Chapter Four: Renaissance
Scarlet Rose
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I watched as Midnight’s two toned tail bobbed along below me. We were slowly making our way towards the town, thankfully giving me some time to gather my emotions. I beat my wings softly, absentmindedly weaving in thought.
Leaving the stable, trying to save Midnight’s life, the chase, being held as a bloody hostage, all in the span of not even a night. I sighed audibly, all of this seemed to be happening so quickl-
“Like what ya’ see?” Midnight derailed my thoughts.
Refocusing my eyes, I matched Midnight’s as he playfully craned his neck up at me, shooting me a wink. I realized I’d been staring at him this whole time.
I snorted and beat a gust of wind on him from my wings, “No, Midnight, I was just thinking.”
“Oh? And what crossed your mind?” he pressed, smirking coltishly. Insufferable.
“Just, this. Everything that happened. Nowʼs not the time to be cheeky, mate.” I rolled my eyes, gesturing vaguely around us.
“Right.” His tone fell somber, casting his own eyes down the road.
Clearly I wasn’t the only one with mixed emotions about our situation. How he even managed to stay positive was beyond me.
I came to a gentle landing beside Midnight as we approached a massive medieval wooden palisade that surrounded the town. Along the length, the wall expanded, pocketed by four stone and wood guard towers set up around its perimeter. Each tower stood as a sentinel over a gate that led into the settlement where two main dirt roads intersected the massive town. The roads lead out clear into the surrounding forest.
The town looked like a medieval fortress, with battlements, a wooden gate, even sporting some faded regalia. I would have been impressed if it wasn't obviously a facade. The stones that made up the towers were barely a hoof deep and everything was built on crumbling scaffolding. What was actually still standing upright was held together with bits of scrap and rubbish.
“Hey Silver, did ya see me marksmanship?” a young stallion’s voice called out from one of the guard towers we passed beneath.
“Aye, you shot two targets, congratulations,” Silver deadpanned, not bothering to look up at the tower.
“‘Shot two targets,’” the younger voice mocked.
I looked up, just as a white-coated and black-maned thestral, in identical uniform to Silver, poked his head over the railing of the tower. He didn’t look a day over fifteen. “That was two head shots at six-hundred and twenty-four meters you unimpressed bastard!” he yelled down at Silver who never once broke his stride.
“Go wank yourself off somewhere else,” Silver dismissed, looking over at me and Midnight. “Don’t mind the colt, he’s just as cocky as he sounds.”
A stream of profanities soon fell behind us as we came up to the main gate.
“Was he the buck that saved us?” I blurted, trotting past Midnight to Silver’s side. I could practically feel Midnight roll his eyes behind me. What? It was a bloody impressive shot!
“I hate to admit it, but yes. Ballpoint’s the sharpest sharpshooter we have,” Silver shrugged, coming to a stop and waving to a pony who manned the gate house.
“Ballpoint…” Midnight played with the word, “Like the pen?”
“The bullet,” I corrected him.
“They make bullets with ballpoint pen tips?”
“No, it’s just a solid shot; ball ammunition,” I sighed.
“Oh.” Midnight turned to Silver raising an eyebrow, “The colt’s got some attitude huh?”
“We let him run around with his big head – annoyingly enough – but he’s not boasting.” Silver paused, briefly giving us a serious look, “Everything he says about himself, that’s only half of what I’ve seen him accomplish.”
As the wooden gate began its slow ascension, I stole a glance back over my shoulder to the guard tower. Ballpoint had settled back into his watchful position, silhouetted against the bright stars. I could only make out his gentle breaths being carried softly in the chilly wind. He seemed to be eerily calm, not breathing more than once every few seconds. Whatever Silver seemed to say about him, I was curious to see more.
The gate released an agonizing groan on its ancient sprockets as it came to a stop. I turned around and quickly cantered up to the stallions, taking in the sights around me. As we trotted down the road, I realized Silver wasn’t kidding when he said ‘Renaissance.’
Around us, classical Equestrian houses stood tightly packed together, unsurprisingly mimicking a ye olde Equestrian village. The white buildings were held together by dark painted timber accents. Colorful signs and decals were painted onto the wooden houses, each advertising wonderful things like fried daisy sandwiches on a stick, or fried corn on a stick, or fried sticks of butter… on a stick? It was obvious none of the adverts were still relevant, but the posters were cheerful enough.
