Fallout Equestria: The Ranger of Seamane

Chapter 14 – The Spirits of Winter

“Make sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense?” - Discord MLP:FiM Season 2 Ep1-2

After another day of travel I came to a series of farms. I went to one of the barns and found it long abandoned. I hunkered down in it and let myself fall asleep. The cold was sapping of energy and stacked with sleep deprivation that was seriously dangerous. Sleep was a welcome relief to the cold.

Waking up was a reminder of the cold. Opening my eyes I got a reminder of what it was to be scared horribly. A double barreled shotgun was in my face levitating in a ponies magic, my first instinct was bat it away. I found my legs were bound. Well this barn was obviously not so abandoned. I looked at the stallion holding the shotgun. He looked rather scared as well. Okay, so long as I am not stupid I could get out of this situation pretty easily.

“Don't move another inch, lady.” Came a rough voice from the Stallion. “I don't want to blow off yer head, but, I have to know what you be doing in my barn here.”

I tried to open my mouth and noticed that I was gagged. Of course I hadn't felt that with my face numb from the cold.

“Just answer with noddin' and shakin' yer head.” He said, I nodded.

“Are you here for my family?” He asked me seeming to tense. I shook my head.

“Are you going to New Appleloosa?” I nodded.

The silence held for a few minutes then he pulled the shotgun away from me. I lay my head back on the floor. He walked out leaving me bound. I tested the bindings on me limbs. I probably could get out if I wanted to. But, I didn't feel like getting two barrels of twelve gauge shotgun to the face or chest. I lay there for a few more minutes then the stallion returned. He cut my bounds keeping the shotgun trained on my head.

“There, yer free to go. Take yer stuff and get going. Don't let me catch you in my barn again.” He said, I nodded and walked out into the winter again.

The storm was definitely getting worse. I pulled out my scarf and wrapped it around my neck. With a prod of the shotgun I started walking, best not to make my unintentional host nervous. I noticed him dart into his house and I heard something slide. I didn't blame him. They probably heard me come in during the night with heavy loud thuds of my hoof steps and the clinking of my equipment. I wasn't really that quiet was I?

Without much further thought about it I pressed on focusing my energy on keeping myself warm with spells and keeping the snow cleared enough that I could walk. It was to my surprise when I saw New Appleloosa ahead of me. It was mostly a collection of train cars, cranes, and debris making a wall. I looked at the time and saw that I had some how managed to walk for a day and a half straight. I guess when things aren't trying to kill me time flies by. I walked up to what I assumed to be the gate as it was where the crane was connected to. I stood there waiting. That didn't last long, nopony was around, I figured they were all inside away from the cold and the storm that had rolled in. I wrapped myself in my magic, crouched, and then leapt.

I landed on the other side of the barrier with the barest hint of the crunch of snow under my hoof. I looked around for signs of life. My E.F.S. showed they were hidden in the buildings. I walked further in. Either security was really relaxed here or they thought the wall was enough. I moved around and eventually found what seemed to be a bar. I shrugged and walked in after first pulling off everything obscuring my face. Best not to walk in to a town that is locked down looking ready to wipe it out. As I entered I was greeted with a warm orange light and a warm rush of air. I made certain to move quickly to not let the heat out.

“Welcome to Turnpike Tavern, come on in and get a drink in you to shake out the cold.” Said a unicorn Stallion. I hopped up on a stool at the bar and fished out some caps.

“Whiskey?” I asked.

He smiled set a apple down then performed a spell on it. I blinked and was greeted with a bottle of apple whiskey.

“Ten caps.” He said, I gave him twelve, it was a neat trick.

I downed the whiskey and enjoyed the kick. It was no Wild Pegasus, but, it did the trick for tonight. As I drank I heard the DJ come on talking about the bad weather and precautions to take. One of them I felt being aimed at me which was don't lay down anywhere to sleep before making certain you are the only pony taking shelter there.

“So what is your story?” The unicorn stallion asked me with a warm smile.

