Date: July 14, 2074
Area: Stable 88, Cellblock 14
Raiders
Raiders are the scum of the wasteland, the common bandits, barbarians of the new Dark Age of Equestria. Yes, all these tribalistic scavengers are just lovers of guns, drugs, murder, sex, list goes on. Evil, disgusting, racist, sexually-perverted....but...all ponies are in a way, evil, disgusting, racist and sexually-perverted. Wasteland fucks with a pony's mind, all minds. It's only that the Civilized ponies just like to point their hooves at a single group. First it was the Alicorns, then each other, then the Gryphons, the Dracocorns, Gryphons again, Zebras, Mutants, now the Raiders. Damn, talk about a cycle of abuse.
But fuck, what do I know? I'm just a lonely little pony trying to stay positive in the depths of the Stable in which I lived in. I was interested in the Raiders, hell, my own MOM was a fucking Raider. An imprisoned, Radflea-bitten, gun loving Raider...or Raideress? nah, that sounds just fucking stupid, Raider it is. Needless to say, first time we met...it was pretty weird. to say the very VERY least, weird. When you grow up in a Stable with a well intentioned father who spent most his life monitoring the lifespan, behavior, diet, and all that other stuff to caged ponies, you think you have a normal life.
My dad worked with the Stablehand, a disturbed mare named Julia Kaiser, and the rest of her team of Security to act as some kind of messed up Zookeeper of the Wasteland. He was a stalky Earth Pony, who oddly took a career in the intellectual field rather than in brute strength like the rest of his brethren. Hell, even Kaiser herself was more of a brute than dad was, whether that meant something is beyond me. He let me see what he did for the Stable when I was 7, and when I was younger and didn't know any better, I just thought they were separate cells for poorer ponies. I didn't know they were prisoners of enslavement and study.
For my tenth birthday, he showed me Cellblock 14. Boy...I remember that time like it was just yesterday...
Date: July 14th, 2070
"Hey slugger?" I felt my father's hoof on my back, slowly rocking me back and forth on my bed. "Just wake up, you have a big day today."
I struggled to wake up, usual for me. I always slept in, mainly cause I usually got lazy after the school year was over. During that time, each day I'd wake up from 5 AM and got to sleep around 11 PM. After that, screw the clock, I slept until noon. My head was throbbing now, as usual.
"Luxicon" I heard him say my name. "Today's your 10th Birthday, you should be more excited than this" I felt him bite my blanket and forcibly throw it off. And when the cold air hit my flesh, I immediately thrashed about. It was like I was running a fever, where all the warmth is sucked from your body and just transferred to your forehead. it left you cold and hot at the same time, just weird.
"Fine dad...I'm up I'm up..." I got up and stretched my neck and spine out, as I get on all four hooves. my bones creak and pop a little bit, thanks to all my lazy sleeping. You'd think with how late I stay up and how late I sleep in that it would start to affect my mind. But, oddly enough, I'm one of the smartest ponies I know. Yeah, some call that Narcissistic, but I'm just kinda prideful about that. I wasn't really picked on cause I was a nerd, perse, but bullies were a problem.
"Come on, we'll get some food in the Diner." Dad said to me, helping me put on my Stable tunic. I always thought it was weird that it had the number "88" on the back and the collar. Unlike most Stables, most denizens in The Post (Which is what most of the ponies called it) had to get the number branded on your neck. It's for security measures only, and helps in case ponies leave the Stable without consent from the Stablehand. Some Security ponies had them, but most didn't. Maybe it was due to the fact that they wanted to have some Hierarchy, strong above the weak.
But I'm getting off topic.
I followed my dad to the supposedly closed down Diner section of the Stable. I said closed down cause the lights were off and the door seemed to be locked. "Huh...it's closed...weird" Dad was confused. I decided to hit the button, and the door opened up. Weird...if this part of the Stable was closed, then wouldn't it be locked down tight. I'm no technician, but I'm sure they could've bolted the place down. But hey, door's open.
I ran inside, like a little boy hopped up on sugar. Before long, the lights just flashed on, suddenly. It was blinding, and since my irises were red, it made the light that much more intense to me. I quickly shielded my eyes, and heard the loud sounds of party blowers as if I had entered some kind of Party. Well...Le no shit...it was my birthday, lights, part blowers...yeah this is my birthday party. And my 10th to boot. It may have been something a pony my age would be ashamed of if it were about a couple years ago. To be fair, I wouldn't want this for my 9th Birthday, but since this year was important, I let it all slide.
"SURRRRRRRPRIIIIIIIIISSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"
The light finally subsided, and my eyes adjusted to the now illuminated Dining area. I kept rubbing my eyes, still struggling to see
"Dammit Stamford!" I heard a pony's voice say out. "I told ya we shouldn't have used the lights. you could've BLINDED the poor kid!" He swore for no good reason in front of a colt, but it's ok cause it was kinda appropriate. I still couldn't see properly, hell, I think my eyes were permanently damaged. I soon felt something come at me from behind, grabbing at my stomach and putting weight on my back. It's warm, furry, almost chubby feel was clear enough even to a blinded colt.