All of the buildings were such a lovely design, despite every building sporting obvious wear and age. Some even looked as patch-worked as the guard towers; every crack or hole was filled with some sort of scrap gathered from across Transylvania.
Throughout the town, Hearthʼs-Warming lights decorated the streets, arching lazily across the rooftops or between buildings in a random array. The town was bathed in a dim glow, hardly brighter than firelight. The lights were possibly too dim for Equestrians but the perfect lighting for us nocturnal thestrals.
As Silver directed us throughout town, thestral ponies passed by, busily making their way through the town. It was past the middle of the night and everypony was certainly in the middle of their working schedule. I cast a glance to Midnight, dropping my cold shoulder I usually gave him to share our awe of what we saw around us.
We entered Transylvania believing not a single soul was left alive. Instead, it was teeming with life, and not just any, but our own thestral people. A spark of hope grew in my chest, we might actually be okay out here.
“Move’t freak,” a stallion suddenly shoved Midnight, nearly toppling him off his hooves.
“Hey, whatʼs your problem?!” Midnight spat, regaining his balance and baring his fangs.
The stallion came to a stop and turned around. He was a thestral, like everypony else, but he was dressed in a uniform similar to Silver. Upon the shoulder pauldron of his bulletproof barding, a blue crescent moon sat. Slung over his back was a cobbled together bolt action rifle. His golden eyes glared at Midnight through locks of dark purple mane.
“Enclave feathered freaks arenʼt welcome here. What’eva tha’ hell you are, mutt, itʼs best ye leave.” He pointed his hoof to the gate where we came in.
“Are you for real?” Midnight cried, turning to me. “And here I thought all of that was left behind at home!”
“What’s going on here?” Silver trotted back over to us, having just noticed we stopped following him.
“Ah! Sir, look at what came sludgin’ through our gates!” the guard guffawed. “A cloud kicker, half thestral no less. Let’s show ‘em the way out, just like any other ‘Claver.”
Silver eyed Midnight for a moment then nodded to the guard, “That’ll be all private, get back on patrol.”
The guard recoiled, looking at Midnight with disgust. “So we’re lettin’ fuckin’ birds roost in our town yet? Wh-”
“Patrol,” SIlver cut him off and raised a hoof down the road, “March.”
“Aye, sir,” the guard spat a dark glob of Luna-knows-what and shrugged his gear. He resumed trotting along the road once more.
“Yeah, you better bucking march ya lousy-ass!” Midnight suddenly hollered.
“Midnight!” I hushed, punching his shoulder. “That’s enough, Luna above, you’ll just make him come back!”
“Alright guys, give it a rest.” Silver sighed. “Striker’s still sour about the Enclave, I promise not everypony here is like him.”
“Enclave?” Midnight asked, rubbing his shoulder.
Damn right that hurt!
“Yeah, you know: Pegasi, abductions, cloudships, magic towers blocking the sun before it suddenly cleared it up?”
We both shook our heads.
“Right.” Silver smirked looking us over, “Stable 17 I take it?”
“Exactly, how’d you know?” I furrowed my eyebrows.
Silver chuckled and turned around, trotting down the street once more. “It’s plastered all over your Stable-Tec uniforms of course.”
Midnight and I looked down at ourselves, it was painstakingly obvious what our origins were. I held back a gag as I saw the stains of blood and other things I didn't want to think about smeared on my jacket.
We both cantered up to Silver and continued our path.
“Well, if you couldn’t tell, we know butt-buck nothing about Transylvania, care to fill us in?” Midnight asked.
I shot him a look for his strange use of words, only for him to stick his tongue out at me. Ugh that colt.
“Like I said earlier, I need to bring you to my commander, Aurora Borealis. Not only because you’re both representing a mountain of paperwork for me, but also ‘cause he’s probably the only pony in town with the patience to explain everything,” Silver replied, shrugging in step.
We fell under silence as Silver led us through town, the road we had been following widened until it came upon a large circular square in the center of town. As Silver directed us around the perimeter, I gazed at the massive statue of a pony in old fashioned armor that sat in the middle, it was adorned with pale brown bushes and a non-functioning fountain. Along the outside of the square, multiple shops and kiosks sat with vendors advertising their goods. However, upon closer inspection it just looked like a bunch of junk.
As we crossed what looked like a bar, I caught a whiff of something delicious smelling when the door opened. I felt my stomach grumble as a reminder that I probably hadn’t eaten since that morning.
