Chapter Two: Trust

“Trust starts with truth and ends with truth.”

“Irresponsible reckless behavior, self-endangerment, defying the direct orders of a security officer, defying the mandated lockdown of the stable, investigating a potential enemy threat without authorization, and to top it all off, unauthorized use of chemical substances!” Overmare Flare lowered a paper onto the desk, blue eyes icily staring at the two mares sitting before her.

Standing on one end of a long wooden desk was Chief Smokey, a stout charcoal earth pony stallion whose red eyes wanted to turn Blaze to ash. On the other side was Sergeant Cuffs, green eyes wide. He twitched every so often, making Misty Sparks suspect he was almost as nervous as she. Blaze however, yawning in her seat, didn’t seem to care.

Misty Sparks hardly understood her cousin.

“Whatever am I going to do with you two?” Flare asked.

“I hope you mares realize,” Chief Smokey cut in, “that defying a mandatory lockdown is an automatic double duty for three days. And for you Blaze, I imagine that’ll be extra difficult given you barely show up for work as is.”

The sandy colored mare straightened up in her chair, squinting at him as if challenging him to a fight, but said nothing. The Overmare sighed and rubbed at her temples. “Do you know the position you’ve put us in with this stunt? I honestly can’t say I’m all that surprised that you would do something like this Blaze, but Misty Sparks? I expected better of you, young mare!”

Misty Sparks tried to merge into her seat, pressing against it as much as physically possible. The small unicorn was looking at anything but the pale red mare, who was sitting on the other side of the desk. Misty Sparks’ gaze fell upon the shelf, mounted to the wall. There were family photographs, arranged in a particular manner, showing a young Flare alongside a darker red colt being nuzzled by their mother. Next to it was a photo of a stallion whose green mane contrasted with an ashen coat; his emerald eyes instantly made Misty Sparks’ heart clench. She idly moved a hoof, touching her freckles as she stared at the stallion’s matching ones. I wonder how disappointed he’d be.

“Misty Sparks are you even listening to me?” Flare snapped, drawing her from her thoughts.

Misty Sparks flushed. “Sorry Mom,” she said and shifted up in her seat. She glanced back to the photo of her father. “I shouldn’t have gone without permission, I know. Sorry.”

Nodding sternly, Flare continued, “Of all the ponies Blaze could drag into trouble I didn’t think it’d be you. Blitz, most certainly, but not you. You could have been hurt, or worse yet killed! And how would we have any idea if I hadn’t already been sending a security team to investigate? That crash is two hours away, you could have been attacked by anything on the way there and back! The two of you aren’t capable of defending yourself against raiders or mutant creatures. I expect you to think things through, not succumb to peer pressure.”

Her last shred of patience gone, Blaze snapped. First it was constant scolding on the walk home and now this?! Blaze wasn’t known for her patience, and it was almost a miracle it had lasted so long. “Hey, lay off her!” The others looked at Blaze, Misty Sparks’ eyes widening in shock as her cousin came to her defense. It wasn’t something that happened often, if ever. “Sparky saved that mare’s life, and if we’d waited on all of you then she’d definitely be dead by now. She did her job, and I took care of those ghouls easy-peasy.”

Flare’s icy gaze settled on Blaze, the indigent mare stiffening as her aunt’s anger turned on her again. Even used to it, being the disappointment in the family that she was, it still set her on edge. “Her job is not to heal ponies, it is to create and sell chems. Chems that you so recklessly use.”

Blaze firmly met her gaze. “They’re prescription.”

Flare snorted, before moving on and looking back down at the paperwork, clearly not thinking it was worth the fight. Blaze snorted victoriously in response. “According to Sergeant Cuffs’ report, he found you two returning from the Enclave wreckage with the injured pegasus passed out. Skyfire is her name, correct?” Misty Sparks nodded. “Cuffs, do you have anything else to add?”

The large stallion gave a nod and cleared his throat. He tugged at the collar of his stable suit. “What Blaze says is true, she did neutralize the ghouls seemingly on her own. There were no bullet wounds, only blunt force trauma, presumably from her sledgehammer. She was also covered in blood and minor wounds. It’s unclear if she wasn’t feeling bad due to the chems in her system or because she was truly alright.”

“I’m right here you know,” grumbled Blaze.

“Yes, and you’re a known liar so I’d like to get somepony else’s version of what happened,” Flare replied smoothly. Chief Smokey chuckled slightly, still glaring at Blaze intently. The mare glared right back, emeralds and rubies fighting a silent war. They knew each other far too well given Blaze’s rebellious nature.

Clearing his throat, Cuffs rubbed his fuschia beard before continuing. Misty Sparks felt slight discomfort at the way he stood. She doubted he spoke directly to the Overmare that often. Considering even she could be intimidated by her mother’s position, she could only imagine how a simple security sergeant must have been feeling right about then.

“I must also agree with Blaze’s statement that we would have arrived too late,” he conceded, getting a glare from Smokey while Blaze grinned triumphantly. “Our approach to the situation was to be much more cautious, not charge right into a potential danger zone. They’re fortunate the ghoul pack was small, otherwise they could have been seriously injured if not killed. Luck and timing decided this rather than true skill.” Smokey’s glare softened. Blaze rolled her eyes and grunted.

“I see,” Flare replied, thoughtfully folding her hooves and frowning. She seemed so composed, her mane pulled back into a bun with a curl on either side of her horn. The light of the atrium window behind her gave her silhouette the otherworldly feel, a bright contrast to the dark blue walls of Stable 36. Even Blaze listened when Flare spoke. Sergeant Cuffs almost seemed to revere her, drinking her words up as if they came from the Goddesses themselves. A part of Misty hoped she’d hold such authority and respect when she was Overmare.

“The position you mares have put us into is a difficult one,” she said, looking at her daughter and niece.

“That’s putting it lightly,” Smokey said sharply, scrunching his nose at them. “If the Enclave comes to investigate whatever happened to that aircraft, we’re at a serious risk. We know next to nothing about them, that makes them a threat. Your recklessness could bring them down on us. What if they think we’ve taken their citizen hostage?”

“Smokey,” Flare said, holding a hoof up, his anger reining in instantly. “I know you just want to throw Blaze in the brig, but please, try not to jump to outlandish conclusions. There’s as many positive possibilities from this as negative ones.”

