Fallout Equestria: The Ranger of Seamane

Chapter 12 – Hunters

“You are a hunter. You know how to hunt. But do you know how to be prey?” - Xenith, Fallout Equestria Chapter 30

My guest had stayed with me for the past three days. I had been purging my system of everything with the help of antibiotics, immune system boosters, and Radaway. Honestly I still felt messed up even after finally managing a bath with the strongest soap that I had. My mane now as just a deep dark blue and my coat was showing just a hint of its actual color. The bathing had also mercifully helped me stop smelling of liquid pony. Today also was the first day I had been able to eat three meals and keep them all down. Whatever I had, I had it hard, and I had it fast. Now my system felt clean. The only thing still bothering me was the deep itching and occasional feeling of something twisting or moving inside of me, which was terrifying when it happened.

“Mr. Steel Ranger, I have a favor to ask of you.” I said walking up to the Steel Ranger completely bare of my equipment. He rose as I did standing there waiting for me question. “I presume you are of the Steel Rangers who operate in Manehattan, as such you know the city better than anypony else I would wager. Can you get me to Tenpony tower? I don't need to get there now, I doubt my friends would try to run a caravan in the snow so we have time incase you have something you wish of me to do or have other priorities.”

I stood there waiting for the Rangers response.

“Then it is best that you get ready to leave now.” Was his answer.

I nodded and quickly put on my equipment and saddlebags. Some how it felt so much easier now. Maybe the strain of working under the effects of whatever it was effecting that stable had done me some good after all. I walked back into the room and gave the Steel Ranger a nod.

“One last thing, what do I call you?” I asked as we began walking out of the abandoned Steel Ranger bunker.

I was in the middle of checking the loads of all my weapons. I was putting in hollow points anyplace I could since ghouls were so frail that penetration was pointless. As well as if something did have armor the Steel Ranger's weapons would tear into them like they were made of wet paper.

“Steelhooves,” he said as we left.

“Lead the way Steelhooves.” I said, though it was meaningless as he already was leading the way.

Following Steelhooves we went east then south doubling back to the Manehattan blast zone. During this time we ran into a number of raiders and ghouls. Most of the battles were brief and violent. The battles generally began with the roar of his grenade machine gun and ended with them too. After one where we ended up getting flanked by a few clever raiders I had a nasty slice of flesh missing from my hind quarters and fished out a healing potion. Seeing it I dropped it and watched the inky black substance that had once been a healing potion pool on the ground. Steelhooves turned to see why I had gasped and dropped it.

“What is wrong Moonlight.” He simply asked as I pulled out ever healing potion I had to find they had all gone black and were threatening to eat through the glass, some I could feel move in my hooves.

“My healing potions have gone bad.” I said as I tossed the bad potions onto the remains of the raiders watching the black liquid dissolve their hide. “Must have been whatever was in that stable...” I finished quietly.

“Healing potions do not simply go bad, and what do you mean by stable.” He asked, and I felt the commanding tone of his voice compel me to answer truthfully.

I turned to him after watching the rest of my potions dissolve the remains of the raiders.

“I blew up a stable. There was nothing in it beyond skeletons and sentient goo.” I simply said.

Steelhooves didn't move as if trying to see if I was lying.

I sighed and filled him in on what had happened in stable twenty three. When I was done he simply turned and beckoned me to follow with his tail. I simply followed having already looted the raider nest while filling him in on my adventure in stable twenty three. He had taken it quietly remaining stoic as he absorbed the information. Eventually we went above ground again and I saw where he had been leading me.

“Why are we at the edge of the Manehattan blast zone, Steelhooves?” I asked while we looked into the slightly glowing crater.

“Because, Alicorns are like ghouls when it comes to radiation.” He said as I pulled down my monocular and began to scan the crater.

“In what way, it heals them? Makes them glow?” I asked picking out a few shambling forms within the crater.

“And enhances their already formidable magic.” He replied in that constant tone of his.

“So, what, trying to see if they are nesting here? Or are we just going to see how nasty they can get when hyped up on radiation?” I said as I noticed a alicorn walking around deep within the still glowing crater.

I got silence from Steelhooves as I continued to observe the alicorn. She seemed to be healing wounds. I remembered a bit of advice about creatures of the wasteland. There were those who radiation was not harmful, but, in fact was beneficial. Originally I had thought it was just ghouls. As I watched her wounds heal I realized one thing. Any alicorn who wasn't outright killed was likely to make a full recovery. I longed for my rifle that I had lost in Oakmare, even the repeater rifle would be nice at a moment like this. One round and I could end the life of a monster before it knew it was under attack.

“Steelhooves, do alicorns tend to move in packs?” I asked, again no response. I pushed the monocular back up and turned to him. I blinked seeing he was gone and my eyes forward sparkle didn't even give me a blue bar to work off of. “Great... Yes, lets just leave the mare who is practically unarmed and unarmored compared to you alone near a pit full of monsters. Who happens to also not be from around here… Loyalty is definitely not his thing.”

I stood up and began to walk away from the crater when I felt a rush of air over me. I turned to look up and saw a alicorn flying over me. I immediately flattened myself down into the snow. For a moment I thought it hadn't seen me as it kept flying. Then I banked and landed in front of me. Well time to see how chatty this one is.

“You there, stop cowering and tell us why you are here!” Commanded the alicorn, I looked up and got a better view of it. While initially I had thought it's coat was black it was in fact a deep blue.

I stood up and brushed the snow off of myself.

“You see, since you are new additions to the wasteland I was making observations so I could figure out what you are.” I said, which was true to an extent, I was curious about them, and afraid of them.

“We can see that by your little spying tool and you're talking to yourself.” Said the dark blue alicorn. “We can assist you in telling you exactly what we are. We are perfection!” She then took a commanding pose, she must have a bit of a showmare in here. I blinked, then smiled. Oh they had a masterful ego too.

“Why yes you are, like the princesses before, mighty and elegant.” I said keeping my face straight as possible.

The alicorn looked me over again as if trying to place my intent.

“We know you-” she began “-we are to capture you.”

Well buck me with a skywagon are all alicorns working with Redeye?!

“Do not attempt to resist you are no match for us.” She said a shield enveloping her as I saw two red bars appear in my E.F.S. as she turned from blue to red as well.

“Sorry your majesty, but, I like living.” I said and slide into S.A.T.S.  and drew my homemade laser rifle.

I had no doubt that their shields would prove strong enough to resist my pistols or rifle. I dumped one shot into the deep blue alicorn in front of me and prepared to immediately give myself a telekinetic toss away from where I was standing. I released the spell and watched as the beams of energy lanced forward, the eight outside beams did nothing, the core beam passed through and struck the alicorn in the chest and passing through her heart. With the attack done I felt the sharp push of my magic as I sent myself sliding ten feet to my left. In the slowed time of S.A.T.S. I got a good view of the surprise and hatred rolling across the deep purple alicorn that had been about to land to my left as I slide under her.