"Happy Birthday there, Hot Shot!" the voice was loud, raspy, holding a small hint of femininity. "Betcha we surprised ya good, didn't ya?" It was undeniable, and when I squinted my eyes to see better, I could see her beak poking at my ear. Yup, it was Angel alright.
"I admit it, you got me good Hot Wings" I chuckled, trying to get my Gryphoness friend off me. She got off, still keeping a talon on my back. "Heh, I wasn't THAT surprised though." I said as suave and cool as I could...for a 10 year-old at least.
"Lux, you're such a bad liar!" Say what you will about the Gryphons, Angel was obviously one of the smartest creatures in Stable 88. Bird-brain my flank. "If you weren't surprised, then I bet you won't guess what I got you for your Present." She'd always get me off guard, like always. If it weren't for tight Stable Codes, I bet Angel could be Stablehand.
"Uhhhh...uhhhhh....uhhhhh" was all I could say. I tried think of as logical of an answer as I could. It's not like I'm dumb or anything, quite the contrary actually. I was smart enough to pass classes with flying colors, and even get into some advanced Holotape Classes. I studied History, and it was my best subject, second only to technology. Angel...she passed flying colors...and fucking rain-boomed the advanced courses. So you can see that this was an ordeal to trick her.
"Uhhhhhhhhhhh...a date with Peppercorn?" it was all I could say, and it was pretty random and out of the blue. and the look on Angel's face CLEARLY showed it.
"Ewww!" she was disgusted with my answer. "I didn't even think you LIKED girls let alone a bully like Peppercorn."
"You're a girl" I rebuttled. She just gawked again. "Yeah, but we're FRIENDS...and totally different species...but that's not the point!" her reaction was priceless, I had to admit. She searched through her makeshift jacket, and pulled out what looked like a comic book. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...was I a dick.
"No, it's the Red Sabre comic you wanted. It was from dad's collection...Faust, what is wrong with you?" I usually steered clear away from Angel's dad; A Blood-hungry Security Pony. How he spawned a Gryphon is still beyond me, but it's either A) He had her adopted at a young age, or B) Love works in clearly fucked up manners. I just go with A and not really ask anymore questions. But, a Security Pony who had comics? Heh, I guess we were all 10 at one point. But still...somepony who could make me shit myself with a good glare...a comic nerd!?
"Heh, guess I surprised YOU now, huh Angel?" The Gryphoness nodded in agreement, before awkwardly walking away. I then began to enjoy most of my party. It was nothing fancy; A couple friends, their parents, good music, and Stamford at the bar serving up food. Compared to most parties that were thrown here, and they got crazy, let me tell ya...mine was very small scale. The fact this many ponies and critters came her is surprising enough! I began to talk to other ponies, got a couple things like a Security cap(which I quickly wore, liking how it felt on my little head. made me feel cool for once.). I went to the sweet old mare, who was only called 'Grandma' by all the Denizens of Stable 88, and she gave me one thing I didn't think I'd ever get my little hoofies on...
Sweet Roll
Sweet Faustus above who broke the Oblivion! 'Grandma's' Sweet Rolls were fucking LEGENDARY. First off, these things were hard enough to make perfect, since they were part of an old Pre War recipe that was chained with lock and key. Second, Ingredients were scarce, since no pony leaves the Stable(unless you're Security, they go on manhunts for Faust knows what). So, not only are these treats actually...well...a treat...but they're also baked for only one pony each time they turn 10. you get one for your life, so you better savor the taste...the taste...oh sweet goddess above...the taste...I could only imagine.
"GENTLECOLTS, IT'S TIME TO CUT THE CAKE" I heard Stamford in his monotone Braytish accent. the Mr. Hoofy began to rise near my birthday cake, and it let out a big saw blade. Oh....this'll end up just fucking swell... I began to here my dad, Angel, Kaiser, Everypony in the room try to stop the crazy machine from overblowing the cake cutting, but it was too late. the blade spun and destroyed my cake. just like that...
"OH, I'M TRUELY...MORTIFIED EVERYPONY" he said, in his usual, unchanging voice. Bollocks to them, I got my Sweet Roll. As I was about to take a bite...
"HEY! NERD!!!" it was a loud, very angry sounding voice. I turned to see a white Earth Pony with spotty, almost speckled black markings on her. she had on a Stable-88 Vest, and had a pepper-grinder for a cutiemark. Her eyes were...Faust her eyes...the most beautiful shade of violet. and her mane was a solid gunmetal in color, and was short like a colt. It was Peppercorn.