Silver came to a stop and turned to face us, a bright smile upon his face. “Right we’re here!”
I cast my eyes up at the building behind him, it looked like the others, though it sported an extended tower out the top that was bristling with antennae and loose cables. Hanging above the door, on a suspended sign, read ‘Transylvanian Renaissance Faire!’ in red letters, beneath them in white, the word ‘Armory’ was painted.
“This is the Night Watch’s headquarters. We’re essentially the guards of Renaissance, but recent events have us extend out as a militia for other towns as well,” Silver waved a hoof in the air, “I digress, let me gallop in and grab Aurora for you, be right back!” He ducked into the front door. His mood had visibly brightened, a stallion that loved his job, that’s for sure.
A moment passed. “Well,” Midnight coughed awkwardly, taking a seat on the road.
“No snide remarks about his cheerful mood?” I raised an eyebrow, bracing for his usual annoyances.
“Nah, I’ll let it go,” he shrugged.
I sat next to him, looking at the bustling ponies around us.
“Lot more of us out here,” Midnight spoke softly, seemingly to himself.
“More than just the two of us,” I replied with a sigh.
“You sound relieved.”
“Should I be disappointed?” I scoffed, eyeing him. “You’d rather us be the only two bloody ponies left in Equestria?”
“Youʼd have me all for yourself,” Midnight smirked. Ugh that smirk again!
I stood up with a groan, “Oh grow up you dumb colt!” Stamping my hoof, I turned around and tried to distract myself by watching the other ponies. They looked so different.
“Am I really that bad?” Midnight chuckled behind me.
“You’re worse. Youʼre not taking anything seriously! How could you not be relieved to see the world like this?” I gestured around us.
“Maybe because itʼs a world that still hates me?” Midnight deadpanned.
I began to speak but held my tongue. To him, the way ponies looked at him and treated him; this world wasnʼt a hopeful beginning. It was the same story he’s seen his whole life. He wasn’t welcome anywhere. Maybe thatʼs why he hid behind an obnoxious personality. Though we were safe here, he was still a stranger to his own kind.
I tried to soften my tone, “Look, mate, I’m still trying to get over our situation. I’m just glad we’re both still alive at this point,” I explained. “At least I’m focusing on what really matters and not playing ‘pick up’ with the attractive stallion I was kicked out with.”
“Oh, the attractive stallion.” Midnight sat up.
I groaned, feeling heat rising in my cheeks from embarrassment and frustration. I rubbed my head with a hoof and sighed, “It was a metaphor. I was talking about you hitting on me instead of actually focusing on important matters. Like living.”
“RIght, I’ll remember that metaphor,” Midnight winked, his bloody smirk never leaving his face.
Oh, I wanted to slap that expression right off his cheeky, stupid, handsome, face–
“So here be the new Stable ponies eh?” a low and hearty voice called out.
Midnight and I both turned to see SIlver, and what I assumed was Aurora, exiting the headquarters.
Aurora was an older stallion maybe in his late fifties, he had a short dark blue mane that was graying at the temples and a gray coat to match. He wasn’t in combat barding like I had seen Silver and the other guards wear, instead he simply wore the multi-colored dark camouflage that seemingly every guard wore under their barding. He had a small wedding clasp around his left wing root, apparently ponies still had it in them to get officially married out here.
Upon his collar sat two brass crescent metal pins, possibly the only thing distinguishing him from other guards. He wasn’t unarmed however, carrying an ‘Ironshod Firearms’ IF9 pistol holstered on his left foreleg.
“Sir, you think you can fill them in? They’ve got plenty of questions, believe me,” Silver said, flicking his long white bangs out of his eyes.
“Will do, Silver. Ye have your orders, we’ll debrief at daybreak,” Aurora spoke, more seriously this time. “Goddesses guide you.”
With a salute in confirmation, Silver took off and flew over the palisade wall, into the surrounding forest.
“Where’s he gone off to?” I asked, watching him glide out of sight.
“That’s classified lassie,” Aurora winked, not suggestively like the feathered-bag-of-stupid next to me, but charmingly. “Right, I’m famished, care for a bite?” he offered, motioning his head to the bar we had passed earlier.
I nodded excitedly, my hunger catching up to me once again. Midnight wasn’t faring much better and he stood up immediately at the sound of food.
Aurora chuckled and led the way. Despite the events that happened earlier that night, I felt better. I was alive, safe even. And with how Aurora and Silver treated us, I knew we were finally in good company.