S.A.T.S. ended and began recharging I manually fired the rifle again, it punched through the nearest alicorns shield, but, failed to strike home.

“How dare you!” Cried the alicorn who landed near me as I slide the now glowing rifle onto my back and brought up my assault carbine.

I fired three rounds and watched them simply bounce off as she formed arrows of magic in the air. I broke out running towards the nearest bit of cover. The nearest bit of cover happened to be inside of the crater a block away. I forced myself to ignore the clicking of my pipbuck as well as radioactive glass that cut at my hooves.

With a bright flash the purple alicorn was in front of me and I slammed face first into her shield and fell onto my back.

“You cannot escape us! We will now take you to join unity. Your courage will serve us well.” She said her voice dripping with arrogance.

Then she exploded. As did my ears. I felt myself cry out though I couldn't hear it over the silence and slight ringing in my ears. I tore off my goggles as they had cracked apart from the proximity of the blast. Eventually I saw a steel-gray hoof land next to me, I looked up to see Steelhooves standing over me the barrel of his grenade machine gun smoking slightly. The air shimmered around it too. He had run it hard and I figured since he was standing there he was probably talking to me. I glared up at him and pointed my hooves at my ears, he simply shook his head then put me on his back.

Steelhooves carried me north out of the crater as I sucked down a Radaway still unable to hear anything. Upon getting on his back I had seen he had made short work of the other alicorns with his overkill tactics. He really was cut out for killing alicorns, all I had for fighting them was my laser that I had to swap spark batteries every two shots.

Wherever he was carrying me it was apparently outside the heart of the city, and thankfully seemed not to be irradiated. I lifted a hoof to my ears and gently brushed my coat below it to see it come away bloody. I had figured as much, the proximity of the explosion had burst my eardrums. I gave out a quiet sigh, or at least hoped it was quiet. Either case Steelhooves kept up the pace as we neared a shack.

He laid me down on a bed and held a hoof out before leaving. I assumed that he wanted me to stay and rest while he got medical provisions, may be food too. I rolled over on my side as I pulled off my equipment. There was no need to keep it on and be uncomfortable while I was supposed to be resting. I pulled up the text files on my pipbuck and began to read the Stable-Tec instructions. It provided a lot of instructions on dealing with various crises that could come up in the stable as well as an audio log from the Vice President of Stable-Tec, Scootaloo. I saved that for later when, if, I could hear again. I grimaced at the thought of never being being able to hear again. I focused on reading all the information I had pulled out of the Overmare's terminal.

After reading her logs pleading for help, venting her frustrations on how nothing was working right in the stable I felt more sorry for her. She had been the older sister of Lucky Tome and actually spent a long time wrestling with how to deal with her own insecurities about starting a family. Stable-Tec had explained the inbreeding problem in depth as well. It was the reason why after a hundred twenty or so years the vault would have to open. At that point the third generation would have been related completely to each other and need new blood. With a start I jumped as a healing potion was set down on the bed next to me. I looked up to see Steelhooves had returned and indeed had brought with him medical supplies. I drank the healing potion happy to see the deep purple color of a proper healing potion. I felt better as I did, the ringing in my ears died down and sound returned.

“Steelhooves, I owe you a lot.” I said to him, I rolled my head and felt my sense of balance return as well. “So, what is next on your list of horrible places to go?”

“Since for you asked we are going to the old fort. Heard some scavengers went missing a few days ago and patrols saw some alicorns in the area.” He said.

“How bad is the radiation?” I asked getting my gear on once again.

“Not as bad as the crater, you should be fine.” Steelhooves replied.

“Should have told me about going into the crater though, I have a radiation hard suit for that sort of stuff.” I said as he set down the rest of the supplies he had gathered.

I turned to the supplies he brought me, more Radaway, more Rad-X, and more healing potions. I nodded as I stored them in my primary saddlebags.

“Can I leave my other two saddlebags here, they have nothing important, just some things to sell off and keep for myself.” I said looking at the two saddlebags that held books and trophies.

Steelhooves simply gave me a nod and turned to his door and we left. Exiting I saw the clouds above to be less gray and the air a little warmer. We walked south and followed the road into the city again. I watched as we passed only a few blocks north of Tenpony tower. It was impressive to see the building in such good condition compared to the other buildings in the city. I pulled my eyes away from the tower as we finished crossing the intersection and put my mind to the task at hand. Today was a day for killing monsters that terrorized this city. I was working with a Steel Ranger who had enough sense of mind to not turn away a potential ally. There was one thing more, there was no way that I was going to leave town without trying to help.

As we neared the old fort on the river bank I realized two things. One, the base was in very bad shape, it looked like whatever support structure had been below it had collapsed under the largest buildings causing the ground to swallow them. There was also a great deal of burn marks from the detonation of ordnance everywhere. Then there was the faint green glow coming from one of the side buildings that did not fill me with confidence. Steelhooves just walked into the fort like it was nothing. I immediately began to sneak around and keep in cover. The place felt wrong to me, the radiation notwithstanding, it was making my skin crawl. I kept my shotgun drawn.

If I was right, whoever was here was probably ghouls. I couldn't see alicorns going underground with their size as well as it voiding their ability to fly. Steelhooves walked through a blowout wall of the administration building and I followed. The radiation in here was a bit less, I still popped another Rad-X for the sake of safety. We headed deeper and I saw signs of a fight, but, the scenes lacked the smell of gunpowder or ozone telling me it had been some time ago. Steelhooves had to turn on his armors lamp as we headed to the second floor.

“Is that your only way of seeing in the dark Steelhooves?” I said as I kept an eye on my E.F.S.

“Steel Ranger armor was meant for heavy combat, and not stealth missions.” He said, “if you wanted stealth maybe you should dig up a Shadowbolt.”

“Point taken,” I said quietly as we finished going down the stairs to the second floor.

We passed skeletons on our way down to the second floor which had sunk below ground. This floor we saw some fresh bodies. I checked them over to find they had succumbed to radiation sickness, their hooves had been bound and the blindfold over their eyes told me the rest.

“Something took them captive and held them here. Whoever it was that did so didn't notice their lack of immunity to radiation.” I explained to Steelhooves as he finished clearing the room.

“Then there is somepony here that must be taken care of.” He said with a grave tone to his voice, which was hard to tell from his normal voice.

I simply nodded and fell in behind him as we went down another floor. Here we saw more skeletons, many in army uniforms, a few in actual combat armor.

“Hold up, these ponies have something useful for me.” I called to Steelhooves as I began to remove the combat armor and check the pockets and pouches of each body.

“You are looting their bodies now?” Steelhooves said with more than a hint of frustration.