You see...part of the reason that the lie I told to Angel was about Peppercorn is...well...I do kinda have a little crush on her. I always wondered why, but it was one of those things that always came into pure oblivion. I didn't know why I had the hots for a bully who could pummel my face into the Stable's metal walls and still have me manage to forgive her.She even called me a filly at one point. But it always always ALWAYS fell on deaf ears. Heck, I even felt MORE infatuated after she beats the shit out of me. Peppercorn didn't have her goons out to get me, so I KNEW this was personal.
"Uhhh..Hey Peppy" I was fighting my urge to blush and slowly backed away. "Wh...what's wrong?"
"I'M HUNGRY YOU STUPID LITTLE NOSEBLEED!!!" she flared her nostrils. "And that dumb robot DESTROYED THE CAKE!" She got closer, getting me near the wall. "GIMMIE THAT SWEET ROLL!!!!" It was against everything I waited 10 years for, but I gave her my whole Sweet Roll. She ate the whole thing in a few chomps. She was quite the messy eater, and I saw crumbs and icing cover her mouth. I couldn't help but blush, seeing her pretty face and having her close to me.
"What's wrong with you, Nosebleed?" Peppercorn kept me up against the wall. I quickly covered my face, but it was too late. "Are you...crushing...on somepony?" she smiled cruelly at me. "Hey Songbird, Lucky, I think Luxicon here is in love!" I felt the bones in my legs turn into jelly, and my blush burning brighter. A smaller filly, Pegasus with a hummingbird cutiemark, added to the taunts. "Who's the lucky filly there, Love-Sick Luxy?" a colt with a clover cutiemark soon held me up closer again. "Yeah Red Face, who?" I couldn't help it. I fell flat on my ass, and I began to break down. Peppercorn and her crew kept laughing and beating me up. I cried softly, and tears ran down my face. "Ha, Love-Sick Luxy is a little crybaby!" Pepper got closer, her nose touching mine. At that point my face was ALL red, hot, and I felt myself sweating. I'm sure she could see through me as if I were made of glass. I was so tempted to press her lips against mine in a kiss, just to see what would happen.
"HEY!" I heard a familiar voice call out, a friendly voice. "Leave the poor guy alone!" It was Angel, saving my ass once again. Peppercorn pushed her nose away to see the angry Gryphoness showing concern for me.
"Awwww...is she your little crush?" The speckled filly mocked me, and I only looked at Angel in horror. "Hey Lucky, let's put these Love Birds together!" I saw the colt push her closer to me, while Peppy did the same to me. Both of us tried to struggle against our aggressors. I tried my hardest, and closed my eyes tightly. I tried my hardest, really I did....but Peppy was FAR stronger than I ever was...or would be. I couldn't stop my fate...and before long, I felt soft paw pads press against my hooves...and something hard against my lips.
I didn't open my eyes, I never wanted to see again. With either clear 20-20 or my fucked up excuse for eyes, not ever again. But...I inevitably pereked my eyes open, and saw Angel's deep green eyes, fully dilated...like she saw something terrifying. she quickly pulled away, wiping her beak quickly in disgust about what happened. I wouldn't blame her, she was just a friend, and I'm sure both of us have our own crushes here in the Stable. My blush immediately vanished, as I turned unto see the speckled Earth Pony. "...what the heck?" she said, stunned a little, before turning to Songbird. "Why isn't Love-Sick Luxy red after that kiss? he should've been CRIMSON at that point!"
"...H-he..." Angel turned, her blush still vibrant through her feathers. "He...doesn't like me....he likes...ohhhhh..." she sighed, before crawling away in a depressed manner. Kinda sad, since Angel was the spunkiest little Gryphon I know. Seeing her down was always kinda hard for any pony in the Stable. Guess being an adopted little tomboy had it's disadvantages...or at least it wasn't as carefree as I remembered. "Angel?" I asked, before turning back to Peppercorn.
"Well, if Kitty-hawk over there aint your crush, then who the heck is?" she said, getting close to me again. Soon, my cursed blush came back. This time, the admitably thick Earthpony finally had her brain gears 'click'. "Ohh...oh you little stupid nosebleed!" She growled. Yeah, I was afraid this will happen.
I saw Peppercorn raise her hoof up and she struck my face pretty hard. The hit itself was from her stronger-than-the-average-filly hoof combined with the Steel Horseshoe she wore. When it hit my jaw, I felt it a couple teeth of mine break and a lot of blood spurting out of my nose. She gave another slug to my belly, stunning me as if I was tased. She was a strong mare. very strong...and it made her look even more beautiful
I have no fucking idea why I'm so weird either.
Soon, I felt Peppercorn stop her assault, followed by the sound of her voice yelping. "PEPPERCORN GRINDER!" I heard her father's voice, in a clearly disappointed tone, mixed with anger. "What the hell do you think you're doing to the poor guy!?" Peppy tried to rebuttal, but she was actually too scared of her father to do so. "Hitting a boy, and on his BIRTHDAY no less?!"