I looked around and saw I was far from the only pony here, but, I was the only one alone. Figures…

“Making my way to Colt.” I simply said before taking another swig of the whiskey. The warmth felt nice against the cold that was lingering in me.

“Oh? Where from?” He pressed.

“Tenpony.” I suddenly didn't like where this was going.

“Oh? How was Shattered Hoof?” He asked.

I really didn't like this. “Cold reception, colder walk, very quiet. Better than Canterlot was.”

“Didn't see any friends while there?”

“No, I didn't. I don't know anypony there. Hay I don't know if it is raider or slaver.” I said with an exasperated sigh before drinking some more. It is hard to enjoy a good drink when ponies are interrogating you. I eyed him trying to gauge his intent.

“Well then, where are you staying?”

Ah buck me, “nowhere, I just came in a few minutes ago.” Well lets see how quickly this situation falls apart. I noticed everyponies attention was on me, my mane itched again with that unholy deep itch.

“And how did you do that? Somepony open the gate for you?” He asked, I felt somepony walk up behind me.

‘Was this going to turn into me drunkenly running for my life? No play it smart Moonlight.’

“I jumped it.” I simply said. Uh, I said smart right? Why did you say that. Oh come on I am not this stupid while drunk am I?

“You jumped it? The only pony I know of who can do something like that is Crane.” The pony behind me said. “So who are you?”

There was a long quiet, I heard the DJ talk again, mentioning me by my title. Then the interview started up. The quiet lasted longer as my brain figured out how to defuse this situation. Damn you alcohol for making me forget useful things!

“I am Moonlight, the Ranger of Seamane. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Sorry I love whiskey, but, it does make me frightfully stupid.” I said with a big grin on my face.

The recording of our interview started playing quietly in the background. One by one the ponies in the tavern turned back to their business.

“Alright then, so where are you staying?” the bartender asked again as I heard whoever was behind me walk off.

“Don't know, preferably not passed out on the floor.” I put down another twelve caps he supplied me with more whiskey which I drank greedily.

“Go visit Ditzy Doo, she is always open for charity cases.” He said.

“Thanks, I will, and what is your name?” I said as I chugged the rest of the Whiskey enjoying the burn. Something told me I really shouldn't be able to do that.

“Apple Whiskey.” He said with a great deal of cheer in his voice.

“Makes sense, thanks for the advice, you know anything about the weather? I wouldn't mind knowing if I am completely insane for going over the pass tomorrow.” I said as I stood, oh yeah, I am riding the wave of drunkenness like a master today.

“Maybe Ditzy can help you, or Calamity if he is in town.” He said with a shrug. I shrugged back and walked out into the cold. Ditzy Doo's wasn't hard to find, after all it had a nice sign talking about the wasteland survival guide written by the one and only Ditzy Doo. I knocked on the door and was greeted with the sight of a ghoul.

“Good evening Ditzy Doo, I was told you could help me with finding a bit of clear floor for me to pass out on.” I said, smooth miss drunken master.

She didn't say anything, instead she grabbed some sort of slab and started to write on it with her mouth. I tilted my head, why write, I can hear just fine, just drunk not deaf. She turned the board around it welcomed me in. I walked in closing the door behind me. This place was packed with stuff, the sign absolutely everything was very correct. I sat down as Ditzy Doo looked for something. She returned and set down a book with her slate.

“Do you have one of these?” I read allowed then looked at the book. It was a wasteland survival guide for the Equestrian Heartland. I blinked, I didn't really need it anymore did I? “No I don't but, I am going back to Seamane soon, I don't know if I am coming back.”

She tilted her head at me.

“I have a lot of things to do there, and to be honest I don't know if I will get through it alive.” I said quietly. “Sorry, rambling, alcohol makes me stupid. I will buy it, at very least it will be a nice book to add to my library.”

She smiled and gave me a squishy hug. The wet squishing sound made me freeze as well as the soggy flesh. Too much time around things wanting me dead was not helping.