“No, I am getting armor that my very well keep my internal organs internal in case we come across something that wants us dead. I know that must be hard for you to understand since you have a suit of power armor to keep you safe, not irradiated, and internal organs internal.” I said as I pulled off my barding and pulled on the combat armor.

It was heavier but offered far more protection than the basic trooper armor I had before. I listened to Steelhooves move out of reception as I finished changing into my new armor. As I did I heard the noise of a thud and a quiet scream from somewhere. My ears began twitching around trying to sense a follow up noise to give a idea where the thud and scream came from.

I moved to rejoin Steelhooves having to pull up the sleeve for my pipbuck. He was standing in a communications room where two more dead lay. Checking around the room I saw a few things of use. One of the items being a audio recording that my pipbuck dutifully gave me the date for, placing it a few hours after the bombs fell. The second item was a memory orb, I carefully levitated it to me keeping my magic as a bowl around it instead of focused on it. The last thing was a box of ammo for my pistols.

The other rooms on this floor where offices. Nothing of note beyond a few bottle caps and a bottle of sparkle cola. We descended the stairs again, now heading into the basement of the building. As we did I noticed the two bars on my E.F.S. that were red move a bit and moved ahead of Steelhooves.

“You see them too I am guessing, let me slip in, I will handle them, you just wait here.” I said, “if you hear screaming feel free to open up.”

I didn't even wait for him to disagree or agree and slipped into the darkness pulling down my monocular and let its night vision cut at the darkness. I kept an eye on the radiation noting down here, it was getting a bit worse. As I crept around I pulled out my knife, silent takedowns would be key here. If there were more than just these two I wanted to keep the others in the dark about our presence. Slowly I came across the first red bar. He was still in combat armor, though, it looked more like he was melted into it now. In the night vision he looked like a pale ghost moving in broken steps on the shattered tiles. I crept closer until I was right next to him and slammed my knife through his throat and into the base of his skull. He went limp, the light of his ghoul eyes fading. I pulled out the knife and removed the neck guard that protected the back of his neck and sawed off his head. I didn't want any chances of him coming back.

With the first down I moved down the hall to find the next one was behind a security door. I moved away from it and finished checking the rest of the halls. I found more signs of battle, though now it was very one sided. Executions, somepony had come through here and executed every last pony I saw here. I now had a very bad feeling about what was on the other side of that door. I returned to Steelhooves who was still standing exactly where I had left him.

“There is one more, but, they are behind a security door. Another thing I found is there are a lot of high ranking military officers here. All of them dead, and from the looks of it without a struggle.” I said as I slide my knife back into its sheath on my right leg.

“Another two century old mystery,” Steelhooves said with what sounded like a sigh.

“Whatever the case, lets deal with this last ghoul and hit the other buildings.” I said as I fished out a Radaway and drank it down. Originally I had hated the rancid orange taste of it, now, it was growing on me, that or whatever protests I had my mind shut down due to it was saving our lives.

Steelhooves lead the way once more to the security door and opened it without issue. Apparently having the armor of heavily decorated veterans of two centuries ago had it's perks when it came to two century old doors.

“Sir! Finally a normal pony is here, what is going on topside, I haven't been able to raise Canterlot on the horn and Hoofington has activated their shield.” I heard a gravely voice say from the next room.

“Stand down, the war is over soldier. Everything is gone.” I hear Steelhooves reply to the ghoul. I guessed the image of a Steel Ranger stuck in your mind even after two centuries.

“What…” The time lost soldier said, then a few moments later continued. “Then... Then what should I do?”

“There are those who still need help and protection out there. Do your duty that you swore to do. Protect Equestria and those ponies who reside in it.” Steelhooves told the soldier, I watched on my E.F.S. as his bar turned from red to blue. “A town to the east of here named Gutterville could use a guard.”

“Yes sir, I will get going there now.” Said the ghoul, I got a look at him as he walked out of the room. He had once been a handsome stallion, now his features were distorted from his transformation into a ghoul. I gave him a nod as he walked past me and out of the basement.

“I wasn't expecting that...” I said quietly then turned my attention to addressing whatever was left in the room behind the security door.

There wasn't much left, in the room. Mostly it was archives, the rest was what that soldier had managed to bring with him before sealing himself away. I read the journal he had kept and noticed slowly as he began to refuse to believe so much time had past. He had slowly slipped into a manic state, but, his training refused his desires to flee.

“Best of wishes to you Private,” I heard myself say as I closed his journal.

“We best get moving again, unless you feel like bunking with feral ghouls tonight.” Said Steelhooves as I stood.

I checked the time and saw it was now after two in the afternoon. I simply nodded and fell in behind him drawing my shotgun once more. The climb out of the building was much less tense. Upon reaching the surface I saw it had begun to snow again. At this rate I was going to be staying in Manehattan until spring. We walked to the only other intact building, the one that glowed green from inside and made my pipbuck hate me with loud ticking.

I took another Rad-X as we approached, Steelhooves directed me to open the door with my magic and stand to the side. I was glad that I did as he fired his grenade machine gun into the passage behind the door and I saw bits of radroach come flying out. Yeah overkill was his modus operandi. I slide into the hallway finding it painted with the remains of radroaches and pulled on my respirator. This building had been a armory, had being the key word. Now it was little more than a building full of radioactive waste that lined the ground. I pushed the inch deep brightly glowing fluid away as I worked my way around the building. Steelhooves simply walked through it taking stock.

Speaking of taking stock I found a locked door, the lock itself had the remains of a bobby pin within it. Somepony had tried to pick it and failed horribly. The lock itself was still pickable, but, the metal around it was scraped like mad. I probed it with my magic then found the tumblers and unlocked the door, it slide open revealing a nice trove of guns and ammo.

“Nice trick,” Steelhooves said from behind me, damn he could be quiet when he wanted to.

“Take what you like,” I said as I moved into the room, and noticed the radiation drop off sharply.

Looking about the armory I found a good number of clip based battle rifles. I took two, one for parts and one for using. I also took a modified laser rifle noting it was very similar to my own though it didn't need a spark battery for it. I would keep it on my back in case any more alicorns showed up. It should do the trick against their shields. Seemed like enough points hitting it at once tore a hole in the magic. I helped Steelhooves replenish his supply of twenty five millimeter grenade rounds and his rockets. I took the rest of his suits ammo that he couldn't stuff into it. I was happy to have such a strong back because this was a lot of explosives.

“Where to now?” I asked as we walked out the door of the armory and I began to look around. No other buildings seemed like they were capable of hiding anything. The motorcade had collapsed, the barracks had long burned down, and the guard towers were open to the air.

“Now we return to my home. You are burdened with too much to move quickly in a fight. That is a liability.” He said coolly as we walked out of the fort.

“Right, just a hop, skip, and jump away.” I said to myself.

