//------------------------------//
// caring 
// Story: Mapping Manehattan 
// by The Red Parade 
//------------------------------//

Fiddlesticks grew up in a family of morals. She was taught to always help those in need, no questions asked and no fuss made, because there weren’t a lot of ponies who would stop to lend a hoof to others. Fiddle herself learned this the hard way.

When she first arrived in Manehattan, she found that nopony in the city cared much about anyone else. She remembered almost missing her audition because she was lost, and she remembered strangers ignoring and shunning her when she tried to get directions.

It boiled her blood then, and it still did now. If there was a pony who needed help, she’d be the one to offer. Fiddle just can’t understand why Lightning is so against this idea. Fiddle asks what’s so wrong with wanting to help someone.

Lightning sighs and rubs her forehead. She thinks that Fiddle is just being naive. The world’s changed now.

That makes Fiddle mad. The world’s always been like that. Lightning isn’t the first pony to think she’s weak for caring. She turns her back to Lightning and stomps off down the street.

They keep moving down the empty roads of the quarantine zone. The silence between them is louder than any gunshot could possibly hope to be.

Fiddle’s behavior is concerning Lightning. Isn’t she supposed to be the arrogant one? She shakes her head, frustrated. Lightning’s seen Fiddle like this before, usually after they find some… rather messy scenes left behind by Ravagers.

It just doesn’t make sense to Fiddle. She’s always been willing to see the best in ponies. And even if the whole world’s fallen to pieces, she firmly believes that there are still good ponies out there. Lightning just can’t see that.

It’s strange to think that they live in the same world and see two different things. Once they saw a mare desperately searching for her husband. She said that he never came back after he went to scout for supplies.

Fiddle saw a lonely, panicked mare searching for her lover. She saw a mare who needed someone, anyone to help.

But Lightning thought it might have been a trap. She insisted that they leave her alone and keep going. Even if she was telling the truth, she reasoned, he was probably dead already. The Ravagers didn’t take prisoners.

They spent a bit arguing over their options before Lightning finally gave in. The mare led them on an hour-long search through abandoned warehouses, where they encountered a group of rogue guards.

The firefight was long and ugly, but they got out of it. And they found the missing stallion towards the back of the warehouse, lying still by some tarps. The mare gasped and sobbed into Fiddle’s coat as Lightning looked on. 

Apparently she had the self control to remain silent. But Fiddle could feel her gaze burning into her as she clutched the mare and led her away. She didn’t look at Lightning as she fetched a tarp and got to work.