Thank goodness. I don't think I could end up in another fight without becoming a pony splat on the walls. I soon felt another hoof on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and saw an earth pony with a Security Vest on. I read the tag on his chest; Grinder
"Are you ok, little guy?" he asked, giving a look of concern. I nodded quickly, looking at the now sad looking filly. I felt bad for her...
I DON'T KNOW, AIGHT!?
"Well, I'll make sure she won't hurt you anymore, ok?" I nodded. Officer Grinder smiled and helped me up. "Hey, kids will be kids. but Pepper should've known when enough was enough. I mean, hurting an innocent little pony like you, one who just turned TEN is crossing the line." The Earth Pony helped me to dad, who was chatting it up with...Stablehand Kaiser for some reason. Weird. She was...laughing at him too. and dad was LETTING her.
I soon noticed the bright blue Pegasus look down at me, and she recoiled. "Oh my! Iron!" she even said my dad's first name! every other time it was either "Dr. Cross" or just "Cross". Soon, I saw my dad look back at me, and he gave just as shocked of an expression. "LUXICON!" he said, his voice cracking a little. I simply turned my head away, only to feel his hooves turn it back to his face. "Lux, dd you get in another fight?" I then heard Kaiser turnback into the Stablehand I knew. "You're not raising a little troublemaker now, aren't you Iron Cross?"
Great, turn on and off your emotions. mare's a robot I tell you.
"I-I-I-I" I sniffled. "I did...I started it..." Dad looked at me with a look of disappointment. He simply patted my back with his hoof. even if he didn't show his emotions that often, he did for me when I'm hurt or down.
"Luxicon...you know that you should think before you speak" he said. I've heard it before, yadda yadda yadda.
"And...you didn't get your present yet, Mr. Hoosier" I heard Kaiser say, before I turned my head to see her. She pushed a machine that I knew all too well on the table. It was a Pipbuck 3000, much like I was using at the classes. It's nothing really special. most are just controlled by Kaiser's computer. However, this one looked different. It looked like it's been used before. It was an A-Model. "Now, like every pony else, you will be assigned this so you can schedule most of your pre-Test responsibilities. Stuff like dusting the floors and fixing defective models of Pipbucks, etcetera etcetera." She then pushed it further to me. "And some other...distractions, like the PA system...but this is a tool for work, nothing more, understand."
I simply nodded
"Good, now be prepared, because you'll get your first responsibilities tomorrow, and I expect the best, Mr. Hoosier" she said, very seriously. I nodded again, keeping my tongue held. She was actually being MERCIFUL for once!
"Yes, Miss Kaiser." I said. Soon, I actually heard the intercom system ring. I excused myself and slipped the machine into my forehoof. I then trotted up to the system and clicked the button to get a response. "Yes? Cross? Hello?" It was the voice of some pony big, gruff, strong. Maybe a security pony. "Is Iron Cross there?" I then trotted back to dad, saying the intercom was calling him.
"Is that right?" He asked, turning back to the Pegasus. "I'm sorry, Julia, I need to...go check that out." The Stablehand allowed it, and dad trotted to the system that was calling for him. I followed along, still unknowing and curious about what's going on. I eavesdropped on the conversation
"It's ready doctor, all of them are sleeping like foals" the voice said. Dad rebutted. "Good, the little guy should meet this one...it's best that he know"
He got off and turned to me. "That was Kintober, leader of the Expedition Corps, he and I work together on the...Wildlife...of the Wasteland." The way he said "Wildlife" was a little unsettling, but he still tried to keep his usually cool demeanor. "Anyway...I'm going to take you to one of the Cellblocks."
Cellblocks? I didn't know we had those back then. Or at least...to my knowledge. The doors to the diner opened again, before me and dad decided to go. As we trotted outside, we ended up bumping into Cilla, another Gryphon who worked the machines in the Stable. She was...special to say the least. She was kind and sweet, about EVERYTHING.
"Happy birthday, dearie" she said, ruffling my blonde mane all around. "How's the little munchkin doing on his special day?" I hated her, so much. Which was weird, cause she did absolutely nothing wrong. Maybe it was voice that always seemed to(Faust forgive me) chirp. Best thing to do was to simply smile and walk away.
"I'm 10 now Cilla, please quit talking to me like I'm a foal." I said, holding back my displeasure.
"Oh your not a foal, you're a big strong stallion now!" She said, a smile not leaving her beak. "Well, now I'm sure you're ready for my one of a kind poems." She did Jet a lot. This should be interesting. She handed me the Holotape, and I plugged it into my Pipbuck. It read as followed:
Grey! Walls of grey, shield us from the harshness from the world!
A castle, a tower, a hive for the peasants to hide and brood as the barbarians and brigands breed within the cages of steel and concrete!
Worm to Shell, Shell to Ant, we all work to bring for beautiful queen, our glorious leader!
She, the queen, princess, and empress who trumpets her army of shelled changelings!