We had just made it past the intersection that lead to Tenpony once more when a wing of five alicorns ambushed us. Apparently the blue ones could go invisible and the purple ones could teleport. I moved to behind a car as a magical arrow melted the ground that I had just been standing on. Steelhooves opened up with his grenade machine gun and the battle was on.

I pulled out my laser rifle and took aim at the nearest alicorn. She was preparing more of those magical arrows. I pulled the trigger and watched the beams hit her shield. It flickered and I fired again. This time the shield fell. With one last shot I made her head turn to cinders her spell firing off in random directions. One melting the part of the carriage I was hiding behind. I saw more green alicorns swoop in and land. They then erected shields closing off the part of the road we were on. They meant to give us no escape. Wonderful, now I have stationary targets to shoot, thank you.

I felt heat wash over me as a nearby carriage exploded in a massive fireball, then I saw the ones around it catching fire.

“Oh, fuck me.” I blurted out as my shoulders sank. The alicorns had bottled us up in a section of street full of self drawn carriages. The buildings on either side looked like they were locked up tight. Their plan was to kill both of us, and probably all because we pissed them off something fierce.

I fired my shotgun into the glass of the nearby office building to only see a shield protect it. “Oh for crying out loud!”

That was the moment that a alicorn decided it was a good idea to antagonize me. In the reflection of the glass I saw her blink into existence behind me forming a shield around us cutting me off from my two guns. I rounded on her and to hit her with my right foreleg. As I turned she smashed her hooves down on me pinning me in what would best be described as a forced bow to her. I tried to roll out from under her hooves to only be met with more force against my neck. I looked between her legs to see the battlefield.

Steelhooves was retreating to the other side of the street as alicorns fired bolts of magic at him from behind their sisters shields that had trapped us here. They wanted him dead, they apparently wanted me alive. I actually found the fact that they wanted me alive very frightening. I needed to escape, if I tried to use my weapons she would probably smash my head until I passed out. One option then. I hit S.A.T.S. and set down as many of my telekinetic slashes as I could upon the alicorn. I released the spell and watched as her coat tore away and began to bleed. She cried out in two voices. One I heard in my head, the other I heard from her throat. She reared up as the last lash hit against her flesh and time sped back up to its normal pace. I let loose with my assault carbine into her chest. Her light went out on my E.F.S. and I grabbed my other weapons.

Another carriage exploded and I felt the heat from it as well as heard my pipbuck click maddeningly for a second. Yay, more radiation, I was going to be pissing rainbows for the next week. I holstered my shotgun and wrapped my laser rifle's strap over my neck. I needed a plan, I hit S.A.T.S. and watched as time stopped. I couldn't move, but, I had all the time in the world to think now. Any minute the remaining carriages would start to explode their spark batteries taking out and irradiating the street. We had buildings on either side of the street. The one on my side was shielded the one on Steelhooves side was unknown. The alicorns on street boxing us in had shields up to prevent our escape. That meant they felt they could survive the blasts about to happen. That left the ones currently flying pinning down Steelhooves at the moment. Okay, take out the fliers, the ones behind the shields aren't a threat at the moment. I noticed I still had my laser rifle at the ready. Alright then, time to get to work.

I targeted the alicorn currently readying her magic to strike at Steelhooves. The other one would have to recharge before firing off its arrows of magic, at least recast them. They had a strange habit of manifesting them four at a time then firing them off. I lined up five shots with the laser rifle, I had a sixty six percent chance of hitting. I released the spell and watched as the first two shots went wide the lasers dancing all over the shield doing little, the third struck true and the shield started to collapse, fourth shot burned away her wing. Fifth shot was trash as she had started to fall as it lanced out and did nothing more than make a light show on it the inside of her collapsing shield. The one forming arrows turned her attention to me and fired two off. I felt the chest plate start to melt on my combat armor and tossed it into the path of the second arrow. I was rewarded with a cloud of ash as it disintegrated.

The alicorn who's wing I shot off vanished in a flash of magic then from my side I felt a great telekinetic blast sending me sliding across the steps. I turned to see the injured alicorn with fury in her eyes. More worrying was the way her injuries where healing as another carriage exploded and bathed us in radiation.

“You are proving to be most annoying!” She yelled to the point that I felt like I was sliding back on the wet ground.

I rolled behind a pillar as more arrows of magic lanced out at me and hit S.A.T.S. I aimed again for the one that was pinning Steelhooves. I fired four more shots with my laser rifle, two once again failing to do anything but make a light show, the other two got her attention just as Steelhooves popped out and began firing into her with his grenade machine gun. I then felt something really hot fall against me I tried to move to find that I couldn't. I turned my head as I tried to move to find that the pillar had been partially melted and wrapped around me.

I turned and also noticed that I couldn't move my laser rifle.

“Clever,” I said aloud as I struggled to get free.

“Your attempts at escape are feeble, embrace your fate while we deal with the Steel Ranger.” She said and turned to eat a rocket to her face.

I quietly smiled they may be intelligent, clever, and resourceful, but, they had one hell of a Ego and it was easily used. I wrapped Steelhooves in field of my magic and began to pull him to my side of the street. Most of the carriages that were going to explode had been on his side. I needed him to break me free with his power armor enhanced strength. Even with our attackers dead we were still bottled up on this street. He didn't protest as I pulled him along, instead he directed me to make him face the remaining alicorns. I did so and watched as he started to pour on his destructive weaponry. I didn't notice a change to the state of the shields as I set him down next to me.

“Get me out of this, we need to find a way off the street. When that skywagon goes off every other carriage is going to blow with it. I don't think even your armor can protect you from this.” I said as he examined the twisted pillar holding me.

“Then cover your ears.” He said, I went wide eyes as he walked to the other side of the pillar.

“Hey! Be careful I am covered in explosives!” I called out as I slapped my hooves over my ears then put what I could of a shield between me and the pillar.

My ears didn't burst this time at least, and we were now inside and heading down stairs. I was getting more of a work out. I also was really growing to like how good healing potions made me feel when I drank them. We hadn't been able to get off what of the pillar that was wrapped around me, but, Steelhooves had blow away the rest of the pillar. Now I was walking around with about a hundred extra pounds of steel wrapped around me. It looked absolutely silly as we walked through the underground that connected this building with the sewer. I didn't ask why half the buildings in Manehattan had extensive underground connections. In any case we were headed back to his shack. I was beat and we had ammo to drop off. We also had to figure out a way to get me out of the damn metal that had been wrapped around me. For the time being only my pistols were accessible to me thanks to being in holsters on my front. Though my laser rifle was positioned properly for a battle saddle mount.

