Solitary Confinement: Chapter 4

>It has been a few hours of travel since you left the apartment building.

>Nurse Soma entrusted you with the pistol you found.

>You told her you couldn't guarantee that you would use it very well, but she believes in you.

>Both of you make small talk to get to know each other.

>She told you of the brand on her behind, a “cutie mark.”

>The red cross showing her proficiency in health care.

>You mentioned your life filled with friends, family and internet strangers.

>Never a day went by without communicating with at least several people.

>You weren't the most sociable person, but you enjoyed being with others.

>”Even if they were being rude to you?”

“Yeah!  If they didn't want to talk to me, they would just not respond.”

>”Still... I wouldn't tolerate any sort of intentionally harmful language.”

“Well, that's just kind of the world I live in.  Anonymity brings both the good and the bad.”

>”I guess.  You just seem so much kinder than those people.”

>You give her a toothy grin.

“Thanks, but you just get used to it, just like how you ponies live alongside life-threatening creatures in your world.”

>”Well... they just defend their territory for the most part.  We just have to be there if they threaten our homes.”

“Seems like we both have ways to deal with the unpleasant.”

>”Yeah, seems you're right about that.”

>You both titter to each other as a squeaky growl from Soma interjects.

“Seems like its almost lunchtime, huh?”

>”My stomach seems to think so, let's go find a building to rest in.”

>You would've suggested eating outside, but the concrete playground of the city was never a comfortable place to lie.

>Especially with the overturned cars and cracked streets.

>After a few minutes of searching, you managed to find a nice hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

“Hey Soma, over here!  We might be able to find some stuff in here too.”

>She gallops over to you as you look through the tiny window of the building.

>No sudden movements as far as you can see.

“Do you think you can check if you detect anything odd in there?”

>”Of course.”

>Closing her eyes, her horn glows a gentle blue.

>She mentioned that using magic works up an appetite, so she has been using spells sparingly.

>Just enough magic to make sure either of you don't walk into any horrible traps or something worse.

>”All clear.”

>She opens her azure eyes as you open the door to the eatery.

>Aside from the millions of dust particles playing in the daylight, the entire place was abandoned.

“Set up lunch on that table Soma, I'll check the back for anything left behind.”

>Opening her saddle pouches with a smile, she begins to set your boxed lunches up.

>You take a quick glance into the kitchen, seeing it relatively untouched.

>A few overripe fruits accompanied by some flies appear to be the only occupants here.

>Since this apocalypse came quickly, most people left with what they can carry.

>Opening cabinets and pulling out drawers, you managed to find a fairly good supply of canned goods.

>You rummage a bit more for a can opener located in the sink.

>Though magic is such an all-purpose tool, never hurts to be safe.

>You stuff what you can in your backpack before making a short stop at the refrigerator.

>While temptation tells you to open it, knowing that the power has probably been out for a while tells you eldritch horrors lay beyond the door.

>You shudder a bit to yourself as you exit the kitchen into the restaurant.

>”Find anything good?”

>You take a seat next to your friend, as she has already started on her bowl of salad.

“A few canned goods, it can last us maybe one day depending on how we ration it out.”

>She gives you a confirming “Mmm” as she was muzzle-deep in her vegetables.

>Setting your bag aside, you grab the prepared sandwich.

>Ham, lettuce, white bread and tomatoes.

>A bit soggy given the time, but food nonetheless.

>Lunch passed by peacefully, aside from the occasional giggle from you.

>Soma found it fairly difficult to eat such tiny vegetables and not get them stuck in her teeth.

>You even plucked a piece of lettuce from her incisors, much to her surprise.

>Of course you took care not to let your hand linger near her mouth for too long.

>She scolded you briefly before bringing in you for a hug.

>Leaning your head against her fuzzy chest, she wraps her fore legs around you tightly.

>”Really, thanks for coming with me.”

“The pleasure is all mine.  I just hope I don't get in the way.”

>”You won't.  The camp is a really friendly place, and while there are only a few humans located there, I'll make sure you're safe.”

“I-I appreciate it.”

>You look up to see her motherly gaze as her large hoof strokes your hair.

>Reaching an arm around, you begin to scratch behind her ear.

>Both of you revel in the moment of rest between each other.

>”I rarely get to know others with my job.”

>You give her an inquisitive sigh.

>”Patients come and go, but I'm always holding down the fort.”

>She gives you a quick nuzzle to the ear.

>”I'm just so glad I found such a clingy human.”