I stole a quick glance at Midnight trotting next to me. Somewhat good company.
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“If ye don’t slow down you're gonna get a bloody hernia, lad.” Aurora stared wide eyed at Midnight, who was busy inhaling his fourth order of hay fries.
“Buf es soo gfuud,” Midnight mumbled around another mouthful of fried hay.
I rolled my eyes at his antics, seemingly for the hundredth time since meeting him. At this rate I was going to pull an eye muscle.
Aurora took another shot of whiskey, ‘Wild Pegasus’ as it was printed on the bottle, supposedly shipped here from a desert south east of us that had a city dedicated to gambling and shows. He had gone through half of it already and hardly seemed phased.
We had entered the bar and found ourselves a table earlier. The interior was just as thematic as the exterior, decorated and furnished in dark wooden accents while old suits of armor and various bits and bobs of medieval Equestria decorated the place. A staircase along the back wall led to a lofted interior balcony which apparently housed an inn for travelers.
Aurora was kind enough to pay for our meals, using bottle caps as currency – oddly enough. The food here was bland, though I couldn’t really have expected anything to grow fruitfully in the seemingly lifeless landscape that Transylvania was. Apparently the hay-fryer survived the war. It was a ‘must see’ attraction around these parts. Midnightʼs reaction proved that well enough.
We had spent the better part of an hour just shooting questions and getting answers from Aurora, he was an excellent storyteller, and I began to feel like I had a slightly better grasp of the new world around me.
Transylvania, the homeland of thestrals, was a small region in northwest Equestria that went otherwise unnoticed during the war. It was left relatively untouched from the Megaspells and Balefire bombs that fell around Canterlot and larger cities like Vanhoover further west. Thankfully the surrounding mountain range meant very little damage was dealt. That didn’t mean the forests were safe however; magical radiation from Vanhoover found its way in and tainted a lot of the wildlife and unfortunate ponies; explaining the ‘ghoul’ we encountered earlier.
Next, a few years ago, the Grand Pegasus Enclave – a splinter of the pegasi military that locked themselves above the clouds when the bombs fell – recently disbanded. Not much was known about them, but a lot of pegasi were beginning to show up across all of Equestria. Nopony really appreciated the pegasi since historically, they terrorized anypony on the surface in hopes of securing pre-war technology or outright ‘cleansing’ the surface of any mutations. Thestral-pegasi relations were rough even before the war, we had some conflicts over sky territory. We lost. The Enclave supposedly held any pre-war thestrals by indentured servitude above the clouds and even went so far as randomly abducting us throughout the years like bloody aliens.
Among other things, Aurora finally explained the different factions of ponies in the area:
The Steel Rangers: a mysterious and powerful group of ponies to the east whose local chapter were neutral with us but couldnʼt be fully trusted. Their interests were unpredictable and stories say they werenʼt fond of non-typical ponies; thestrals included.
The New Canterlot Republic: even further away, a government that rose into power in Canterlot after the so-called ‘Day of Sunshine and Rainbows.’ That day was when the clouds that eternally blanketed Equestria suddenly vanished. Nopony around here really understood why, but rumors spread that it was the downfall of the Enclave. The NCR's influence was limited by the distance, but the local economy was on an upswing from the increased amount of trade coming from Canterlot.
The Raiders: more or less a diseased and sadistic group of ponies across all of Equestria. They were violent, unorganized, and were broken up into gangs. Some were moderately approachable to conversation, but the running rule was they shoot first and ask questions never.
And finally, and most notably, the Hailstorm; a former Grand Pegasus Enclave cloudship that parked itself over an old Equestrian military base not far from here. This was recent – like ‘last week’ recent. The Night Watch was still figuring out who, what, and why they were here.
The Night Watch and the ponies of Renaissance never really knew what sat outside Transylvania, since many didn’t dare travel beyond the mountains. But one thing Aurora warned was to watch out for Equestrian ponies. They were used to seeing mutated beings and they didn't fully understand what we were. Most knew about ‘bat ponies,’ but outside of Transylvania, we were more of a myth than anything else. The sight of a thestral might scare them into fighting. He cautioned us to carry and learn how to use weapons. Anything and everything was a threat.
“So Aurora,” I paused, taking a sip from the ‘Sparkle Cola’ bottle the waitress presented to me. It was bubbly. “What do you think we should do? I mean, now that we’re stuck out here, how do we live?”