We had managed to punch a hole through the windows thanks to Steelhooves overkill approach to arming himself and get away from the street before the skywagon exploded. We has survived another alicorn ambush, I was getting tired of them. However, I did feel we were at least doing something worthwhile. If we were such a threat to them that they focused on us and not others that was a good thing. There was another point in the favor of our actions. It would put some heat on the other Steel Rangers and even if normally they wouldn't do good, a dead alicorn was a good thing.

After half an hour of walking through the sewer with Steelhooves taking point we where most of the way back to his shack. We had sight of it after climbing out of the sewer. Thankfully Steelhooves knew Manehattan so well that it didn't take long for us to have made our escape. The only thing slowing us down was my being overburdened with a metal beam wrapped around me. A thought crossed my mind as we started walking the path between his shack and the rest of the world.

“Steelhooves, how did ponies cut metal at construction sites in the past?” I asked having a thought of maybe they had equipment to cut this thing off of me.

“Why do you think I know?” He simply responded as he opened the door to his shack.

“Well if you are supposed to gather every last bit of technology to hoard it I would think something capable of cutting through metal would be on the list. That and they would make amazing tools for dealing with power armor.” That got his attention.

“Unfortunately I do not know. However maybe we can get your laser free and you can blast away the metal.” He said closing the door behind me, I regarded the laser rifle again.

“Alright, first though.” I undid the saddles straps and levitated it and all the explosive things away from me. I pulled out all my weapons as well. “Okay, keep back, if I fuck this up I want to be the only one turned to glowing ash.”

Steelhooves just stood there as I cut the strap to my laser rifle and pointed it at my right side. I took a deep breath and double checked the shot. I pulled the trigger and watched in horror as the rifle instead of firing in a concentrated beam instead acted like a shotgun and struck my all over. My neck was now slightly singed and was very angry and fired again. This time I watched as the beam glowed softly.

“Quickly pry it open!” I shouted as I felt Steelhooves push me over and start to bend it open. I could smell my coat and the armor start to burn while in the contact with the hot metal. I then got unceremoniously dumped on the floor as he removed the beam from being wrapped around me.

“That worked, now then, lets unpack the ammo for you and get you restocked.” I said getting up, still feeling a bit burned. I would have to address that in a bit.

A few hours later I had Steelhooves restocked on combat drugs and ammunition as well as had replaced the destroyed chest panel of my combat armor with that of my trooper armor. Having stripped of my barding I saw that I had indeed gotten a nasty second degree burn around my middle. Thankfully the burn ointment and two healing potions was enough to fix that. I pulled out some food and found to my frustration the meat that I had with me had turned into the same goo that had tried to consume me in the stable.

I froze and realized for the first time exactly how close I had come to dieing while down there. I needed to get to a real doctor to check my internal organs. I really needed to go to a doctor, with all the radiation, burns, stress, hay, everything I was doing could be quickly killing me. Steelhooves noticed my standing still, my food laying on the ground as I shook.

“What is the matter Moonlight?” He asked me with a very detectable tone of worry in his voice.

“Do you know what makes healing potions turn into poison, turns living tissue into its base components, and makes ponies hear screaming in their heads?” I asked as I sat trying to hold myself together.

“That sounds like what the contingent out of Hoofington describes as Enervation.” He said coolly, “though there is no way you could have encountered it out here. It is an isolated phenomena to that region.”

“What if it wasn't. What if I did encounter a place where it had in the past spiked so hard that it liquified every pony in it, turned almost every healing potion into something twisted and rotten, and turned every other organic thing into dust. Somehow I am still alive...” I said, “I need to get to Tenpony.”

“In the morning, I rather us not wander the city after dark. Alicorns are bad enough and if you are in a bad condition for traveling pushing yourself now won't help. Get some rest.” He said, I felt his commanding voice move me to the lone bed in the shack.

He was right. If I was injured my body can naturally heal, so letting it do so was a far better option than rushing out into who knows what.

“Sorry, just... panicked. Mortal danger and all that, guess you would be familiar with that.” I sighed as I laid down on his bed. “Any tips on how to manage the fear?”

“Breath.” He said.

I frowned at him and tried to get some sleep. I tried my best to sleep, but, after four hours I couldn't. I hadn't been this scared since... well since that slaver tried to catch me back in Saint Clover. It had been a while since I had thought about that. Who knew I would end up here in Manehattan sharing a shack with a Steel Ranger hunting monsters. Okay to be honest I don't think anypony could have ever anticipated me doing that.

As my brother would say “not bad for a egg head like you sis”. He was right, not bad for a 'egg head'.

“Well if I can't sleep, then lets read something.” I said and pulled out one of the various books I had scavenged.

The first book was about how to be a clever salespony and a showmare. It was a enjoyable read. It reminded me a lot of the things that Mom and Dad had taught me for dealing with merchants as well as scavengers. Steelhooves came in as I closed the book. I looked up at him as he did.

“Trouble sleeping?” He asked as he lay down next to the bed.

“Bad habit for when I can't sleep.” I said as I put the book away in it's bag. “What about you?”

“What do you think of ghouls?” He asked, I raised my eyebrow at him, not expecting that response and uncertain what he was getting at.

“So long as they aren't trying to eat my face I am okay with them.” I said, honestly it is only if something wanted to harm me that I had issue with them. Guess except for alicorns since the just seem to all want to hurt me. Then again they have all gotten the jump on me so far…

He simply nodded stood and fetched a memory orb laying it down on the bed next to me.

“It may not be sleep, but, it is better than you staying awake all night.” He said then lay down on the floor again.

“Thank you Steelhooves.” I said as I reached out with my magic and started to make connection to the memory orb.

ooooooOOOOOOOOoooooo

I was in a stallions body, and he was an earth pony. Well, could be worse. Okay lets see here we are prewar, looks to be post founding of the ministries given the Ministry of Wartime Technology symbols. We were in some sort of harness, okay what is the deal with this? Oh what is this, Applejack? We were backstage and the probably crowd was behind a heavy black curtain. My host was focused solely on the nervous mare.

“Ah can't do this.” Applejack said.

Words came to me in a deep strong voice, “You'll be fine.” I said to her. Maybe this was Steelhooves ancestor, voice was similar enough.

“They hate me. Half of 'em already saddle sore cuz Ah started puttin' my hooves inta the Ministry 'stead o' jus' lettin' 'em do what they wanted. But bringin' in Twilight's ponies?” It sounded like things hadn't gone over too well with that.

I wrapped a foreleg around her neck and caught a glimpse of my apple green coat. I nuzzled her gently, it reminded me of being around Rose.

“And After today, they'll all understand it, and admire you for it.” I leaned in close to her ear, “now go on out there and make history. Or I'll be forced to spank you.”

Oh dear Celestia, I didn't need to hear that. Though did give me a idea for when I saw Rose again. Now I really hoped I was right and she was at Tenpony.