“Ditzy Doo, mind showing me where I can lay down? I need to leave as soon as I can in the morning.” I said, she stepped back and took the book to the register and gave me the price tag. I ignored what it said and gave her five hundred caps. She wrote the guide to help others, I wasn't going to ignore that. She gave me a big smile and I noticed her odd eyes and wondered if that was the wastelands mark on her, I smiled back. She showed me a place to lay down and I set out my bedroll and laid down on it as I drank down water remembering what hangovers are.

When I woke up to the bell of the store ringing, it had become day and I had slept in. Of course the mute pegasus couldn't have woken me up. Kind of hard to wake somepony up when you are squishy and quiet. I looked around to see the offender who had rung the bell. It was a rust colored pegasus. He hadn't seen me yet, or he saw me before I noticed him and turned his attention to the ghoul. I eyed his black hat, it was rather stylish. He was coated in barding still to keep the winter out, though what I noticed was his battle saddle, it was clearly very well built and cared for. I stood up and began rolling up my bedroll. He noticed my movement and gave me a friendly smile and nod. I pulled out some food and ate while I watched the two do the dance of bartering. The stallion had a lot of random bits and pieces to the point I would swear he was the cause for half of the stock of this shop.

I turned my E.F.S. back on and checked the time. It was about nine in the morning, at least it wouldn't be so cold outside. I stood and stretched as I placed my bedroll on my back. I started towards the door after giving Ditzy a nod. I didn't want to interrupt her trading. I checked my revolvers and reloaded them as well before I stepped to go out the door.

“Whoa there partner, you headed out in this weather?” Said the stallion to me.

“Yes, unless you know when the storm will go away.” I retorted as I snapped my revolvers shut, that caught his eyes.

“Those five point five six millimeter revolvers?” He asked in that odd accent of his.

“Yes they are.” I said as I holstered them.

“You didn't happen to pick those up off of a gryphon, now did ya?” He asked, sounding accusatory.

“No, one I picked up off of a two century old suicide victim, the other I... I picked it up somewhere... I forget where. I know though it was from another pony trying to assassinate me.” I said looking at That gun in my chest holster.

“Well then, bit surprised seeing somepony else running around with a pistol with that much kick.” He said while tipping his hat back. “Now where you thinking on headed to?”

“Colt.” I replied looking back outside as it brightened a little with the snow slowing. Now would be a good time to go, I pushed open the door to go.

“Whoa Nelly! You certain about that? I mean not doubtin' your ability to walk the distance, but, if you ain't noticed it is winter.” He said pulling me back from the door. I heard a tint of worry in his voice.

“Yeah, it is, and it is a bad winter. But, I made a promise to my marefriend over the radio, and I am not going to break it.” I said turning to look him in the eyes.

“Ah shoot, ain't nothing I can say that will stop ya from goin' then is there?” He said, was he giving up that easily? No matter, I needed to go.

“Sorry mister-”

“Calamity” he interjected.

“Sorry, Calamity, but, unless you have a good reason that I shouldn't go I need to head out while the weather lets me open the door.” I stated as I started opening the door again.

“Just be careful, somethin' nasty is stirring up this weather.” He said with a serious voice as well as a serious look that didn't seem to quite fit him.

“Don't worry, the Ranger of Seamane won't die so easily.” I chuckled as I walked out into the storm.

Though the storm picked up three hours after I had left New Appleloosa it was still easy to keep my path straight. After all the rest of this trip would be following the railroad until I cleared the mountains and was in Old Appleloosa. Simple, but, time consuming. At first the trip was okay, however, the flat railway gave way to hills, and mountains. Not only the switchbacks were annoying to deal with from keeping track of the rails, but, there was also the strong winds and driving snow to deal with on the curves. I started having to move through tunnels on the train tracks. They were not enjoyable. Often they were homes of bloodwings, or ghouls, or corpses.