“Well, the first thing ye need is caps lassie. Nothing is free, and I think with a wound like that,” he gestured to Midnight’s wing. “It’s best ye go to a doctor as soon as possible.”
Midnight stopped his fiendish eating long enough to look down at his bandaged wing. He gave it a little wiggle, wincing, “It’s not that bad really, I think it just needs a few days rest.”
It looked bad. The bandages were filthy from our tumble through the forest, dried blood, and my piss-poor attempt at emergency aid. I wasnʼt confident that I even set the bone correctly. I was too busy trying not to retch from the blood or shoving a bone back in his wing.
“Aye, get it checked out though, okay laddie? I canʼt imagine a fate more cruel than clipping me wings, especially for a pegasus.” He semi-drunkenly spread his own wing and looked at the faint lights through his translucent membrane. “Look, I’ll give the innkeep a premium so ye two can stay a day. Before though, just head over to the armory and they’ll lend ye some protection until you make enough to buy it. I already have it set up,” Aurora offered, standing up.
“Aw wait but I’m not done!” Midnight pouted looking at his half eaten food. The fourth serving, that is.
“You’re done, we’re going.” I stood up as well and tried to push him. “Thanks for everything mate, you’ve really, oof, been a great help!” I thanked Aurora, barely nudging Midnight an inch. Damn everypony for being bigger than me.
“Anytime, for the both of ye. It’s the end of me night and about time I go home and see me family. You two lovebirds find me in the house left of the Armory if ye need me aye?” Aurora smiled and placed a bag of caps on the table for the innkeep.
“Two lovebirds…?” I mumbled, falling straight onto the floor when Midnight finally stood up. “Hey wait! It’s not like that!” I cried out to Aurora as he chuckled, exiting the building.
“You heard him, lovebird,” Midnight cooed, trying to help me stand up.
“Oh, bloody can it, will you?” I felt my face burn as I shoved him away and stood up on my own.
Stallions, I swear… I fixed my bow and mane and cantered out the door with what dignity I had left. Thankfully the cold air outside helped cool down my burning face.
Midnight laughed behind me as he galloped to catch up. While we both made our way back to the Armory, I pointedly ignored any attempts in conversation Midnight brought up.
Could he not shut up for five seconds? Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate him. But there was one thing he was good at, and that was pushing all the right buttons to get me frustrated, flustered, or embarrassed. Constantly. It was a bloody game for that one wasn’t it?
Admittedly I was beginning to appreciate his light-hearted playfulness, when it was appropriate. Nothing out here seemed to phase him, it helped me too. But I was still far from comfortable enough to tell him that, it'd just get to his dense head.
We came back to the Armory and entered through the front door. It was similar in layout to the inn but instead of tables and furnishings, a large wooden table covered in maps and smaller office spaces with computer terminals dotted the room. It was surprisingly empty but since it was almost dawn, most ponies were probably headed home for the day. Thankfully there was an orange maned mare behind a terminal at a desk, most likely the receptionist.
I opened my mouth to speak, only to have Midnight clear his throat.
“Aurora sent us to pick up some weapons.”
I closed my mouth, I’d rather he do the talking to strangers anyway.
The mare paused her typing, condescendingly looking up at us over the rim of some retro purple – and distasteful – glasses. She pointed a gray hoof to a caged corner of the room and went back to typing without uttering a word.
“Um… Thanks,” Midnight mumbled as we trotted over to the corner. “Iʼm sure you make a lot of friends.” I heard him whisper to himself. I couldn’t help but smile at that one.
The caged-off section was unlocked and Midnight opened the fence door with a metallic whine. Inside, sat the most beautiful assortment of equipment I had ever laid my eyes on.
“Oh my goddesses, this is amazing!” I squealed, butting past Midnight and prancing around, studying each rack and shelf with glee.
Lining the shelves sat boxes of ammunition; all different densities, calibers, velocities, payloads. In racks along the walls sat rifles; bolt action, semi-automatic, fully automatic. This was heaven. I could have died a happy filly right then and there.
“We can have anything?” Midnight stared quizzically at a line of pistols on a shelf.
“Buck yeah we can!” I pranced up to him and placed my hooves on his shoulders, boosting up to see the shelves above his head. “Do you see any signs saying otherwise, mate?”
“Well, guess not,” Midnight shrugged, nearly tossing me off balance. “What’s got you so excited about this?”