“Apologies Overmare,” he said, tucking his head. Blaze stuck her tongue out at him, making his scowl instantly return. Flare cleared her throat, looking at him strictly. Misty Sparks marveled at the way she controlled the room. She didn’t get to see her mother in action like this very often, busy as she was working at the chem shop. “Regardless, it still stands that we know nothing of this pegasus in our medical ward.”

Flare gave a nod, looking over the papers once more. “According to Healing Drops’ report, she’s stable, but in an induced coma to assure she’s healing and subdued. She’s quarantined, both for her benefit and ours. Misty, Blaze, do make sure you get yourselves examined after this, we don’t want you catching any cloud-based diseases.”

“What kind of diseases could they have?” Blaze scoffed, “There’s nothing but clouds up there.”

“And ponies. Ponies who have to be eating something to survive two hundred years after the Great War, so you’re getting examined,” countered Flare. Grumbling to herself, Blaze relented. Flare smiled softly, and then looked at Misty Sparks. “Did you see anything inside the wreckage that I should be concerned with? Any weapons, explosives?”

Misty Sparks gave a shrug, ears pinning back as she tried her best to remember. “I’m not sure. It was really dark, even with my flashlight. Most of it was wrecked in one way or another, but I didn’t see anything other than the bodies and uh… a laser pistol.” Flare squinted at her pause. “It was probably just a standard part of the equipment, you wouldn’t send out somepony unarmed would you?”

“No, I wouldn’t. So the question is, what were they doing out here, and why did they crash?”

“That’s probably a question only the pegasus can answer,” Smokey said.

“I doubt she intended on blowing up,” Blaze drawled. The others glared at her.

Flare hummed in thought, idly tapping a pencil on a table, violet magic aura casting a shadow on her face. Misty Sparks watched nervously, following it go up and down until Flare straightened up, the telekinetic aura around the pencil exploding with a colorful flourish. Her magic was never subtle. She addressed Smokey directly, authority and certainty in her voice.

“Arrange another squad to the wreckage to investigate and assure the area is clear. Scouting mission, recon only. If any hostiles are in the area they’re to return immediately. If it’s clear, check the cargo and bring back anything of note. I want it under constant surveillance. Set up a hidden outpost and establish radio contact using the scouting frequency. Sergeant Cuffs, given you’re familiar with the area already, I want you to lead it.” The stallion stiffened, and gave a resolute nod. “Cuffs you are dismissed.”

Giving a salute, Cuffs briskly exited the Overmare’s office, the door whooshing behind him as he left. Smokey watched him go, gave a sigh, and then looked back at Flare. “He’ll do fine, Sergeant Cuffs is a good officer.”

Flare smiled politely. “Good, I expect the best of our security,” her gaze returned to Misty Sparks, “and my daughter.“ Misty Sparks squirmed in her seat, trying to escape her mother’s glare. Without looking away, Flare spoke again, "Smokey, please go make sure that gets done properly. I need to have a private discussion with these two.”

“Understood,” he replied, saluted, and then trotted out.

Misty Sparks’ heart raced as they were left alone with her mother, uncertain which mask she would be wearing next time she spoke. Noticing the professionalism melt away from blue eyes however, she relaxed. “Misty, Blaze,” Flare said slowly, gathering herself. “What you did was beyond foolish, like two foals chasing a Mister Handy across the Atrium. If you’d gotten hurt…”

Blaze’s face hardened, casting her gaze aside, as Misty Sparks lowered her head in shame. “Yeah well we didn’t, we’re fine,” grunted Blaze, “not that you’d really care if I got hurt anyways.”

“You know I love you Blaze,” Flare said, “you’re my niece, you’re my family.”

“Doesn’t mean you really care.”

Sighing, knowing full well she wasn’t going to get through to the mare, Flare looked at Misty Sparks. “I am proud of your heart, and that you wanted to help, I honestly am. But to do it like this, without permission and in such a dangerous situation, is not wise. An Overmare must consider all the options, and not be coerced into taking action.” She shot Blaze an accusing glare, making the earth pony scowl harder.

Misty Sparks couldn’t meet her mother’s gaze, head heavy with thoughts and shame. She stared at her hooves, picturing Skyfire’s blood on them. Her Pip-Buck had a slight mark left from the ghoul. She’d saved her. There was no doubt about it, if they hadn’t gone, Skyfire would have been dead by then, either having bled out or been eaten by the ghouls. Despite herself, the fear and danger the situation had brought, she was proud of that fact. She had saved somepony, and even if it ended up being a mistake, it had been because of her. Already Misty Sparks had decided that she would take any blame, even if she had only gone because of Blaze, but it had been her magic and knowledge that had saved Skyfire. It was her who had brought Skyfire to their home.

“Would you have let her die?”

Flare blinked, taken aback. “Excuse me?”

“Let’s say hypothetically, we hadn’t gone, and your squad arrived in time. Would they have saved her?”

“My orders were clear; assess the situation, provide medical care as needed, and neutralize any threats to the safety of Stable 36.”

Eyes raising, Misty Sparks leaned forward in her chair until she could reach the desk. “And is she a threat?”

Flare frowned. “I’m not sure yet.”

Misty’s voice lowered, thick and heavy. “So until you are?”

Blaze stared at Misty Sparks, jaw dropping slightly. Flare blinked once more, taken off-guard by her daughter’s firmness. She rarely spoke with such gravity, Misty Sparks easily noticed pride filling mother’s eyes. “Until I am, I will treat her as I would treat any other injured outsider. She will recover, and then we will find out why she’s here.” Flare paused, taking in her daughter. “You care about her wellbeing.”

“I saved her life. I’m responsible for her now.” Misty Sparks looked at Blaze. “We both are.”

Blaze snickered. “You don’t want me responsible for anything, let alone somepony’s life.”

“We’re Stable 36,” Misty Sparks said, turning to her mother fully. Determination filled lime-green eyes, strength rising within the small unicorn. “We treat ponies as they should be treated, and that is with respect. She’s not our prisoner, she’s our guest.”

Flare beamed with pride, making Misty Sparks blush. “Good girl.”

The realm of consciousness came back to Skyfire excruciatingly slow.

A fire within her rose from the embers, drifting across her body in what felt like hours. Her mind was nothing but fog as she felt herself starting to stir. She really couldn’t tell what was going on, except that it smelled really different. It was clean, sterile, sanitary. None of those were things she’d ever encounter in her daily life, not that she lived a dirty one, this was just too clean.