From Birth to Grave, Womb to Tomb, before the sweet slumber with Skorpan!
........ok...I was right about interesting.
"That was a beautiful little poem, Cilla" dad complimented. "But, me and the littlest one that I own need to go to the Cellblocks, it's a little surprise I set-" dad was cut off by the Gryphon. "Oh, why would he need to go and see a bunch of smelly, filthy Raiders anyway?" If I knew who I was gonna see then I seriously would've punched that grin right off her beak.
"...just, keep Julia occupied, please?" He asked. The chipper-than-biologically-should-be Gryphon nodded and pinched my cheek with her talons. "Happy birthday again, and 65 more!" She said, turning and leaving
"...that girl needs to be checked out" I nodded in agreement. Very quickly.
Soon, dad led me downstairs to the Cellblocks and...goodness to Faust's grace it smelled like a zoo. Or, whatever a pre-war zoo smelt like. I saw cages of ponies, many of them either coated in dirt and grime, or even filthy, junky armor. One of them actually leaped from his cage and clawed his hooves on the bars like a rabid wolf. I trembled and stayed by dad, keeping myself close. He put his hoof over me, keeping close as we walked through. I stopped when I felt dad not moving his legs anymore. I looked up and saw him look at the Cellblock. I turned my head and looked at what he was looking at
A Raider Mare
It was a rather large mare. A Pegasus that looked even taller than dad, big as a Gryphon almost. She had a very deep, purple colored fur, and it made the brown dirt and grime stand out. Only thing I saw on her that looked totally out of place was the giant tire over her left shoulder and the spikes on her forewings. Her face had scars, well, one big scar on her cheek. I looked at her flank, seeing a rifle crossed over a combat knife. She was DEFINITELY a Raider.
"Hey...Hey Heavy Dog?" Dad rustled the mare's dusty red mane, urging her to stand up. She growled, before standing up and stretching her limbs. Her wingspan HAD to be at least a good 3 feet, and full of noticeable sores. I swear I saw a flea jump off it and land into her mane. The rest of her body was surprisingly strong and muscly. Not like a bodybuilder, but a good amount showed. The areas that didn't show was covered by the rest of her armor. I saw a piece of a bed, a tattered belt that connected to her pauldron. Her back legs had some kneepads and I even saw a welding mask on right foreleg. Both back hooves had leather straps wrapped around, like Gryphon Sandals. Her eyes opened, revealing blood red eyes, full of veins, chornias irritated. The fur that showed me the extra scars she probably had obtained. The mare yawned, spewing a gust of disgusting smelling air. The yawn at least showed her two sharp fangs, yellowish pink.
Soon, the beast looked down at me, growling a little more. I began to shiver a little, especially when she smelt my mane and cheek. She then licked my cheek, and Faust above I almost cried. She licked it again, and dad began to chuckle. "Down girl! Don't eat your little baby!" My eyes opened at his words. I looked up, seeing the almost goddess sized pony smiling and rubbing her head on my jumpsuit, purring almost. She acted so much different than she looked. I thought she'd tear me to shreds...now...she was like a puppy.
"...Happy birthday, son." Dad said, pulling me back from the caged Raider. "Lux...This is Heavy Dog...she's...well...your mother." I looked back at the large mare, seeing her smile and licking my cheeks again.
"Ewwww..." I cringed. Her tongue felt like sandpaper covered in mucus and sudsy soap. I then heard dad laugh. "That means she really likes you"
Heavy Dog then pounced on my dad, where she basically made out with him. Yeah...it's an awkward scene. She broke the kiss. "Kick Ass, Doc." Darn, she was a vulgar mare. "I missed my coltfriend...and my little precious gun" she then pounced me, forcing me on my back. She then licked my face. I struggled, but she was way too heavy. "My little gun-runner" she licks me some more.
I see where I get my bully-loving from.
"Well, I didn't tell you about her cause...well...I thought the Expedition Corp may throw you out for being from my blood and not a Ranger. When we threw her in the block, I was assigned to monitor her. Simple stuff, mainly blood intoxication, hormone levels since she was pretty young by then. But she was the size of me, so I didn't know by then."
I looked up. "How old was she?"
"She was 15"
I let the thought sink in. "Raiders here got a big dose of radiation. Some of their bodies resisted the IMV, like your mother here" he said. "It's why we capture these ponies and have them breed with the Security teams. Kaiser and the Steel Rangers want us to craft some master race to rule the remnants of Equestria. You...Angel...Peppercorn...all of you are descended from these Raiders...you're all test subjects."
I said nothing.
"...I know your taking this pretty hard...it's a lot to take in...I'm so sorry" he said. I sighed and Heavy Dog whimpered.
"...Gun-Runner?" She said. "I never say this...but...I cried when you hid with your dad...I-" she sniffled. "I never cry...never...I'm tough as nails..." I looked back at her, where I saw a tear fill an eye.
