoot. There was only one option that kept them as safe as possible, and Overmare Flare had chosen that long before she’d arrived.

Once again she felt respect and humbled by her mother. There was so much she would need to learn, intricacies of leadership she felt far from skilled in. For a moment it felt as if she were at the bottom of a valley, while Flare shone upon a mountaintop. Doubt, especially after this voyage, that she would ever reach the same heights bit at her. She forced them away as best she could. Some still lingered.

Another hum and a flick of an ear was all Flare gave as she addressed Comet. “It would seem you have my daughter vouching for you. And given the way the rest of this caravan, my ponies included, are acting I trust they feel the same. So, let us try something, Sir Comet.” She held up a hoof. Cautiously he lowered his head enough to sniff it. The corners of her eyes creased, but she did not comment. “You will be allowed to rest and recover in the surface town of Stable 36. You will, by no means, enter the stable itself. Aside from how you would scare everypony I watch over to death, I doubt you could even comfortably fit in most of its corridors. If you can eat things other than meat, I think we can spare enough energy ammo to get you more stable on your feet.”

“That… would be nice,” he rasped. “Thank.”

Nodding, Flare gave a brisk order for the guards to stand down. They obeyed in waves, rippling with far less discipline than Misty Sparks would like. Many of them wore new stripes entirely, likely some of the replacements for the mutineers. “I have faith in my daughter, even when I don’t agree with her choices. I will give you this one chance. Do not make me regret this.”

Comet gave a lethargic nod. “Thank you.”

Flare’s hoof was still lifted. Fin ears flapped as he observed her. “I assume you don’t know what I’m doing,” Flare chuckled and set her hoof back down. “Dragons don’t exactly have hooves to shake after all.”

“Oh!” He half-shouted. “No. Sorry. Shake hands… I think?”

“You think?”

“Long story,” Misty Sparks piped up.

Conceding, Flare smiled at the dragon. “Let’s get you out of that saddle, and have my strongest guards take over. You look like you’re about to collapse. I think you could rest well near the barn.” Already the bravest of Security were moving, a few barely even trembling as they grew close enough to the dragon could bite them in two.

Comet silently watched as ponies gingerly removed the makeshift harness, giving him ample time to limp out from the setup. The moment the weight was removed from his torso he slumped. His lungs ached anew as if the relief hurt almost as much as the strain. A hoof against his shoulder remained while the guards began saddling up. He blinked down at Skyfire, who had kept quiet like the rest of the stable ponies.

With grunts and muttered curses at how the dragon even managed to lug the heavy cart so far, the stable guards descended the hill. Blaze gave a wave as she and Spurs were far less smoothly brought to the surface clinic. The rest of the caravan followed after, with Grease escorting them. Comet stared after them until Misty Sparks cleared her throat. His eyes blinked out of sync as he looked down at her. Next to Flare, she looked even smaller.

“The barn? Let’s get you somewhere you can properly rest,” Misty Sparks started. Skyfire was already leading the way, a gentle smile on the pegasus’ face. Emboldened by the soft cheer of her companion, Misty Sparks let herself relax. Things had turned out much better than she could have hoped for, though she did not doubt there would be plenty of further discussion with Flare. At the very least, he had been accepted in some form. Whatever problems would arise next could wait until after a very long nap.