I gasped and came down to all fours before him. “This is all my special talent, Midnight!” I exclaimed, turning around and showing him my cutiemark. The bullet on a bed of roses visible where my winter jacket came to a stop.
His eyes grew wide as I essentially shoved my butt in his face. I couldn’t care less, guns now, embarrassment later.
“Right.” Midnight cleared his throat, prying his eyes away from me and turning around. He picked up a Colt Tidus 11, semi-automatic pistol. “So is this any good?” he asked around the firing bit.
“That’s a fantastic one! It uses fourty-five automa-”
“Great.” Midnight tossed it into his saddlebag and selected a box of ammunition for it, tossing it in as well.
“B-but… okay. It doesnʼt have a large magazine capacity thou-”
“How about this?” He grabbed a Neighmington 700 bolt action hunting rifle and showed it to me.
“That’s good too! I mean, it’s a bit slow but it’s really powerful. It shoots .308. You might wanna put an optic on-” I tried to blurt as fast as I could, but he already turned around.
“Awesome.” He slung it over his back, grabbing two boxes of .308 ammunition, tossing it in his bags as well.
Whatever. I shook my head. I knew exactly what I was after anyway. I quickly scanned the lines of automatic rifles, there werenʼt many, but hell I wondered how they even got all these guns. They were all pre-war military, I couldnʼt imagine they were common across Equestria.
In the Stable, the most I’ve ever seen were the combat shotguns or pistols used by the Security Corps. Itʼs how I earned my cutie mark; helping the gunsmiths as a hobby. All of my knowledge came from books or the old movies they played in the Atrium. But this was the real deal!
My eyes locked onto one of the shortest barreled rifles, a carbine. I picked it up and checked the chamber, an IF4. These carbines were spectacular. It was lightweight and most importantly: versatile. I wasnʼt a big mare, so anything longer would require my hooves to hold or a battle saddle to mount it on. I wanted something that I could brace on my shoulder with just the firing bit and use on the move.
I slung the carbine over my back and looked around for any kinds of accessories I could add. Unfortunately the Night Watch lacked any serious hardware like electronic sights and suppressors, but at least they had some decent ammunition. I scanned the shelves and settled for the green pointed 5.56cal ammunition. Green paint meant steel-cored, good for heavier targets, especially for what awful mutated creatures Aurora had described.
I grabbed a few spare magazines for my carbine, as well as for Midnight’s selection of weapons. They were pre-loaded, saving us the painstaking process of loading cartridges one at a time. However, I grabbed a few stripper clips for the future, to make it easier whenever that inevitable task finally came.
I quickly scanned along the remaining shelves and spotted some medical supplies. Health potions and magical bandages were stocked in small yellow boxes with pink butterflies painted on them, far superior to my pathetic first-aid kit. I cautiously stacked the ammunition onto one of the boxes and balanced them in my mouth, carefully trotting over to Midnight and opening his saddlebag with my nose.
“Hey whoa, why do I have to carry everything?” he complained.
I snorted in annoyance as I dumped the heavy supplies into his bag. “Cause you can actually carry it perhaps?” I raised an eyebrow, poking his shoulder. Re-thinking my actions, and poking it again. Oh those were strong...
“What and you get to canter around with virtually empty bags?” Midnight pressed, following me as I trotted past him.
I ignored his comment and trotted out of the building into the autumn night once again. It was just about twilight with the moon setting below the forested treetops to the west. I was definitely feeling exhausted at this point, sleeping in the inn was beginning to sound like a wonderful idea.
Across the street from the headquarters, a similar building was squeezed among the houses. A wooden sign adorned with pink butterflies creaked in the gentle breeze, the words ‘Hospital’ were written in yellow paint. I guessed one more thing couldn’t hurt.
“Alright, we’re gonna get that wing of yours checked out,” I halted and faced Midnight.
Midnight gave me a frown.
“What? You want it fixed don’t you?” I pressed.
He sighed and nodded, reluctantly leading us toward the building. “It’s just, doctors. I don’t do doctors.”
We entered the hospital and it was, yet again, similar in layout to the others. I was beginning to notice a pattern here, perhaps before the war whoever built this ‘Renaissance Faire’ cheaped out on architecture. The differences were obvious however, a line of curtained off beds populated the main room, with medical equipment and supply cabinets sitting at each cordoned off section.