"Mom" I said. "Can you come down here? Just your head?" She got her massive head close to me, where I began to lick her salty tears away. It may have been gross and unpleasant on my taste buds, but this is my mom for Faust's sake. She hasn't seen me in 10 years! Of course I'm gonna at least show her I care about her. I heard her sniffle more.
"Son..." She pulled away and gave my cheek the wettest, slimiest Raider-kiss she's given to me yet. "...I love you" I smiled at her, and decided to lick her foul tasting, almost salty cheek.
"Awww, this is just precious!" I heard dad say. "Kintober, get a camera ready, give the boy a family portrait for his birthday." The massive Security pony levitated one such camera. Dad trotted next to me, and I stayed in the middle.
"Ok every pony, smile" I gave a smile, and then pony flashed the camera.
Date: May 21, 2076
Stable 88: Infarmary
I looked up, keeping my maw wide open, letting the Stable-Medic levitate a light to look through. My dad looked at me with a look of displeasure. The nurse turned off the light and looked at him.
"Your kid's just fine" she says. "Probably a little freaked about The Test today."
"I thought so" dad said. "Thank you" and like that, the mare left us alone. Dad looked at me so sternly that it scared me inside. More than Peppercorn in a way. His glare and gaze was just...so cold. He's been with Kaiser too much.
"Faking the whole sick thing, are we Lux?" Dad said, still coldly. Weird thing was, I wasn't scared about the test. I knew I had to do it like the others, and it would soon get me in a better job situation to support the Stable. I really DID feel sick to my stomach, and I even felt nauseous. I guess I'm paranoid about the Test, but would that really make me sick?
"I don't feel a hundred percent, really" I said to him, straight and innocently.
"No, you are, really" he said. "First thing I learned from taking care of your mother is how to spot a pony playing sick. And everything is mental" he said. He helped me down, kinda struggling since my recent growth spurt. I think I grew a good foot and a half each year, I might be as big as mom now. Maybe bigger, I'm not sure.
"I haven't lied to you in 6 years...why would I start now?" I sniffled. Dad just glared. I just kept my mouth shut the whole time after that stupid little comment. Dad pressed a button near the door, which in turn opened it up. He then motioned his head outwards.
"Go" he said. "I raised a son who'd give a damn about education. Now get going, you don't want to keep your teacher waiting, do you?" He said it to me in a way that it would strike every fiber of my being. I nodded and went outside the ward, closer to the halls that led to the Education Board. On my way, I noticed a certain tomboy Gryphon getting picked on by three little ponies wearing leather jackets. Obviously Peppercorn, Songbird, and Lucky. Draconequus was what they called themselves. Formed 6 years ago, right after my birthday as a matter of fact.
"Lookit her." Pepper said to Angel. "The overgrown chicken fool with fillies lately?" Songbird egged on and Lucky gave a suspicious look of insanity deep in his eye. "Yeah, Miss Orange Quills probably does it cause she's such a tomboy" the Gryphon was cornered, and I could see that she was fighting the urge to knock their teeth in. 6 years changes a pony, or in this case Gryphon, pretty dramatically. Angel was studying less, and she was more focused on getting stronger, tougher, more like the stereotype that defined her species as being battle-driven.
"Just cause I dye my feather tips a certain color doesn't mean I like fillies, dipshit." Angel glared. "And it certainly doesn't mean that I have to take anything from little wannabe gangs like you three." I also noticed that my Gryphon friend had grown quite a mean streak too. She now gave more bloody noses to Stable Denizens than all 3 of the Draconequus Gang. However, she always would go back being the same, spunky Angel I knew and loved. At least around me anyway.
I decided to trot up and speak against Pepper's gang. "Uhhh...Hey!" I yelled. "Pick on someone your own size!" I thought I could take these three now that it was bigger and stronger than when I was 10. Angel looked at me and the three leather backed ponies gave their own looks too. And from those looks, I knew something was gonna escalate.
"And seems your little boyfriend is back, probably to get his ass beaten again." Peppercorn flared her nostrils, raising a hoof with the same metal horseshoe as before. Lucky growled at me, feral-like. The only one that didn't try to threaten or intimidate me and my friend was Songbird. She just kept her distance.
"Maybe you'll get your ass whooped, you wanna find out?" I then gave a light press to Peppercorn's nose. "Punk"
And then I saw the violet fires in her eyes burn. "What the hell did you call me?"
"Punk" I said again, this time giving a pretty strong strike to her nose. I didn't know my own strength, but my days of being bullied are over. It was time to stand up for myself, and if that meant hurting my little crush in the same way she did to me 6 years ago, then I'd do it a million times over. The hit pushed her back into the wall, and she slammed into it pretty hard. I actually saw blood come out, but only a light trickle.
"Oww..." I heard her. "Nosebleed...Nosebleed's got a strong hoof..."