Applejack blushed and gave her coltfriend a look that made me really hope this wasn't have an effect on me outside of the orb.

“Later, loverboy.” She smiled, at least more cheeful now, and strode out before the awaiting crowd.

My host followed her stride, his eyes straying repeatedly to her flanks, forcing me to ogle this mare. I forced my mind away thinking about the mathematical equation for distance calculation of a teleport spell instead. I seriously doubted I could ever pull it off, even if I did have the potential the idea of appearing part way in something scared me.

Also why the buck did Steelhooves have a memory orb, and more importantly if he knew what was on it why share it?!

I noticed a custom revolver strapped to one leg of hers hidden under her formal attire. It was a very nice looking revolver. Figured it took forty four rounds. Wonder where that went, probably wherever she ended up. Applejack stood proudly at the podium and cleared her throat and began talking slowly and clearly to leave no question of what she was saying.

“Now listen up. Ah know y'all been a bit sore 'bout havin' ponies from the Ministry of Arcane Sciences workin' with us. Ah know y'all are dedicated t' improvin' Equestria the earth pony way, an' magic kinda flies in the face of alla that. But, there are some things that are jus' too important t' let stubborn pride get in the way o' askin' for help. Trust me. Ah know. An' Ah want y'all t' know how proud Ah am t' be standin' here today, able t' finally show ya the fruits of yer efforts. Most of ya don't know whatcha been workin' on. T'was important t' keep things...” the next word didn't seem like it found home on her tongue, “...compartmentalized t' keep this project outta zebra hooves. What y'all have accomplished in just one year... ain't been a buncha Earth Ponies do more good work in less time than when we built Appleloosa.”

Up to this point her words were being mixed with whispered resent from the crowd. Now, her voice dropped into a tone both somber and deadly serious. The audience hushed out of reverence for who and what she spoke of next.

“When Ah was young, my big brother, Big Macintosh, was always there fer me. He was muh closest kin, an' he never let me down. And when Equestria needed him, he didn't let us down neither. He served heroically in our army, fighting for our way o' life for three years. And then, when we needed him most, he made the ultimate sacrifice. When that zebra bullet punched through muh brother's armor an' pierced his heart, it broke muh heart too.”

I could feel a pan of guilt from my host, he had most likely known Big Macintosh as well. But, I could also feel pride.

Applejack continued her speech. “One year ago, we buried muh brother, Big Macintosh. And that day, Ah swore an oath that no one other pony would die needlessly in battle. They're riskin' their lives out there fer us. We owe them better. An' now, startin' today, we give 'em better.”

My host began walking onto the stage. I felt the ropes trailing me lift and pull taut, the harness digging into my flesh. I felt the resistance and hear the wheels of a carriage begin to move. I was pulling a carriage on my own.

“Ponies of the Ministry o' Technology, Ah give t' y'all the Steel Ranger!”

So this was the power of Steel Ranger armor. I was impressed.

ooooooOOOOOOOOoooooo

What was Steelhooves point of showing this to me. The origins of the Steel Rangers? Maybe it was more deep seated than that. I looked around the room and saw two things of note. A portrait of the ministry mare Applejack, and a statuette of her. Then again he had also said it was better for me than reading when it came to resting since I couldn’t sleep.

“Did she had any children.” I said after a few minutes.

“Not that I know of, why?” Steelhooves replied, he seemed surprised by my question. Maybe I was barking up the wrong tree.

“So then, this is more than simple reverence of Applejack.” I said staring at him directly.

He said nothing, the gears in my head began turning.

“You believe in her ideal. To protect ponies with your superior armor and weaponry. You want to do what the Steel Rangers were founded to do. Save Equestria, save ponies.” I said. “Then, that is why you aren't around your fellow Rangers, they don't agree do they? They just blindly follow whatever your leader says.”

I sighed, he was trying to be a better pony, taking after Big Macintosh and Applejack. “You are doing the right thing, if you ever get the chance to take charge do it. Do it without blood, do it right.”

I shook my head and as I did I saw something I didn't want to see. I saw red. I shoved the rest of my thoughts and questions away for later.

“We have company, and not of the pleasant type.” I said rolling off the bed to where my stuff was laying.

“Stay here, I will deal with this.” He simply said and went to the door.

I hid as well as I could while I shrugged on my armor. I didn't like this, if he wasn't worried it was more Steel Rangers. Steel Rangers with built in Eyes Forward Sparkles which would let them see I was here. If they were red to me, I was probably red to them. This was a very bad position to be in. As I finished preparing my laser rifle, which was now dubbed tank melter by my pipbuck, Steelhooves had returned.

“Who was it?” I asked him.

“Friends.” He said in a tone more dangerous than I liked.

“What did they want?” I asked, now certain it had been Steel Rangers of his own group.

“Report on activity between here and Bucklyn Cross.” He simply said.

“And they are gone now?” I asked.

“For now. I need to report back there tomorrow before the Elder starts to ask questions.”

“Right, then we are going to Tenpony to drop me off, I am guessing the rest won't take too kindly to me walking around them with a Pipbuck.” I said.

“Correct.”

“Probably less so if they knew how I got it.” I said more to myself than him. Then I blinked and blushed as I realized I said that out loud. “I kind of stole it from someponies in Fillydelphia who weren't using it. Was just collecting dust in a store room.”

I didn't want to explain to him about taking it from Steel Rangers. Even if he had a different priority stealing from his allies I doubted would gain me anything.

“I can think of nopony in Fillydelphia that would let it go so lightly.” He said, I didn't like the tone creeping into his voice again.

“Anyways, going to try to rest until you want us to leave.” I said as I climbed back on the bed and rested my head on my forelegs. Steelhooves didn't say anything as I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

I awoke to the sounds of a explosion. It was outside of the shack. I stood up and noticed I had drooled in my sleep. Gross... I shook my head and grabbed my assault carbine and laser rifle. One or the other would do the trick with whatever decided to pay us a visit. I then noticed a lack of Steelhooves. Was he already outside? I looked for bars and saw only red. I opened the door to see two alicorns hovering in the air, three corpses of their allies on the ground. They now knew of the minefield. Wait, powerful telekinetics plus lots of mines.

“I don't think even the moon in my cunt is enough to fully describe how fucked I am in this situation.” I said to myself as I hit S.A.T.S. and targeted the two remaining alicorns as they had begun to turn towards me. Three shots each, alternating targets. The spell released and I was rewarded with the first alicorn turning to glowing red ash the second one lucked out with every shot scattering.

“YOU!” She bellowed as I swapped in a new power cell for the rifle.

“YES IT IS ME!” I responded before beginning to fire as she formed her magical arrows.