Even her sluggish mind could tell it was out of the ordinary. Not to mention how heavy her body felt, her mind still trying to sort everything out. Her hide itched, as if bugs were crawling along her skin, but her body was too heavy to really move let alone itch at it.

A particular spot on her left burned the worst.

Her eyes weren’t helping out either. They were as heavy as the stupid torque wrench she always had to lug around. What little she could see through what felt like a struggle was bright light. White, blaring, sterile light, so bright it hurt to stare at, bringing Skyfire to clench her eyes closed, groaning quietly.

After what felt like hours later, sounds started to come back to her. Distant humming, repetitive noises going off, from what sounded like a computer, though that only further confused her. She really wished she could wake up faster, this was agonizing! She’d be late for work at this point! Except she wasn’t at work. That much she remembered, the realization sending a jolt of nervous energy through her body. Something was definitely wrong. That singular thought helped her hearing and sight come back faster, the ashen pegasus’ eyes fluttering as she managed to focus on the world around her. She was on a bed that wasn’t hers.

Did I have some crazy night?

Skyfire’s body confirmed she did indeed have a crazy night, as a massive lance of pain spiraled from her left side. She yelped out loudly in pain, flinching and curling up as her heart started racing again. Something beeped loudly to the side. She looked down to see her bandaged side, memory starting to come back, rushing forward to slam into her skull. The descent with Jolts, the crash, the unicorn saving her, her name just eluding Skyfire. Misty? She blinked and felt herself start shivering as she stared at the bandage, a vivid memory of what she had seen last filling her mind. She could almost see it now. She looked away in a panic only to yelp again as she noticed a rather serious looking unicorn staring right at her.

“All nice and woken up?” She asked, Skyfire uncertain if she was truly frowning or if that was simply her face’s natural position now. “Good. My name is Doctor Healing Drops, I am the Chief of Medical here in Stable 36, which is where you are now.” Slate eyes settled on her as Healing Drops telekinetically lifted a clipboard, marking a few things down before refocusing on the bewildered Skyfire. Her expression softened for a moment. “You took quite a beating young mare.”

“What?” Skyfire managed, tongue struggling to form the many words of shock and confusion that were filling her mind. Instead, she made a simple squeak of confusion. An attempt at shifting herself up to look at Healing Drops quickly reminded her that she was still injured in the form of another sharp lance of pain. Skyfire flinched quite visibly, clutching her side before whimpering as a more tender pain spread through her body. She couldn’t remember ever being in so much pain before.

Healing Drops gave a sympathetic smile to the pegasus, but it did little to ease Skyfire’s wounds. “You’re lucky those mares found you when they did, or else I don’t think we’d be talking right now.” She peered at a set of monitors besides Skyfire, drawing her attention to them and the IV stand nearby. Purple eyes widened as she followed the tube to where it was injected in her left forelimb. Slowly she began to put the pieces together: that she was in some sort of hospital, in an isolated room on a medical bed. Skyfire scanned the room, trying to take in more details of her surroundings.

It was small, a door on the far side with a pony in some sort of armor standing besides it. Her heart skipped as she saw a pistol on their barding, the machine next to her registering it and making the doctor raise a brow. She coughed, trying to cover her fear, but failed. A window was along the wall to her right, just enough for Skyfire to see a hallway of sorts with posters on it, but with how strained her eyesight was she couldn’t make out many details without her head starting to ache.

Healing Drops cleared her throat, making her look back at the old mare. Wondering if she was a prisoner of some kind, Skyfire studied the mare. She had a white coat she’d seen the doctors back home wear with a strange insignia on it: an upright horseshoe with an inner circle and wings. Her minty mane was almost like a dollop of toothpaste, especially against her light blue fur. A trio of droplets with a red cross behind them adorned her flank, making it easy for Skyfire to believe she was a doctor. There was something on her right forehoof, a series of buttons sitting below a small screen, piquing pegasus’ interest, but before she could dwell further on the device, Healing Drops started again.

“I’d like to ask you some questions, see if your cognitive functions haven’t taken a hit like the rest of you. We’ll start with something simple.” Healing Drops floated a nearby stool closer, a soothing red hue surrounding the metal seat as she put it in place. She grimaced as she sat down, letting out a slow sigh, and then levitated her clipboard and pen to herself. “What is your name?”

Skyfire shifted in the bed, sitting up now and grimacing as it caused more pain to flood her body. It took a few moments for her to settle out, the walls wobbling until she caught her breath. “I’m sorry- I just…”

“It’s okay, take your time,” Healing Drops said, letting Skyfire get her bearings once more. “Is the pain too great to think?”

“I…” Skyfire took slow breaths, trying to focus, before shaking her head. “No I just need a moment.” Healing Drops lifted her chin, the pen in her telekinetic grip growing closer to the clipboard, before Skyfire nodded. “My name is Skyfire. Skyfire Lumia.”

“Matches what Misty Sparks said,” Healing Drops replied as she jotted something down. “Mostly anyways. Misty Sparks mentioned you had a companion in the wreckage, what was their name?”

Purple eyes widened, sucked back into memory, the look in orange eyes moments before everything went black. The fear. “Jolts,” she whispered, voice a thousand miles away, “his name was Jolts.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Healing Drops said with sincerity, giving her time before she spoke again. Skyfire gripped the blanket, heat flashing over her in waves, the sounds of the explosion roaring in her ears. The wound on her left side flared as her mind drifted further, reliving the few minutes she could remember before the explosion. “Skyfire?” The doctor’s voice drew her back to reality.

She blinked and shook her head slowly, trying to focus. “Sorry.”

“Like I said, it’s okay.” Healing Drops watched her for a few more moments, and then tilted her head. “Tell me about your home,” she said, “I assume there’s at least a city up in the clouds for you Enclavers.”

Skyfire gave a shaky breath, appreciative that the doctor was trying to keep her from dwelling on those terrible last few moments. “I’m from Neighvarro, I’m a mechanic.”

“Did you work on aircraft, like the one you… arrived here in?”

“Yes. The Skyhawk was Jolts’ personal aircraft.” Skyfire struggled for a few moments. “I was his favorite mechanic, we were friends and-”

“Do you have family?” Healing Drops interrupted, drawing her from the darkening thoughts. “I had parents, until disease took them ten years ago. My son is still around at least. What about you Skyfire? Family back home?”