I grinned evilly, smug and satisfied with my action. Angel gave the speckled pony a good slug in the side, grinning just as malevolently. "I'm tired of your punk ass attitude, you little bitch. I can't believe I actually fell in love with a wimp acting all high and mighty." I heard her sniffling, like she was about to cry. However, she didn't whine or sob. She actually sounded like she was tickled. It took me a little while to process this, but she had Raider in her like the rest of us.
"Heh...I guess I had you all wrong, you crazy son of a bitch!" She laughed and whipped some blood off her face and onto her horseshoe. "Here that, Lux is a fighter!" Pepper exclaimed, immediately getting up. I saw Lucky follow, and Angel smiled back at me, this time like she was her normal, almost child-like happiness.
"Thanks Lux" she said. "Finally over that crush?"
"Pretty over it now" I smiled. "Good luck on your test"
She nodded and gave a flick of her tail as if to say "You too." I then noticed Songbird not really moving, as she was simply staring at me. She got a little closer to me, and turned her head lightly, showing me her branding.
"Uhh...hey there" she said.
"You ok?" I asked. She nodded. "Yeah...you don't think I'm a bully, right?" She said innocently. Well, she did kind of pick on me, but she was more of a Point-and-Laugh rather than a Beat-the-living-snot-out-of-you Bully. I mean, that was more like Lucky and Peppercorn. Heck, I think Angel was more of a bully than Songbird was. In fact, I think she was remorseful bout all that too.
"No, never struck a real chord. I mean...I was pretty hurt by you and your friends. But that was all 6 years ago. I'm starting to get over it." I said, still unmoving by the whole past thing. "Why do you ask?"
She turns her head again, hiding under her wing. "I uhh...just wanted to say...ummm...." She got close to me, giving me a little hug. "I'm sorry, man" I heard her voice crack. "I...I was wondering...would you like to...I dunno...just hang out at the Diner? After the test?"
This caught me off guard. I mean...she never asked me to eat with her before. Hell, I didn't even think we were FRIENDS. So, I'll just let my left brain respond to this. Let her down gently.
"Ok" apparently left brain was out to lunch. However, after seeing that mare smile, I really couldn't care less. She looked, REALLY happy. And then she got close and hugged me. It was weird to say the least, but I'll let her. This was...getting awkward...like real fast.
"Songbird?" I asked. "We're gonna be late" I tried pushing off. Her grip was pretty strong, for a mare and who's smaller than me. She let go and smiled, turning and flicking her tail, before hopping along to the room where we usually went to learn.
was she hitting on me?
I guess, but no mare just goes and acts nice for a pony just to go and be all warm and fuzzy. I mean...maybe she just felt bad after all those years of bullying, or maybe it was cause I'm now a larger pony(horse I guess, IMV is weird as shit) or maybe she's DESPERATELY in heat. All the reasons show no real feeling except pity and sexual buildup. It made me feel even worse, or maybe that was just my stomach, I dunno.
We all made our way into the classroom, and I made it to the desk in the front(like always, projection was always blurry). Our teacher, a Zebra stallion named Mr. Crutch, was greeting each of us inside in his usual way, trying to mix his culture with our own. It was sickeningly irritating most of the time. Zebras were said to be the disgusting brooding barbarians, responsible for our war. Not just the war we fought 10 years ago, but also the war we fight now. However, he seemed stupid enough to pass for a vaguely obedient steed, making him the perfect teacher for us.
"Ok every pony" the zebra said, typing on his Pipbuck. "This test is administered to accurately choose what job is perfect for you. Every pony is assigned only what's perfect to your ability. " he rambled on, and I soon heard Peppercorn laugh loudly. As thick as she was, she knew the Zebra was full of shit.
"Your full of shit, Crust"
Dammit I JUST said that literally a FEW MINUTES AGO.
"Miss Grinder, your going to take this test whether you think it's hunks of manure or not."
"I said its a load of shit, who the fuck says manure anyway?"
Solid point.
"Just take your test Miss Grinder, this'll be the last day here afterwards. You'll be free to do whatever you want afterwards. Just tough it out one more day."
Peppercorn basically sighed and grumbled. "Fine"
The test was obviously rigged! All these answers either made no sense in a realistic sense, but some were just fucking irrational. Why oh WHY in Faust's name would I ever get a Minigun from sweet old "Grandma" to kill a Stable resident. Do these idiots KNOW what a Minigun is!?!? MINI is false advertising Faust dammit! Last question was another one of those brainwash answers. Where each of the answers are either "Stablehand" "Stablehand" "Stablehand" and...I'll let you fucking guess...
Communist fucking bullshit.
Soon, each of us got in line to turn in our "Tests". Angel was first in line.
"Test's done, I hope I did well" Angel said to Crutch. "I just hope it's nothing bad." I heard the ruffling exchange of papers and the conversation go on, starting with Crutch. "Let's see bout that, Miss Softpaws" I heard him look it over, he sounded surprised with each answer she put. "Well, you ain't going outside with your kind, but you will be getting ALOT of fresh air. Your going to be a good little Messenger!"