She was ignoring the mines. Good. Somewhat good. No that was actually bad. I had nowhere to go, if I went through the minefield she would possibly miss and set off one of the mines near me. If I didn't move, well I saw what those magical arrows did to the ceramic plates of combat armor. One direction to go then. I jumped and gave myself a telekinetic shove upward. She launched her arrows at me a moment too late, they passed below me and heated the metal siding of Steelhooves shack red where they hit. I gave another shove back and I landed on the roof as I began to line up my shot.

“You will not escape us this time you little pest! We hate you have wasted so much of our time. You WILL join unity!” She cried out as she sent more arrows at me.

What did she expect to do dump a bunch of dust into this unity? Okay if that worked that would be frightening. I hopped to the side, she had anticipated this as I felt a arrow pass between my legs and made me grateful to be a mare. Where the buck was Steelhooves!

“Your friend is away! There is no mighty Steel Ranger for you to hide behind today.”

Great, she can read minds.

“The Goddess knows all.”

Right, then what is that behind you? She turned her head and I hit S.A.T.S. The calm of S.A.T.S. and the fact that it essentially froze time meant she could not read my thoughts here. My problem now was she was too far away for my rifle. I didn't have anything else to shoot her with that would work. I saw the broken corpses of her allies. Why shoot when you can throw? I knew my actions now and killed S.A.T.S. Coming out of it I wrapped my magic around three spots of dirt where I knew mines where and quickly slung them at the alicorn.

“What do you think slinging dirt will do you when I can find you by your mind!”

Uh... that was a very bad thing if they could track me by my mind. The bloom of fire and the lack of a snarky arrogance filled comment in my head let me know my trick had done it for me. She was dead, or close to it. I leapt off the roof and floated my way over the minefield to where her body had fallen. I kicked it with a hoof to check she was dead and not some how hiding from my Eyes Forward Sparkle. Maybe I should have just fired my carbine into her from the roof as she wrapped my throat in magic and began to squeeze.

“We know every trick you can do, we know all, and we know you, Moonlight.”

Okay, she talked without moving her lips, she talked inside my friggin head. And she just addressed me by name. Creepiness factor was now very high. My vision began to narrow as my brain struggled with the lack of oxygen. I tried my best to kick at her. Damn lack of oxygen making this hard to think. I triggered S.A.T.S. She moved faster than I thought she could and was in my face when it came up, in my panic I backed out of S.A.T.S. as she slammed me into the ground sending the world spinning.

“We know all” She simply said.

“Well... Buck me...” I managed to eek out before darkness consumed me.

*                *                *

I was in Saint Clover, it was safe, calm, welcoming. I walked through its halls like a ghost, I recognized my family, some colts that I had once tried to be friends with, Shorthorn, Patches, Constable, and so many others. Then I felt a dark gloom flow over me as I remembered the slaver chasing me, haunting me. The fear in those last moments when he caught me.

I was now in Dune City, the wind was blowing my mane as I walked through it, going into the buildings I had before. I saw the mayor, the workers at that tavern, everypony at the school, the busy market square. Nopony acknowledged my passing. I saw Ruby and her carriage, I joined her on another trip to Oakmare.

In a blur of skewed time we were in Oakmare, I saw the bar, the music, the smell of alcohol and sex. I saw Aegis, his warehouse, the battle, the hydra, Helgrim, Astra, Bryn. I heard the plan for Seamane again. I felt the pain and the world faded with a laugh.

The laugh was sick and cruel. There was no mercy in it, no happiness. I felt pain that I had forgotten. Pain I wished to forget again. A door opened for me.

“Come, here nopony will ever hurt you again, and you can help all you know never feel pain again.” Came a soft gentle voice. “We will save the wasteland and make it a place we can live in.”

“What is the cost?” I whispered.

“There is none but a leap of faith into my arms.” Said the voice again the image of a light blue alicorn with a silver mane. “Come my child and join us.”

“No.” I said, “your price is too steep for me.”

The peaceful gentle alicorn turned vicious her mane turning black her coat fading to the point the blue was barely noticeable from the black of her coat. It reminded of how my coat was stained with the remains of ponies.

“You are the goddess, and you sided with Redeye. You sided with a monster who wants to force everypony to work until they die. The price of joining you is too high. I will not sell my soul for peace!” I felt light surround me as the forms of a familiar purple filly and a yellow filly formed by me. “Once my home is safe from Slate I am coming for you, for Redeye. I will see this world wiped clean of those who would use and abuse the ponies of Equestria. We have suffered enough and we will take back our world!”

“If We cannot convince you to join us, then WE SHALL FORCE YOU!” Screamed the alicorn.

“TRY!” I said and focused my magic.

Images of everypony I knew flashed around us, enslaved, being killed, suffering horrific crimes against their personhood. I closed my eyes for what little good it did. Even with them closed I still saw it all. This was all in my head. The rules don't matter.

“THIS IS MY MIND AND YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!” I yelled unleashing my magic.

“YOU CANNOT BE FORCE US OU-” and just like that she was gone. My mind was quiet, the ghost images of the two ministry mares hugging me.

“Thank you,” I said to them, “I don't know how you are here, but, thank you.”

They both smiled, then the purple one said to me, “Moonlight, wake up you need to get going before she recovers from your defiance.”

I nodded closed my eyes and…

“How do I wake up?” I asked.

They gave me a shrug. Then I felt myself fall.

*                *                *

I was falling, oh this sensation is way too familiar. I wrapped myself in my magic as I did, I looked down and wished I hadn't. I gave myself a heavy shove away from the ground, but, I miscalculated my descent and was now going sideways. I hit the road and rolled, I felt something pop, another thing crack, and the wind in my lungs go out as something warm slide down to my muzzle out of my nose.

“That hurt...” I said as I lay on my side. I took stock of my surroundings. I wasn't certain where I was, the buildings here were tall and obscured my vision of any landmarks. I let out a deep breath and felt a sharp pain in my chest. That would probably be a rib either fractured or outright broken, yay, more things I needed somepony else to fix. All my weapons were gone, all that I had with me was my barding. Guessed the Goddess didn't want me to freeze during out trip to... wherever we had been going. I moved my left foreleg so I could see the screen of my pipbuck and pulled up the map and set a marker for Steelhooves shack.

'Aren't you forgetting something really important?' Came the voice of my mental image of Twilight Sparkle.

Right, the method of transportation I had been taking until it dropped me. I turned to see the green alicorn standing up in the fifth floor window of a near by office building. I smiled as adrenaline hit my system. The cold that had been sneaking in vanished.

I rolled to my feet and shouted at the top of my lungs. “I said the Ranger is a wanted mare!”

The alicorn turned her focus my way. I started to run towards Steelhooves shack. I just had to cover two miles on hoof, through the broken streets, with everything trying to kill me. Time for a walk in the park. I heard the alicorn, no, they were all the Goddess, it was her voice trying to creep into my mind again.

“She makes her way all across this land, seeing her sifting through the sand!”