“Well, I'm so glad I found such a lonely nurse.”

>Sharing a quick giggle, Soma rises from her seat.

>”We should get going, while there's still light out.”

“Yeah, of course.”

>Donning your backpack, the two of you make your way out of the building.

>After a couple of hours of walk and talk, Soma halts you with a fore leg.

>”I detect somepony ahead of us.”

>You stop to see her eyes narrow and her expression harden.

“Don't you mean someone?”

>”No, I can detect the pony's magic.”

“...a unicorn?”

>”Can't tell, all ponies have some sort of magic in them.  Go hide in the alleyway over there while I deal with this pony.”

“Sure, I'll be waiting for you.”

>She gives you a sincere smile before you dart silently into the alleyway.

>The only occupants here appear to be a large dumpster with 2 trashcans.

>Not the best company you've had, but better than nothing.

>You hastily open the dumpster in hopes for something useful.

>What you found was far more threatening.

>A sleeping pony.

>Wings.

>A pegasus.

>This is all you saw before quietly closing the dumpster.

>You fall backwards from your heart attack, taking care not to make too much noise.

>”Hey.”

>You nearly jump out of your skin as Soma suddenly appears.

>”You look like you've seen a ghost, everything okay?”

>You nod your head vigorously.

>”...okay, I'll ask later, but I want you to meet somepony.”

>You follow Soma out of the alleyway, giving the dumpster a quick glance.

>Around the corner, you see a light blue coat with a blindingly white mane.

>The gentle features lead you to believe that the pony is female.

>”This is Star Shower, an old friend of mine.”

>”Heya, nice ta meet a human that doesn't scream bloody murder on sight!”

>She hold a fore hoof up to you.

>You pause for a bit, wondering how to approach this.

>Grabbing the hoof from below, you give her a quick shake.

>”Rarely get ta talk with others like ya.  We're always told all of ya are smart creatures, but you're all too busy screaming and running ta really let us get a word in!”

“Heh... well you can't blame us really.  It's been... hard for us.”

>”True... I'm guilty of bein' a part of tha problem.”

>She rubs the back of her head in embarrassment, wings completely folded in with a goofy grin on her face.

>”Well, as much as I like ta talk, gotta find my partner, the lazy pony she is.”

“Uhh... she wouldn't happen to be a pegasus too, right?'

>Star gives you a blank stare before a flash of anger comes across her eyes.

>”Yeah... why?”

“Oh uhh... I saw a sleeping pony in a dumpster in an alleyway over there.  She didn't wake up when I opened it, so I let her sleep.”

>She growls a little bit before giving a frustrated snort.

>”She's always sleeping!  I swear we'll never get ta finish our recon here...”

>She starts to gallop away before turning her head to you.

>”Heya thanks, you seem like a pretty neat human.  And see you around Soma!”

>”I'll be seeing you too.”

>With that Star Shower disappears around the corner.

>”I'm assuming that's why you looked like death earlier.”

>You nod your head in confirmation.

>She giggles a bit at your expense.

>”Well, good thing we found some friendly ponies, some can be quite aggressive.”

“Yeah, good thing... So are they good friends?”

>She pauses for a moment before she motions you walk with her.

>”Sort of.  We used to do a lot of things together before our responsibilities forced us into separate lives.”

>Soma gives a sigh before a loud bang is heard in the distance.

>Loud argument shortly follows the noise.

>Soma gives a hearty laugh before continuing to walk.

>”Star Shower and Cloud Caller always got on each other's nerves, so its nice to see that hasn't changed.”

>You smile at the mention of their names.

>Not quite used to how ponies name themselves, you're glad that Soma has a relatively normal name.

>It all seems silly to you as the nurse notices the extra glee in your face.

>”Their names really tickle you, huh?”

“Hah, yeah.  I'm really not used to it, even after your little explanation.”

>It wasn't so much as an explanation as a history of pony names never changing.

>”Well humans naming themselves Anon and such is quite confusing.  There's no meaning in your names!”

“Come on, even having thousands of Johns and Janes in the world is perfectly normal.”

>”See!  Even you admit it's confusing.”

“I admit nothing with your long, elaborate ways of naming ponies.”

>She grabs a hold of you with magic as you float onto her back.

>Suddenly, she gallops at full force as you quickly rope your arms around her neck.

>”Not slowing down until you admit I'm right!”

“Never!”

>You both laugh as you ride Nurse Soma into the setting sun, concluding the first day.