In the late hours of another, ordinary day in the Equestrian Wasteland, a cluster of utterly unordinary creatures gather around an abandoned cabin-Determined to make it their home for the coming night. A zebra wearing sky blue and grey military police armor, a bat pony lurking in the shadows, a ‘new to the Wasteland’ Enclave Pegasus mare… And, perhaps most out of place of all, a human Stalker from Northern Ukraine and the Chernobyl Exclusion by the name of Nikolai who’s traveled a long way to get to where he is now. The pegasi’s name is-In actuality-Private Thunder Light-But she hasn’t told any of her new friends that yet…

“Nice to meet you Aurora, formally.” He said kindly. “That is your name, right?”

“Yes, that’s my name?” She replied, tilting her head.

“Do you have a first name, or is this a ‘last name’ sort of basis?” He gesticulated a twirling motion with his gloved hands in between sips of Vodka, than stood up and paced back towards the cabin. He turned to glance back at the pegasus, who smiled back again in kind.

“Borealis is my last name. And-If you’re wondering-you can call me either. I don’t mind.” Nikolai’s mind snickered at the name. “Aurora Borealis… Clever name for pegasus, I would like to see one of those Auroras some day.” He meandered past Flashpoint again and fetched something out of his pack, he returned with a browned paper pamphlet about as thick as an average comic book.

“Oh… This one is a treat, The Wasteland Survival Guide.” He began to narrate. “By Ditzy Doo. She is this sweet pegasus ghoul-I met her myself a while ago, she just gives these out to anyone who asks. ‘first copy free’. Of course, this one is mine.”

“Anything and everything you need to know about life here. Trust me-It was fun read-You-You do know how to read, yes?”

She frowned “You take me for a wastie? Of course I know how to read. I certainly didn’t go to the Academy to be illiterate.” Her residual glare would immediately soften, realizing what she had said, and looked away from Nikolai-Feeling almost ashamed of herself.

“Sorry.”

“Is ok. Flashpoint looks like needs help with campfire. I go help him, you go on and skim through it…”

From FoE: Stalker chapter 37, “Thundering Hooves.”