Thinking on her family helped the mare focus, her breathing steading. “My father, Irontail, my mother Draftystorm, sister Lightning Breeze, and my brother Shining Arrow. They’re all in the military, uh… I was the only one who went into engineering actually. Go me.” She sighed, finding herself on that medical bed easily caused a deluge of family pain to resurface. “Then again with a cutie mark like mine, I guess it was bound to happen.” She slightly pulled the blanket up to let the doctor look at her cutie mark, a cog with a wrench diagonally across it.

Healing Drops seemed to find that statement particularly interesting, ears flicking. “Soldiering? Of course you have soldiers, like our security.” She gestured a hoof at the pony in armor by the door. Skyfire tried to look closer at the pony in armor, but the only thing she could make out was that it was a mare. “I hope you don’t mind them, they’re more just a precaution than anything else. You’re an awful lot of unknowns.”

They don’t trust me. The thought slammed into her head. It made sense, in every manner it was the only truly logical scenario, but something about it made her hide itch all the more. “No, I don’t.”

“So how about we make you a bit more known then?” Healing Drops said, toying with the pen idly. “Overmare Flare would like you to consider Stable 36 a respectable and hospitable place, however in the Equestrian Wasteland we have to be careful. Trusting the wrong pony can lead to sabotage, theft, even death. We want to trust you Skyfire, we truly do, but we need to know if we can first.”

Skyfire grimaced, moving a hoof to her side. “How long have I been here?”

“You arrived three days ago in critical condition. Misty Sparks’ medical skills kept you alive, and we induced a coma to make sure you recovered. It seemed time to wake you up, bringing us to now.”

“Three days!?”

“Modern medicine and magics can be quite effective,” she said with pride. The security pony coughed across the way, making the old mare scowl back. Skyfire pinned her ears back, long crimson mane messy as it fell around her. She felt frail, her skinny grey body shivering and she wasn’t sure if she was cold, still in shock, or it was simply from the pain. “That’s not to say you won’t still need time to recover fully, but we needed to speak with you.”

“What do you want to know?” Skyfire asked, her eyes focusing on Healing Drops. “I honestly don’t know much, like why I was even in the Skyhawk to get blown up in the first place.”

Wrinkled lips drew into a heavy frown, and Healing Drops sighed. “Well that’s unfortunate.”

“I wish I knew I really do, I just- I don’t!” Frustration boiled within the pegasus, wings rising with agitation as she sat up straighter only to fall back into the bed, hissing as another spike of pain pulsed through her body. The heart monitor beeped swiftly as she focused back on the good doctor, tearing up a bit from the pain and frustration. “I’m sorry I’m not much help.”

“Well we can’t hold that against you, considering the amount of trauma you’ve undergone it’s not a surprise.” Healing Drops lowered her pen, eyeing Skyfire for a bit longer. “Perhaps after more rest you’ll find your memory has returned,” she suggested, rising to her hooves and crossing to the machines besides Skyfire. “You’re still in a lot of pain, I can give you some medicine to make it go away, but it will put you to sleep. It’s up to you if you want it.”

“Please!” The request came a bit too swiftly, almost desperate.

Giving a sad smile, Healing Drops pushed a few buttons, and a mechanical fizzing noise was soon followed by a chilling sensation throughout Skyfire’s body. Her head grew heavy in only a matter of seconds, colors blurring into each other, shapes shifting into blobs. “Rest well,” Healing Drops’ words were half understood as Skyfire swooned, and then slipped from consciousness once more.

“Do you think she’s awake?” Inquired Misty Sparks, staring at the door that contained their pegasus visitor. Her short streaked blonde mane was freshly groomed, curling around her horn and pulled into a short poofy ponytail in the back. She’d even dawned her cleanest stable suit, hoping to give a good impression now that she wasn’t covered in blood and oil. “Would she even want to speak with us? I know Mom wants me to but what if-”

“You’re ridiculous,” Blaze lazily interrupted, emerald eyes glassed over. She was freshly groomed as well, red and pink punk mane washed and combed, also wearing what was her cleanest stable suit though it still had holes. None of her stable suits were intact. “Why wouldn’t she? She’s probably got as many questions as we do.”

Squinting, Misty Sparks pushed up on her hooves towards Blaze, sniffing the air. A particular minty smell lingered near the large mare. To some it might have been mistaken as her using mouthwash for a change, but for Misty Sparks it was a dead giveaway. “Are you high right now?” Her voice was a tight whisper.

“What, like I’m going to skip my daily prescription for some cloud-head?” Scoffed Blaze, “Besides, I actually needed it today. Spring was on my ass about skipping out on them… again.”

“You’re a terrible worker, how have you managed to stay out of janitorial services?” Misty Sparks muttered in wonder, fidgeting with her suit. She wanted to look perfect.

“Because they know if they stuck me in there they’d have shit rising in their toilets and across the floor,” snickered Blaze, shoving Misty Sparks softly. “Quit it, you look fine. Not that she’ll care. We’re not here to make nice, we’re here to ask questions.”

The unicorn started to pace, ignoring the security guard waiting besides the door with obvious annoyance. “Mom wants to know if she’s a threat, and if she knows why they were flying towards Stable 36. I want to know that too.” She paused, lime eyes flicking up to Blaze. “Why are you here? You don’t care about this kind of stuff.” She tried to not offend her cousin, but it was hard not to. Things that didn’t set the mare off could be counted with one pony’s hooves, especially when she was high.

Shrugging, Blaze tried to unnerve the guard, bored with the conversation already and staring down the pony. “I mean, I carried her all this way, might as well see why right? This is still more exciting than skipping work to get high with Blitz, I mean don’t get me wrong I love hanging with Blitz, but this is… unique. When’s the last time you’ve ever seen a pegasus?”

“Never.”

“Exactly!” Blaze laughed, giving up on the guard who reminded an angry statue, and looked at her short cousin. “Besides, Flare actually said I could come. That practically means an order and your mom kinda scares me. I mean she can’t get me to build shit, but I’ll do this for sure.”

Misty Sparks looked her over, lingering on the sledgehammer over a fireball on her flank. Blaze certainly excelled at destroying things rather than creating. Inversely, Misty Sparks’ talent was just that, creating new chemicals, as a dual banded flask with a wispy explosion coming from it on her own flanks indicated. In a lot of things they were polar opposites, from size to talents to temperaments. “Yeah… okay.”

“Besides, not like you’re going to get me to leave.”