At a desk near the entrance a dark sage coated mare sat at a terminal wearing a white lab coat, her mane was periwinkle highlighted with white. She was maybe a few years older than us but it was hard to tell from how absolutely exhausted she looked. She held her head up with a foreleg as she scrolled page after page in the green glow of the terminal screen.
I awkwardly tapped my hooves on the ground, hoping she’d notice us. Her gold eyes quickly shot up and she grabbed a pair of glasses and pushed her loose mane behind an ear. She tried to smile past her embarrassment, “Good evening! My name is nurse Penumbra, how can we help you?”
“Um, hi. My friend here needs somepony to take a look at his wing, if you could please,” I said, motioning to Midnight.
Penumbra looked over Midnight and nodded, standing up and gesturing down the beds, “Right this way, please.” She spoke over her shoulder, “So what happened?” She beckoned Midnight to one of the beds.
Midnight sat down as Penumbra undid the bandaging and inspected his wing. “Well, I donʼt know actually,” he scratched his head. “I was flying along and must have clipped my wing on something.”
Penumbra pulled out a clipboard and began taking notes as she delicately inspected the joints.
“What he means to say is: he flew full speed into a wooden barricade while getting shot at and then fell two stories,” I corrected. “I tried my best to help but, Iʼm no doctor. The bone was broken clean out of his wing,” I grimaced remembering the scene.
I realized I never thanked him for saving me. As much as I liked to imagine that I could have flown out of the Stable on my own, I knew I wouldnʼt have been as fast or precise as he was. I guess he and I were even.
Penumbra hummed to herself as she gingerly prodded the bones in Midnightʼs wing. He winced but let her extend it slowly.
“So, whaddya see?” the blue stallion nervously laughed.
“You're lucky I know the anatomy of pegasi wings. Theyʼre actually very different from thestrals’,” Penumbra said softly and turned to dig through a medical cabinet. “You may need surgery, but if I do this correctly and with a little bit of magic, it should be a simple fix-” she was cut off by another pony walking up to us.
“Ah, patients! Finally!” A sophisticated sounding buck came over from a back office. He was middle aged with a brown coat and off-white mane. He wore wire frame glasses, a frayed lab coat, and a stethoscope. I could only imagine he was the doctor. “Nameʼs Broken Bone! I can take over now darling, thank you.”
Broken Bone pointedly pushed past Penumbra who just began to gather some magic chemicals and a surgical tray.
“Oh, Doctor I think I can-” Penumbra protested, but Broken Bone was already all over Midnightʼs wing.
“Oh. A pegasus,” Broken tried to hide his frown, “donʼt see feathers around these parts too often…” His voice fell to a mumble, “Who really wants to anyway?”
I stared at him. Did he really just say that? Was everypony that hateful of pegasi around here?
Broken unexpectedly yanked Midnight’s wing straight out to full extension. “There!”
Midnight cried out in pain, squeezing his eyes shut, “What the hell?!” His explative was short lived when Broken shoved a health potion from Penumbra's tray into Midnight's mouth and forced him to drink it.
“It wasn’t set properly,” Broken shrugged, reaching over to a drawer and pulling out a metal contraption with his teeth. “Now hold still.”
Midnight gulped and sputtered. His wing was locked fully extended, and I could almost see it pulsing through his feathers. Broken extended the metal skeleton-like contraption and encapsulated the base of Midnight’s wing. He then tapped the metal with a hoof, and the object sprung down to the wing’s resting position. This, of course, elicited another painful yelp from Midnight.
Penumbra sighed and slowly crossed out the notes she had taken on her clipboard. She had a look that told me this was a common occurrence between the two medical ponies. She didnʼt intervene but she gave Midnight a genuine look of pity.
“There. All done,” Broken clapped his hooves together gleefully. “Now, depending on how many health potions you drink, let it sit in the splint for two days to two months and you’ll, hopefully, be flying before you know it!”
“Hopefully? Two months?!” Midnight exclaimed, blinking away his tears.
“Precisely. About five potions should do the trick, but youʼll have to source them elsewhere. We’re all out for pegasi, sorry. Oh, todayʼs visit will be five-hundred caps,” Broken curtly nodded, extending a hoof.
“F-five-hundred?” I stammered. “We don’t have any at all!”
“I beg your pardon?” Broken scratched his ear and turned to face me. His demeanor changed entirely as he glared down at me through his circular glasses. They seemed to catch the light and glow with a sinister tone, “You can’t possibly expect free service.”
