//------------------------------// // talking // Story: Mapping Manehattan // by The Red Parade //------------------------------// Lyra, Bon Bon, and Caramel are waiting outside. The group starts the walk to Circle Park, leaving the burning building far behind.  For the most part, Coco is quiet. Fiddle gives her a sympathetic look and sighs. It isn’t fair. Hadn’t the mare been through enough? She’d already lost everything. She didn’t deserve to lose more. Lightning agrees. It’s a messed up world out there. A world where bad things are happening to good ponies. Fiddle sighs. Good ponies. There aren’t a lot left out there. If a Ravager is a bad pony, then what makes a good pony? A pony who risks their lives to help others? Maybe in the past. Today they’d just be a stupid pony.  Fiddle glances at the group of ponies and watches as they talk. Caramel makes a terrible joke, and Sassaflash slaps him in the back of the head. Everypony laughs, and even Coco cracks a smile. Fiddle remembers her friends. She hasn’t seen them in a long time. She hopes they’re well. Wherever they are. The Princess used to talk a lot about friendship. About caring and looking out for other ponies. Nowadays it’s every pony for themselves.  Fiddle’s ears fold as memories cross her mind. Everypony still alive has done horrible things to survive. She’s no exception. It was the worst decision of her life, but it meant she was alive. But maybe she shouldn’t be. A frown forms on her face. Being alive nowadays is a gift. It’s easy to forget that. Sometimes it’s a burden, sometimes it’s a joy. Fiddle and Lightning are alive. A lot of other ponies aren’t. A lot of ponies that were stronger, smarter, faster, and better than her didn’t make it. Maybe those ponies could have saved Equestria before it fell. Fiddle couldn’t do it. So why did she deserve to be alive? She feels something brush against her side. Coco shyly smiles at her. Her voice trembles, and Fiddle almost misses it. Thank you. Fiddle smiles. No problem. Fiddle’s sorry she didn’t arrive earlier. Maybe she could have made a difference. Coco shrugs. Fiddle saved her life. That’s a big enough difference for her. Lightning smiles and drapes a wing over Fiddle’s back. Remember what she said to White Lightning? They don’t have to save the world. They aren’t expected to. Fiddle nods. Still, it’d feel nice to be a hero. They’re heroes to Coco, Lightning replies. Nowadays, it’s nice to have someone who looks up to you. Fiddle laughs and nuzzles her. She feels better now. They may not be the best ponies to ever live, but for now, they’re enough. They listen to Lyra’s stories and they laugh at Caramel’s jokes.  For a second, Lightning closes her eyes and everything feels normal again. She can almost hear the honks of cars as they line the roads, and the laughter of drunkards as they stumble through the night. But when she opens her eyes, the city is empty. Like it always is.