Sighing in defeat, Misty Sparks slumped. “Right…”

“If it really comes down to it, I can make both of you leave. Now are you going to go visit Miss Skyfire, or are you going to gossip here all day?” Came the gruff interruption from the same security pony who had been standing guard when Skyfire had first been questioned. She snorted and pointed a hoof at the door. “Git in there.” She curtly commented.

“I’d like to see you try and remove me,” Blaze retorted, re-initiating a stare-down that lasted all of five seconds before Misty Sparks pinched the sand colored mare’s nose with her magic, narrowing her eyes. She felt a bit braver around the security pony, knowing that if Blaze tried anything beyond words they’d assist her.

“Stop that Blaze, I’m going in.” Misty Sparks said briskly, nodding her head to the security pony who tapped in the door code. Its familiar hiss helped Misty Sparks collect her thoughts. She stepped through the door, pausing for a moment as the sterile smell reminded her of the shop, at least at the beginning of the day. Her moment of distraction was long enough for the figure in the bed to glance over, the commotion loud enough to rouse Skyfire from her introspective thoughts.

“M-Misty Sparks right?” Purple eyes focused on the blonde unicorn, Skyfire attempting to smile before wincing faintly, her injuries still far from healed. It had been about half a day since she’d awoken, but the pain medicines were still working, if only more weakly. “It is nice to see a familiar face at least.” She commented a moment later, feeling a bit lame about it, as she noticed the sand colored earth pony behind Misty Sparks. “Glaze?” The pegasus asked quietly, her face reddening as she remembered the mare’s correct name and blurted out, “B-Blaze! Not Glaze I’m so sorry!”

Blaze snickered as Skyfire apologized, trying to cover her mistake. She went to make a witty remark, when a bark of ragged laughter behind her drew her attention. The gruff mare was stomping her hooves, failing to control her laughter. Misty Sparks cringed expectantly, shuffling away from her cousin. “It’s not that funny!” Blaze hissed, the security mare ignoring her. Huffing, and stomping a hoof for extra measure, Blaze turned back to the embarrassed mare. “Well I suppose I’ve been called much worse, so you’re lucky,” she commented, shifting back and forth on her hooves. She was about ready to buck that mare if she didn’t stop. The door shut before she did.

Misty Sparks silently thanked her luck that Blaze hadn’t taken Stampede today. It was what usually made her act out rather than Buck. She focused on Skyfire, her eyes going wide as she found herself still surprised by how much of the pegasus’ torso was bandaged up, and she had been there saving her life! Perhaps it was just seeing the wounds in fluorescent lights rather than the neonic green of her Pip-Buck made her realize the magnitude of Skyfire’s injuries. “Yes I’m Misty Sparks, and this is indeed Blaze, you remember us then?” She asked quietly, trying to not give off any sort of negative energy to the injured mare.

“I remember… I remember you two saving my life. Thank you. Thank you so much for saving me.” Skyfire began, her eyes tearing up for a moment as she let her emotions spill out yet again, it had been a rough few days for the pegasus.

“It’s nothing, I came to the crash looking to see if I could help anypony, and I helped you. It’s fine,” Misty Sparks said, shyly smiling and looking up to the ceiling for a moment, she knew the mare would have likely been thankful, but the intensity of her emotions was more than the unicorn was used to. Being the Overmare’s daughter led to a lot of ponies double checking what they said and how they acted, not wanting to incur Flare’s wrath, or make an enemy of her. Misty Sparks was one to hold onto grudges after all.

“It’s everything to her Sparky, just let her thank you for Celestia’s sake, sheesh. Save a mare’s life then act like it isn’t a big deal. Come on,” Blaze cut in, snorting this time at Misty Sparks and shoving her softly. “I’m even proud of you for that, but I know you wouldn’t want my praise.”

Misty Sparks grunted and stuck out her tongue at her. “That’s because you’d just try and butter me up to give you more chems!” The unicorn replied back in exasperation, glancing back to Skyfire with an embarrassed look, trying to figure out what to say next. Skyfire found herself at a loss of words for a moment, the two mares had approached her clearly with a reason but were doing a pretty good job of hiding it. The mention of chems especially gave her concern, but she did her best to hide that for now.

“Sorry. So uhm, how are you doing?” Misty Sparks asked, doing her best to sound charming.

Skyfire frowned, trying to move past it. “Well uhm, Healing Drops told me I was going to live… I suppose that’s it really. Just waiting to heal up.” She answered quietly, not really sure what else to say, pinning her ears back nervously. “Trying not to think of Jolts.”

Wincing, Misty Sparks walked closer. “I really am sorry about your friend. Maybe we could bring you some books for while you are here? There’s plenty in the library I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

“Books?” Scoffed Blaze. “Nerd.”

Misty Sparks scowled softly towards her, before smiling at Skyfire. “Something to keep your mind off of it?” Her smile faded as she noticed Skyfire’s face grow morose, but before she could begin again Skyfire interrupted.

“Why are you being so nice?”

Misty Sparks blinked, then lamely poked at the ground. “Er, cuz it’s what a pony is supposed to do?”

Blaze chortled loudly behind Misty Sparks. “She thinks we’re trying to butter her up, ‘cause we don’t trust you yet,” she pointed out, “don’t you?”

“Well- uhm… yes? A little. It’s just, well...” Skyfire rambled, her gaze falling to the bed as she let out a pained sigh. “Healing Drops said you don’t, uhm… yesterday I think it was? I’m not sure, I’ve been in and out of it. She didn’t believe me, and I suppose you probably don’t believe me either?” She asked, glancing up at Misty Sparks, her emotional turmoil clearly showing in her eyes as the mare started trembling. “I want to tell you what happened, but all I remember is waking up, lots of alarms- so many alarms.” She sucked in a breath, the trembling worsened. “And- and then there was an explosion, and then I woke up and-” Her voice cut off as she scrunched up in pain, grabbing at her side, reliving the moment yet again.

Misty Sparks was speechless for a few seconds, glancing back to notice even Blaze had lost her scowl, a look of sympathy on her usually curt face. She took a step closer to Skyfire, willing herself to talk. “Skyfire, Skyfire, listen to me. You’re not at the crash. You’re safe. You’re safe with us here in our stable.” She had read up enough to guess that Skyfire was traumatized by her injury, relapsing into the memory of it as she tried to defend herself to Misty Sparks.

She felt a chill, knowing she had caused this episode of pain, before focusing back down on a slowly calming Skyfire, who managed to open her eyes a few seconds later, staring up at Misty Sparks, fear the only emotion she could read. Her heart ached all the worse. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.” She commented quietly, giving her best smile.