I felt the heat of a magical arrow slam into the carriage next to me.

“So I'll tell you all the story,” another arrow slammed down around me as I changed my direction, “About the Ranger and the Thief of the night!”

I heard a frustrated shout in my mind coming from the Goddess as I continued to sing and dodge. The two ghosts in my mind singing along with me. I think she disliked I was drowning her out. I hoped it pissed her off, I would be upset if when I got to Steelhooves shack there wasn't a horde of alicorns behind me manes made of fire all wanting to kill me.

“Always laughing in the midst of power, always living in the final hour, there is always sweet in the sour!” I continued to sing at the top of my lungs, my body burning from horn to hoof as I used my magic to spin the rear of a carriage making another path as I rolled away. I heard the alicorn behind me scream in frustration as I continued to make a mockery of her aim.

“We are not goin' home!”

I gave myself a telekinetic kick and sailed through the broken windows of a skywagon as the arrows of magic smashed into it.

I tucked and rolled as I landed on the road and then popped up again as my hooves hit the pavement. “Can you see the Ranger flying over, as she's standing in the field of clover, watching out everyday?”

I turned at the intersection and started moving further north. “What you see well you might not know, you get the feelin' comin' after the glow, the vagabond is moving slow.”

I heard gunfire erupt from the buildings around me and saw more arrows of magic start raining down as I ran through a battle between raiders and alicorns.

“So I'll tell you all the story, 'bout the Ranger and the thief of the night!” I sung out as I passed by, the raiders stopped for a second then started shooting at me, so did the alicorns.

In the back of my mind I was laughing like crazy when I hit a lull in lyrics. “All the people that she see in the night, hold their dreams up to the light, the old beast is searching for sight!”

Now I was dodging a shower of arrows as the raiders stopped chasing after a group of alicorns had broken off to re-engage them. Still though I had a wing of alicorns on my tail and all of them wanting to kill me. Apparently the Goddess had forgotten the part about wanting to force me to join her Unity.

“I said the Ranger is a wanted mare, She makes her way all across the land, seeing her sifting through the sand!”

I broke past the last of the buildings and now had a clear shot towards Steelhooves shack. He was standing outside of it, several new turrets lit with power.

“Tell you the story 'bout the Ranger and the thief, I said, I'll tell you the story 'bout the Ranger of and the thief, I said, I'll tell you the story 'bout the Ranger and the thief of the night!” I sung as I leapt over the minefield assisted by my magic as Steelhooves and his new turrets opened up on the alicorns.

I  landed and rolled on the other side of the minefield smashing into the side of his shack. I lay there upside down and watched as the alicorns tried to break off and were absolutely destroyed by the heavy firepower. In their anger they hadn't put up their shields. I started laughing hysterically as my heart hammered, my body ached, my horn burned, and my body had a unholy deep itch running through it.

I lay there as Steelhooves looked at me. I figured behind his visor he was either smiling or looking at me like I was the craziest mare he had ever seen in his life. I was hoping that it was both. Because if I wasn't the craziest mare he had ever met then I was really worried about there being other ponies out there just as crazy as myself. I smiled up at him.

“Sorry, decided to go out for a run is all.” I giggled.

“You’re crazy.” He said with a chuckle.

“Yep, have to be for what I am planning on doing.” I said as I rolled over.

“And what is that?” He asked with that deep voice of his.

“First things first, I need your opinion. What would you make of a mare who stole several pipbucks from Steel Rangers and then gave them to a small town to help them survive? Oh and she kept one for herself since she always wanted one.” I said to him as I stood up, dusting myself off.

“One, she would have to be insane to attempt to steal from Steel Rangers. Two, she is a good mare for helping others, even if a bit greedy.” He said stood holding the door to his shack open for me. I simply nodded and entered.

“Good, I am going to take down Slate and his army of raiders before they can join Redeye. Then, I am going to do what I can to stop Redeye and these alicorns.” I said as I pulled on my saddlebags.

“A tall order for such a short mare.” He said, I giggled.

“I maybe a bit short, but, my horn is strong and my heart bleeds too much not to try to save Equestria.” I frowned. “I tend to bleed a lot in general.”

“You would make for a excellent Steel Ranger during the war.” He simply said as we left his shack.

“How would you know that? You weren't there.” I said with a snort.

“You're right, how could I know?” He said not moving.

I thought in the back of my head came forward, a slim possibility that I had tossed to the side as silly. I smiled.

“You know that stallion whose memory orb you gave me?” I said, getting a look from Steelhooves, it was hard to gauge expressions through power armor. “While she said that she made your armor to protect anypony else from dying needlessly I think she actually did it to protect him. And I think if he was still around he should consider the armor as a gift from her.”

“You think she loved him that much, even if he did the wrong thing?” He said as I approached the door.

“The only wrong thing is not trying to do better.” I said feeling a bit sage like, that was weird when did I start having wisdom? I certainly didn't have it a few minutes ago.

“Lets get you to Tenpony Tower before the blizzard moves in, this shack doesn't hold heat well enough for you to stay here.” He said and we moved out. I looked to the west and saw dark clouds rolling in as we began to walk to Tenpony Tower.

We had gone about half of the distance to Tenpony Tower when I felt something in my body snap. I looked at my right leg to see it horribly disjointed as I collapsed on the ground. My battered body was deciding now was when to fall apart. Steelhooves stopped as he heard my cry out while I set the bone and put a medical brace on it.

“It is fine Steelhooves, just need to get to a proper doctor. Nothing a few days of intense medical care can't handle.” I said with a smile on my face.

He helped me up, it was going to take a while longer to get to Tenpony, but, I had a honest Stallion with me. A flake of snow landed on my nose and I brushed it off, the first bit of rain or snow always hit me it seemed. I sighed as we finished climbing the stairs to the Celestia line and began walking down the rails. Steelhooves would head for Bucklyn Cross one I was inside. He would hang back making certain they let me in. I can see why Applejack liked him, he was a good pony even if he didn't think he was.

It took us another half hour to finally get in sight of the MAS Hub station. As I neared the station I saw within it various murals depicting Twilight Sparkle from various points in her life. Time had been kind to them, not uniformly so, but, in general they still looked in quite good shape. I looked over my shoulder to the west to get hit in the face with a strong wind and the terrifying sight of a wall of white headed at me. I gave Steelhooves a wave and pointed to the oncoming storm. He returned the gesture and began heading south.

“Yep, that is a blizzard and I need to move my tail now.” I said out loud before galloping towards the guard booth. It was an uneven pace with my broken leg and my injuries reminding me I was only a pony not a super hero.

Footnote: Level Up!

New Perk Added: Silent Gallop: How fast you move no longer factors into how much noise you make while sneaking around. However singing at the top of your lungs does. Try to keep that down will you, there are three of us in here now.