Messenger? Like a courier? And she's going OUTSIDE!? Like, outside the Stable!? Holy fucking shit!
"Oh...well...that's better than I thought" I heard her sigh a breath of relief. "Guess I graduated." She then turned leaving the room, thus moving the line. Peppercorn was up next, she mostly argued on how she got a bad job, and maybe her calling him a "Queer Zigger" or whatever. He actually had to threaten to call Gear Grinder to take her out. She finally left, leaving Songbird infront. Here...I admit...she had a weird job.
"Hmmm...yup, just as I thought." Crutch said to her. "Radio Entertainment. Congrats Miss Skylark, you passed the Test." Like that, I saw her ears perk up.
"Entertainment..." She said. "Like...singing?"
"No, like Braytish Literature. Yes you sing" he even tried getting too close. "Heh, I also heard a voice like yours can enthrall the masses." Ok. Now HE was hitting on her!?
"Ummm.. Ok...I'll try my hardest to sound good." I heard her say as she left, awkwardly. I was next in line. Hopefully I won't get the sex teacher now.
"Well well, Mr. Hoosier" I was dead wrong. "What did your pretty little face get on this quiz" I think he was hitting on ME now! "Hmmm...oh...interesting. Your on your way on being the Stable's Radio repair."
I'm a repair pony, least I wasn't fixing toasters. That'd be stupid.
"Ummm...thanks...I'll do a good job." I'm still wondering what mini guns and blind loyalty hasta do with my career path, but Aight. I awkwardly left the room, before ending up bumping into Songbird again. She smiled and raised her hoof. I flinched, hoping she wouldn't strike me...until...
Boop
What. The serious fuck. Was THAT about.
"Hi Luxicon" she said, as I slowly opened my eyes. She then did it again.
Boop Boop
"Why are you doing that?" I asked her, seriously confused .
She smiled. "Cause you're adorable"
I blushed at that comment. I was NOT adorable! I'm a dude for Faust's sake! Dudes are "Cool" "Handsome" or even "Fabulous"(only Mr. Crutch said that). We weren't "adorable". Dudes aren't puppies, kittens or...ponies...I guess we are ponies...so...ok fine I'm fucking adorable.
Boop Boop Boop
"QUIT!!!!" I snapped. And she stopped, recoiling away from me. She looked scared after that, slowly getting up and trembling. Did I...scare her THAT badly? I sighed. "Look...I'm sorry Song, but...I'm just not a cute pony...I'm a colt...a horse. Guys hate that whole ' cute' thing. Sorry."
She stopped shaking. "No...no it's ok " she backed up. "I'll just wait at the Diner...alone..."
Well have fun with that. I soon met back up with Angel, who's already looking...tensed. She finally saw me and quickly embraced me. If you think I have grown...boy you won't believe how Angel changed. She was as large as a Gryphon could ever get, a good 6 ft tall, and strong as a steroid abiding Minotaur. I know this cause she's been crushing my back since we were kids.
"Oh Hot Shot..." She sounded kinda sad. "I'm...I'm scared" she held me tightly. I coughed, gasping for air. "They're gonna send me out there...the wasteland...alone"
Angel
"I'll never see you...never see my family...every pony won't even miss me"
Angel
"I can't be a courier, I'm a target, have you SEEN how big I am!?"
ANGEL!!!!
"Oh Faust!" I felt her let go , and drop me down. I felt my stomach churn as air entered my belly. It mixed hard , and the bile began to rise up my throat. I groaned a little. "I forgot, ponies aren't as strong as Gryphons"
I felt myself getting sicker by the moment, and Angel took notice. "Lux, your turning green , you feeling ok?" I felt the bile exceed. "Lux?" I blew chunks on the floor, everything that was in there since yesterday. It burned my throat.
"You might need to see a nurse"
I growled. "Yeah, no fucking shit, Hot Wings! Owww..." I groaned more. "I was worried about this"
She kept her look of concern. "I hate it when you act like this, buddy." She still looked down upon me(she was so much taller now). I immediately whipped my face with a hoof.
"Look...I'm sorry...I've been stressed like hell." I tried giving off a smile, despite feeling so sick to my stomach. She and I were too close of friends to just break down like that. "You're a courier, right?" I asked her. She nodded.
"I'm stressed about it" she sighed. "And...I really wanna bash a pony's head in a fucking wall for giving me this job" I'd understand if I too were a giant bird-cat thing.
"Do you need to spend some time alone?" I asked. She shook her head. "No, I need closure...I need company, I need you Hot Shot" she sounded genuinely in need. I sighed and put my hoof on her feathery chest.
"Ok, I'll go with you." I smiled, letting her lead me away to her room.
"Thanks Hot Shot"