A few moments later, a teary eyed Skyfire was sitting straight enough to look at the cousins directly, her puffy reddened eyes a reminder of what she was going through. Misty Sparks had arrived with a plan, that plan had been crumpled up with the fight with Blaze, and here it had just burned up, her clever idea of how to stealthily extract information from Skyfire, now little more than ash.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you Skyfire..” She began cautiously, trying her best to be convincing. “I want to trust you, but we don’t know you. I want to know what happened, but… you don’t have to talk about it, alright? You’re safe here, you’re with me, and nothing is going to hurt you. We certainly won’t hurt you, you’ve done nothing to show that you’re a threat.” It got easier for Misty Sparks as she kept going, Skyfire’s expression softened as she continued. “Do you know where you were going at least?”

Skyfire was still trembling lightly. Exhaustion coming down on her after the waves of pain she had endured. She didn’t want to think about what happened anymore, it hurt to remember. “I... I remember Aurora. Outpost Aurora,” she murmured quietly, “I wish I could tell you more, J-Jolts told me we were going to that place, before-”

“That’s fine, you told us where you two were going, no need to talk about that. Do you remember why you were going there?” Misty Sparks asked quietly, not writing anything down for the moment.

“Jolts just said we were going there to live a better life. After we dropped something off. I think. I wish, I really wish I could remember before we got into the Skyhawk,” Skyfire began again, in an even voice, her breath steadying. Misty Sparks and Blaze watched her carefully, the larger mare stonewalled while Misty Sparks wore a pitying frown. “I’m sorry, that’s a really lame excuse.” She added eventually, her ears drooping again. “He wouldn’t tell me why, just said I’d understand when we were all done and safe.”

“That’s fine Skyfire, it sounds like you have amnesia, which would be understandable given… what you’ve gone through. Just try and relax alright? Do you know if the Enclave would come searching for you? Would they be hostile to us for taking you in?” Misty Sparks asked, trying not to let the worry leak into her voice as she asked. Skyfire’s curious expression only heightened her confusion.

“You mean they haven’t come by yet?” Skyfire asked quietly, concern splashed across her face. “It’s… well it’s standard procedure to search crashed aircraft for survivors. I thought I had been deemed too critically injured to be moved honestly.”

Skyfire didn’t get a moment to dwell on that question. “You’re joking right? We haven’t seen a single feather or heard as much as an engine scream over us since you crashed. We’ve had scouts observing the crash since we came home!” Blaze couldn’t help but blurt out, her frustration palpable, though it faded for a moment as Misty Sparks turned to her. Lime eyes had turned into fiery daggers.

“And how did you find out about those scouting reports?” Misty Sparks asked, “Those were between the security department and Flare, exclusively.” She added before stepping back as Blaze glared right back at her, easily overwhelming the unicorn.

“For your information, I do have friends besides Blitz. And a contact or two among them... I was curious what was going to happen to her. And last I checked you weren’t security, or Flare!” Blaze countered. Glancing back to Skyfire, Blaze steered the conversation back on topic. “You mean to tell me they should have come by now?” Skyfire nodded. “Well they haven’t.”

Skyfire started trembling for a moment as she let out a whisper, “Jolts… must have done something then. He was shouting into his radio for a while before he turned it off.” She bit her lip as she contemplated what could have happened. “I think somepony was upset with him- with us,” she commented quietly, not sure what else to say at that point. There was too much she couldn’t remember, and the last thing she wanted to do was give them a bad impression. Ears pinned back as she drifted into the last few moments with her friend, not noticing the heart monitor was beeping faster.

Misty Sparks eyed her for a few moments, and then gave a small sigh. “Breathe Skyfire.”

She blinked up at her, swallowed dryly, and gave a small nod. Soon the monitor resumed its regular pace of beeping, Skyfire calmed enough to think once more. “Sorry.”

“You’ve gone through a lot,” she said sympathetically. “I only have one more question though, if you think you can answer it.” Skyfire nodded. “Good. Were you transporting any cargo?”

“I remember a crate,” Skyfire said, “it was in front of me in the cargo compartment when we took off. That’s all I remember though. Vertihawks aren’t meant for carrying much. They’re mostly for scouting or stealth operations, so it’s tight back there.”

“Any idea what was in it?”

“No.”

“None at all?”

Skyfire shook her head. “It could have been anything small enough to fit in a crate.”

“Like… These?” Misty Sparks’ horn was surrounded in a green aura as she levitated a hard plastic translucent box out of the saddlebags she was wearing. Skyfire’s ears perked and she sat up a bit straighter, grimacing a bit and staring at the brilliant orbs contained inside individual slots.

“Those were in the crate?” Skyfire questioned.

“And many others,” Misty Sparks said, setting them on the bed next to Skyfire so she could get a better look. There was a hoofwritten label above each orb, numbered up to four with Skyfire’s name by the first. “Each of them labeled like those. Some medical and emergency supplies, food, ammunition, and even a laser pistol were found in the wreckage as well. It looks like wherever you were going, your friend Jolts wanted to make sure you were prepared.”

With a quivering hoof, Skyfire touched it. “I don’t understand. Why were we transporting memory orbs? Were… were we taking them to Aurora?”

“What’s a memory orb?” Misty Sparks questioned. Blaze gave a curious sniff, bumping closer to get a better look at the orbs. They were each a different color, swirling with a mist of some sort, and looked fragile to the touch but must have been decently hardy to have endured the crash unlike the crate they’d been within.

Skyfire blinked, surprised at their lack of knowledge, and then cleared her throat. “I don’t know much about them, but they’re a pre-war technology that’s still found today. A unicorn can cast a spell to copy somepony’s memory and put it in the orb here. Then they can be watched by other ponies. Only unicorns can use them though since they need magic to work.”

“Then why would you have them?” Blaze asked, “Pegasi don’t have magic.”

“No, but there are unicorns in the Enclave.”

The stable dwellers’ eyes widened, Misty Sparks leaning closer while Blaze frowned. “What about earth ponies?” The large mare asked.

“Uhm… I haven’t seen one before you,” Skyfire said, ears pinning in fear she might offend Blaze. But all she got was a frustrated huff. “The unicorns live in the mountains that pierce the clouds, since they can’t walk on clouds and all. There aren't many, but… yeah.”