I slowly backpedaled. Honestly, I forgot about payment altogether. The thought of currency never crossed my mind. Everything was free in the Stable except some rare luxuries, even then most ponies paid with trades or favors.
“I- I-, um.” I mumbled as Broken stood over me.
“We’ll set up a payment plan,” Penumbra stepped forward and began cleaning up. “They can pay us back later with interest, right Doctor?”
“Splendid!” Broken chortled sweetly and trotted back over to his desk. “You have three nights. See you then.”
Midnight snorted and stood up, giving me a look, “Geez, that was hardly worth it.”
I glanced back at him, guilt pouring in my chest for making him do this.
Penumbra pushed up her glasses and grabbed the clipboard again. “Here, Iʼll waive the interest as a ‘first visit’ discount. You two should check out the notice board by the armory to see if anypony needs a job done for some caps.” She began writing with a pencil in her mouth.
“Does Broken normally-” I began to wonder aloud.
“Yes,” Penumbra spat out the pencil and tore off the paper. She gave it to me, on it; a bill for the caps with a small discount. She pushed her mane back behind her ear again, looking at Midnight with sincerity, “Sorry, Midnight.”
The pegasus just shrugged and looked away, his jaded expression said it all.
“Weʼll pay you back. Thank you,” I mumbled, eyeing Midnightʼs ‘fixed’ wing.
“Come on, let's leave,” Midnight said curtly and made for the door.
I followed closely behind him, not sparing Broken a glance in his office. I felt entirely responsible for costing us this debt and hurting Midnight so badly. But what alternative did we have?
I nudged Midnight’s shoulder as we trotted down the street together, making our way to the inn. I spoke gently, “So, how’s the wing feeling?”
“Eh, it’s been better,” he chuckled halfheartedly, looking down at the splint. “I kinda look like a cyborg pony don’t I?”
I smirked at his humor but my expression slowly fell, “Iʼm sorry, Midnight.”
“You’re not the one who barreled through a wall,” he said reassuringly. “I needed it, regardless of the quality ‘serviceʼ I received. Seems on par with what everypony thinks of me.”
I stared at his wings while we walked. They were so different from thestrals, but I knew that that wasn’t the problem. It was what they represented. Pegasi must have done horrible things to these ponies. But, this particular pegasus hadn’t done anything wrong to me.
“I donʼt mind your feathers,” I said softly, more to myself than anything.
He glanced back and met my eyes with genuine appreciation. I wanted to say more but just felt my face warm lightly and looked away.
I couldnʼt believe it mattered so much to everypony. If anything, I thought being half-pegasus was really interesting.
We trotted in silence and came up to the inn. Once inside, Midnight asked about the room, mentioning Aurora’s premium. The barmaid led us up the stairs and to a door, just down the hallway from the loft.
“Well. This is… Comfortable,” Midnight coughed.
Inside, there was one sunken bed and a small couch that looked like it was hit by the Megaspells. The only other indication of this being a bedroom – and not a prison cell – was a window and a tattered purple curtain.
“No,” I deadpanned, trotting over to the bed and claiming it as my own.
“‘No,’ what? I didn’t say anything!” Midnight pleaded.
“We’re not.”
“Not, what?”
“You’re sleeping there,” I pointed to the saggy couch, “I’m sleeping here,” I laid down.
“Oh so you think I was gonna try and pull something, huh?” Midnight defended, plopping down on the couch. The ancient springs gave a pitiful squeak in protest.
“Exactly, no funny business mate,” I shot him a pointed glare. I was going to nip any of his antics in the bud. I didn’t think he’d be so brazen to actually try anything, but I did not plan on sharing a bed with that colt.
Midnight laid down on the cushions, shrugging his shoulders, “Hey, I wasn’t the one thinking about that. That’s all you sister.”
I felt the tips of my ears begin to heat up, damn him for always turning this on me. “No, I- I mean, you always make some comment! I just stopped you this time.”
“I’m flattered, but you’ve gotta at least take me out to dinner first,” Midnight yawned, baring his fangs, “G’night.”
I groaned in frustration, turning my back to him.
Ugh, he’s still Midnight, I thought to myself. Despite his friendliness, he was still such a pain in the flank.
I closed my eyes and let myself forget his annoyances, there was no sensibility with him anyway. I felt myself calm down and slowly drift to sleep. For the first time since before any of this happened, I began to feel at ease.
XXX