The Resolute

The port city of Baltimare, which had always been busy being Equestria’s largest shipping port, had changed drastically in the last ten years. Any pony who hadn’t been there in that long would be shocked to see it now, for the city’s footprint now straddled the coast for a hundred miles. The country, and world at a whole, had an explosion of technology during the last half century, bringing forth fleets of airships that rendered the ocean going passenger and cargo ships obsolete, though quite a few ponies still preferred to use them.

It was from a hill a few miles outside of the city a young stallion looked over the hustle and bustle, giving a sigh. All he carried was a single duffel bag, filled with his belongings from before he joined the ERAF, a few bits from his service... and a few he should have left behind. Picking it up, he began his trek down the mountain, which would take several hours on its own; he’d have gotten the train, but all he had left was a few half crowns, the rest of his money having been spent on his last meal... Two days ago.

A few long hours later, he stumbled his way through the outskirts of the city, where, as expected, the homes and businesses were not as glamorous as those further in; they weren’t quite slums, but nothing to write home about, that’s for sure. The ponies here gave him inquisitive looks, but kept to themselves, sliding in and out of each other's’ way as they went about their tasks for the day.

The stallion quickly managed to match their movements, something he’d learnt to do years ago, slipping his way through. Mentally recalling the one map he’d seen of the city, he guessed he was barely a quarter of the way to the coast, meaning he’d still have to be wary until he was in a more... affluent area, because, as everypony knows, a city of this size would certainly have a criminal element... and now the stares were more threatening.

His wings twitched as he sensed somepony nearby, and he glanced over his shoulder to find he was alone. Furrowing his brow, he went to continue on his way when he came face to face with a pony covered from head to toe in black, except for the eyes, the unfriendly orange orbs glowering. He felt a sharp pain in his side and winced, realising he’d just been stabbed. The knife was pulled out and his duffel bag snatched, as he slumped against a wall, sliding down it and leaving a trail of crimson down the grey brick. The last thing he saw before his vision faded was several of Baltimore’s guard chasing the assailant down a side street, whilst one spoke to him, but it just came through as a muffled hum.

Batlimare’s East Hospital was not the most elegant looking place, and you’d be forgiven for thinking it was due for demolition, due to the fact it looked abandoned and several walls were already falling down. The establishment didn’t receive many supplies either, being well known for treating victims of crime and sometimes the criminals themselves. It could do a pretty good patch job in an emergency, but the patient would always need to visit another location for proper treatment.

Today was a pretty dull day, mostly check ups, and one little colt who’d gotten into a scrape at school, who was being seen to by the on duty nurse. “Now then,” she said, having already cleaned the cut on the colt’s arm. “How would you like the stitching? Standard, or something cool, like a Wonderbolts lightning bolt?” The colt made a face, which cause the mare to giggle. “Not a fan, huh? Okay, standard it is.” She hummed lightly as she worked, and a few minutes later was waving the colt off, watching him run out of the garden in front of the hospital and past the low wall.

Once he was out of sight she sighed and went to head back in, but stopped when her ears twitched, as he heard the sound of a voice she knew. Turning back to the garden, she saw several of the guards running in, the one at the front being a squad leader she had thrown out of the building a few dozen times for worrying her patients.

Her first instinct was to shut the door and lock them out, but she took a moment to look at the rushing group, seeing the stretcher between them. Instead of blocking their entrance, she held the door open for them, eyeing over the casualty as they passed. “Room three, now!” She instructed, the guards knowing exactly where to go, and she turned to the squad leader. “What happened?”

“Poor colt just got to town, can’t be more than twenty five. Got stabbed by our friend The Ninja.” The guard sighed, sitting down. “Almost caught him but... we want one to at least make it. Please, save him?”

The nurse smiled and patted the guard on the shoulder, then stepped in, heading to the room where she’d sent the others. Another nurse was already present and had hooked the casualty up to the standard monitoring devices. “Pulse is weak and breathing slow, but no signs of any infection.”

“None at all?” The head nurse asked, more to herself than the room. But The Ninja uses a poison blade. We can treat the physical wound, but that always gets them in a few hours... Cutting the thought off, she quickly scrubbed up and made her way over to the table, finally getting a proper look. “It... the knife didn’t go in all the way! Quick, let’s get this sealed up!”

Her, and several other staffs’, horns glowed, medical equipment floating into place. They worked quickly, starting at the deepest point and sealing the ruptures. The nurse looked at where he’d been stabbed and realised how fortunate he was, for a centimetre to the left and the colt would only have had one kidney.

Soon, all ruptures were stitched up and dressing laid on the outer layer, and the team eased him onto his back. It was then the head nurse got a good look at his clothing and knew why the knife hadn’t gone in all the way; it was partially armoured. “Get him to room fourteen immediately. And call the guard back.”

She had recognised that uniform, and the entire country was to report any sightings to the highest authorities in the area. The insignia on the chest plate confirmed it. This colt was from a particular squadron, he was the only one left... and wanted by the crown for punching one of the royal sisters square in the face two months ago.