Misty Sparks made a thoughtful noise, tapping a hoof. “So if that’s the case, then one of those unicorns had to have made these right?”

“Or they’re pre-war,” Skyfire suggested, “maybe… maybe Outpost Aurora was expecting them? They could be… research?”

“But you said vertihawks don’t carry lots of cargo. Why not send a transport ship?” Argued Misty Sparks, trying to find a hole in her story. “That doesn’t make sense, and at least this first one has your name.”

“I don’t know!” Skyfire yelped, pulling away from the memory orbs. “I told you I don’t know why I crashed or anything else!”

Misty Sparks hadn’t realized she’d moved against the bed, intent on finding some lie Skyfire was trying to spin. Blaze gave her a small nudge, glaring down at her. It felt strange to be scolded by her of all ponies. Sighing, Misty Sparks stepped back and fidgeted with her mane. “I’m sorry. It’s just very important that we understand what’s going on. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Skyfire watched her for a few moments, and gave a whimpering nod. “I want to understand too.”

Misty Sparks’ gaze turned to the orbs, lingering on the one with the pegasus’ name on it. “That one might have some answers then. Would you mind if I watched it?”

“Uh Sparky,” Blaze interjected before Skyfire could answer. “Are you sure your mom would be okay with that?”

“I’m not saying I’ll do it right now,” replied Misty Sparks, flicking an ear as if insulted by the suggestion. “But it’s important. So it should be watched. It could explain whatever it is Skyfire doesn’t know.”

“Yeah, but why you?”

“Because,” Misty Sparks said as if explaining it to a foal, Blaze scowling deeply in return, “you know exactly why.” They glared at each other for a few long moments, before Skyfire gave a cough.

“If uhm… If you think watching it will explain everything, then go ahead. It’s not like I could really stop you after all…” She trailed off, purple gaze fixated on the orbs at the end of the medical cot. “I’m thankful you saved me, I really am, but… I’m stuck here aren’t I? If the Enclave hasn’t even searched the crash site and it’s been three days at least…” Skyfire gripped the blanket beneath her, beginning to tremble again. Tears welled in her eyes. “I just want to go home.”

Softening, Misty Sparks lowered her head. “I wish we could take you there,” she said, “but we’re as grounded as you are. Maybe they’ll come looking, who knows, they could be looking right now!” She tried to suggest something happy, tried to give her hope.

Blaze promptly shattered that hope. “If you ask me, they abandoned you.”

“Blaze!”

“Look, I don’t sugarcoat like Sparky does,” she said briskly, stomping a hoof. “They’ve written you off as dead already, else we’d have seen something by now. So if you wanna get home, you need to get better. I won’t lie to you Skyfire, ponies here aren’t going to trust you, like you already figured out. You’re a stranger and strangers mean danger.”

“Healing Drops said something of that sort,” Skyfire repeated quietly.

“So, somepony is gonna watch that orb, and probably the other orbs eventually, knowing Flare,” Blaze said, putting them back into Misty Sparks’ saddlebags. The small unicorn was staring at her in shock, mouth slightly agape. Snorting, Blaze continued, “So don’t do anything stupid. You’re stuck here, might as well make the best of it, right?”

“I… I suppose you’re right,” Skyfire agreed, her ears slowly pinning as she began contemplating the implications that came with that. A few seconds passed before her eyes widened as she came to a dark conclusion. “If they don’t come back, then… then what will happen to me?” She asked quietly, looking between the two mares she barely knew. Thoughts about returning back up to her home in the clouds helped her to stay calm when she was awake.

What if they’ve already given up on me?

The thought paled Skyfire’s face as she tried to keep her composure, though it was quite apparent she was upset. She was a burden to these kind ponies, what would they want of her?

Misty Sparks had approached the situation anticipating a few outcomes, she had braced herself for angry threats, for begging, for silence, but she hadn’t thought about a situation like this. She froze up, racking her brain, trying to think of what Flare would do here, before wincing as she remembered Flare’s response to the crash would have resulted in Skyfire’s death. “I-” Misty Sparks started when Blaze butted in.

“Well that’d be up to ol Flare in the end. I dunno if they considered you dead and didn’t search for you, but if they’ve written you off that quick, maybe you could be of help here?” Blaze suggested, ignoring the initial grunt of annoyance from Misty Sparks, before her eyes widened as she thought about Blaze’s suggestion.

“I think that could be a possibility? We’re really not keen on taking in outsiders, but it would be up to mo- Flare.” Misty Sparks said, scratching her mane again as this entirely new idea began forming in her mind. “I… I could talk about it to her, but it’d be a potential big risk, what if they do come back?” She asked Skyfire, looking back over to her, an eyebrow raised. If the Enclave did return for Skyfire, they could take Skyfire’s staying as treason, or a million other things that could end badly for her stable! The mare sat down, one hoof against her chin as she thought.

Skyfire’s expression ranged greatly in the last few seconds, from fearful to hopeful, and now it was hesitant. She hadn’t ever considered ‘ground pounders’ taking her in, and here she might have a chance? Still, what if the stable ponies were lying about the Enclave not looking for her? They didn’t seem to trust her, how could she trust them?

“It’s standard to investigate crashes within twenty four to seventy two hours. Especially when they don’t know why the crash occurred. The only reason they would delay any longer would be if they thought the area was dangerous.” She glanced over to Misty Sparks, then back to Blaze. She wasn’t sure if they’d lie about the crash. “Did either of you see what caused the Skyhawk to crash?”

Misty Sparks waved her hoof. “No, I was working when I heard the explosion and rushed outside to see what was going on. Blaze was… preoccupied. I saw a trail of smoke and then there was a booming crunch.”

“Can’t believe that batch was wasted,” muttered Blaze.

Side eyeing her cousin for a moment, Misty Sparks cleared her throat and continued. “There’s been a few statements, from ponies who’d been on the street when it happened, saying they could see a pair of shapes in the distance, one with smoke which presumably was your aircraft.”

“Two?” Skyfire asked softly, eyes wide. She was shaking again.

“Enough witnesses said as much,” Misty Sparks confirmed. “Which isn’t much, could have been a dragon for all we know.” She was about to add more when she noticed Skyfire’s face paling again, the color had just started coming back too. The machine beeped rapidly as Skyfire hysterically laughed, pushing her head into her hooves.

There was a niggling thought in the back of her mind, somewhere between the gap in her memory and the headache, that she couldn’t ignore but didn’t dare consider. “W-we haven’t spotted dragons in over fifty years! And uhm- I remember a beeping noise, with all report’s of fighting dragons, our systems never indicated when they were attacking. That only happens with missiles.” She said briskly, continuing to shake as her thoughts turned darker.

Blaze’s eyes widened for a moment. Skyfire making enough sense for her to piece it together, saying what the pegasus seemed hesitant to consider. “So you’re saying it couldn’t be anything other than a missile that hit you? That’s pretty damning.” She grunted, interrupting herself as she turned to stare Misty Sparks in the eyes. Skyfire went rigid, the monitor skipped for a moment. “Do you know anypony else who has aircraft? Red Eye? Isn’t he off in bum-fuck-nowhere?”

“Fillydelphia,” corrected Misty Sparks.

“That’s what I said.”

Misty Sparks stared at Blaze, emerald eyes full of certainty even if they were ever so slightly glassy from Buck. “Blaze, you’re not wrong… I just don’t know what to do, okay?” Misty Sparks admitted finally. Skyfire was either the best liar to ever live, or she didn’t know what happened leading up to the crash. Purple eyes stared at her, wide and desperate. Her own heart ached, sympathy tugging on strings. Misty Sparks knew she’d be a wreck if she woke up all alone, nearly dying, only to be rescued by strangers.

She stepped closer to Skyfire, trying to speak, tongue feeling too big in her own mouth. “I don’t know what is going to happen, but I’ll talk to Flare about what can be done. Is there anything else that you want to bring up, anything at all?”

Skyfire stayed silent as she acknowledged the thought that she reasonably could have been shot down by another Enclave aircraft. Jolts had to have done something bad if they had been shooting to kill, and hadn’t bothered checking the wreck for survivors. That was the only sensible reason that could have caused all of this. The pegasus was spiraling into a chain of negative thoughts, playing that terrible moment over and over again. Blaze’s suggestion was all that made sense, nothing else could have done it. It hurt to consider. She didn’t hear the monitor accelerating once more, or the pair as they tried to bring her back. A drone of static rose inside her mind, the sound of engines stalling, the taste of blood in her mouth, darkness at the edges of her vision.

Orange eyes filled with fear.

“Skyfire?”

There was a hoof on her shoulder. She lifted her head up, reddened eyes staring at Misty Sparks, apprehension clearly on her face. “I don’t know.” Skyfire said quietly, sniffling as she tried to hold in another wave of tears. She’d cried an awful lot, feeling guilty for that fact. “I wish I could tell you what happened, but I can’t. I know that’s… a terrible defense.” She sighed and buried her head into the pillow again, feeling excruciatingly alone.

Blaze coughed quietly, scuffing at her Pip-Buck. “Look Sparky, I think we’re done here. She’s said all she knows.” She sighed and looked up to Skyfire. “You survived, and you’re a mechanic? Last I heard we’re needing more of those.”

Misty Sparks shot Blaze a curious look, hoof still on Skyfire’s shoulder, trying to help her but not really knowing how. She could heal wounds of the body, but not the heart or mind. “Flare would need a lot of convincing to allow a non-stable pony to do anything more than exist inside here.”

Blaze laughed darkly, staring Misty Sparks down. “Yeah? Well what would you do with her? You’re going to lead this bunker of boredom one day. Perhaps it’s time you start thinking of what’s best for it.” She started to smile before wincing. A sign that she needed a fresh hit, she started for the door gritting her teeth. “I’m out of here anyways, and Skyfire?” She added, glancing back over to the stressed pegasus. “I believe you, if that matters at all.”

With that, the large mare took her leave, banging on the door so the security pony on the other side would let her out. Misty Sparks watched her go, grimacing, before turning back to the pegasus. “I…”

“It’s okay, you didn’t know,” Skyfire said around the pillow.

Misty Sparks gave a rueful sigh, ears falling back. She struggled to figure out what to say, memories and worries filling her mind. The last outsider she’d trusted had turned out to be the greatest mistake of her life. “I’ll see what I can do,” she managed, “but for now you need to rest. You can’t do anything, if you can’t even stand up on your own.”

Skyfire made a noise of defeated acceptance, long crimson tail flicking in synch with an ear. It was a rather sad sight to the unicorn. Giving an awkward pat to the pegasus’ shoulder, Misty Sparks withdrew. “I promise we’ll treat you right,” she vowed, “we aren’t savages.”

“Thank you…”

“Is there anything I can get you? A book? Uh… food?” She looked around and spotted a dirtied tray on a medical table. “Oh right, of course they’d have that much taken care of.”

“I like reading,” Skyfire said, lifting her head just enough for her words to make sense rather than be garbled by the pillow.

“I’ll bring a book next time I come by then,” Misty Sparks said with as much enthusiasm as she could manage without sounding fake. “After I speak with Flare.”

“Who is this Flare you keep mentioning?” Skyfire questioned.

“Oh... She’s the Overmare. She’s in charge.” Misty Sparks shuffled her hooves. “She’s also my mother.”

“What Blaze said makes more sense then, about why your opinion matters.” Skyfire said quietly, “So my life is in your hooves? In a way…”

Misty Sparks gave an awkward smile, and nodded. “Yeah, guess so… I promise I’ll do everything I can.”

“I suppose that’s all I can ask, and uhm… Misty?”

The silver mare paused, thinking long on her response. She settled her gaze on her Skyfire, not quite ready for her to use such a familiar term. “It’s Misty Sparks, but yes?”

“Thank you for visiting me. I didn’t think I’d see you again.” Skyfire whispered looking away sullenly as she continued. “It feels like others see my being here as a mistake. Other than maybe Blaze.”

Pausing for a moment, Misty Sparks’ smile turned more genuine. “She never does what everypony else wants,” she said and then nodded. “I couldn’t just not come by. Like Blaze said, this is the most exciting thing to happen in a long while. What kind of future leader would I be if I missed out?” She laughed, the noise a bit strained but it was clear to Skyfire she was trying to be genuine. A heavy weight, fear and anxiety, pushed down on her, but when their eyes met they both could tell at least one thing.

They were being honest.

“Feel better Skyfire,” she said, starting towards the door. “I’ll bring a book next time.”

“Thank you.”

Skyfire - Quest Perk Added! - The Way Things Should Be - Stable 36 has extended their hoof to you in your time of need! Reputation set to friendly, don’t make them regret it!

Author's Note

We went back and edited Chapter One a smidge, mostly on that first scene.