Even with the occasional firefight with things too stupid to leave me alone I was making good time. From what I understood it should only take a day maybe a day and a half to clear the pass between New Appleloosa and Old Appleloosa. I made this guess based off of it took roughly half a day to go between the two by pony pulled trains. Eventually I had to stop in a tunnel to get out of a nasty wave of snow and wind. While I sat there I read through more of the Overmare's logs from Stable Twenty Three. They had a standard set up in terms of stables beyond a new reactor that was to be easily taken apart and moved out of the stable for setting up a town. It was impressive how much work they had put into planning out the reconstruction of the world. With a sigh I closed the logs. They had a real good chance of making a community like Dune City or Saint Clover.

I poured power into the candle fire spell and watched as it grew and the heat from it slowly crept into me. There was nothing here I could burn so I had to keep my magic flowing into it. The more magic I pushed into it the more I noticed something strange. Not only could I command the shape, but, its color slowly took the color of my magic. I heard what sounded like the roar of a manticore. I had heard them a few times while in Manehattan, but, thankfully, never faced one. I didn't want to fight one now in this confined space. I killed my flame and felt the heat that I had recovered start to drain out of me. I drew deeper into the debris in the tunnel and kept a close eye on my E.F.S. I still saw nothing, no blue, no red. I waited for another five minutes then I darted out moving forward. I galloped following the tracks slogging through the snow.

I continued on until three in the afternoon, then I saw it, Old Appleloosa. I saw slave pins with tarps over them, there were a few ponies milling about around the various structures. Just like everywhere else in the winter, nopony wanted to be outside. Nopony unless they had a good reason that is. In this case it was to shoot at me. I dodged to the side when I saw the glint of light off of some ponies scope, the bullet landed in the snow next to me. I guessed it would have crippled my leg if it had hit, three oh eight round. I waved a hoof and no further shots rang out. I walked to the tower that held the pony who shot at me and waited to see if anypony would come visit. Nopony did. I guessed that the shot had been to see if I was a ghoul or not. Beyond that I guessed they assumed anypony walking into town was to mind their own business. A bitter chill ran through me and I headed to the local watering hole.

It was marked as a Saloon, I didn't catch its full name, though it didn’t really matter. Going in I saw that there was live entertainment on the stage. I didn't pay attention to the rather scandalously dressed mare doing some rather lewd things on stage. It was hard to not pay attention when she started moaning. I kept my eyes on the bar ordering drink after drink. The alcohol felt good, the warmth spreading through me as well as the warmth from the Saloon itself.

This town did a good job of everypony keeping to themselves. I wasn't pestered with annoying questions nor was I the center of unwanted attention. It was nice after the worrying reception I had in New Appleloosa. If I forgot about the slaves that were here this was a rather nice place.

I gave a rather long sigh as I finished the last drink I was going to have for the day and bought a couple bottles of whiskey for the road and a bottle of wine, apparently the only one they had sold in a few months. When I headed out I noticed a printed poster about me. Though with the change of my mane and tail as well as the general thinning out of my form it was rather wrong. I smiled as I left the saloon and headed back into the storm.

I had thought about staying the night in town, but, I was a day behind schedule and I was feeling particularly warm from the alcohol. I also should note again, alcohol does make me forget important things and make stupid choices. The only reason for this is how it messes with my ability to be perceptive about details, and to react swiftly. So it was little surprise to me when I found myself surrounded by slavers an hour later to anypony but my drunk self. They said nothing, I said nothing back at them. We stood there, two ahead of me and two behind me blocking my path.

They made the first move, the two behind me rushing up to try to put chains around my rear legs. I reared up and turned my head casting my fire spell in a arch. It was enough to make them back off. The two up front cocked their semi auto shotguns at me. I didn't move as I set my front legs back on the snow covered railroad ties. The two behind me where still hesitant to move closer after my little display of fire magic.

“Don't do this.” I said with a voice full of threat. “Go home, be family ponies.”

“Cunt, you are worth five thousand caps alive. I could have a family or two with that much.” Said the heaviest armed and armored pony, must be the leader of the band.

“Did you ever stop to think why I have such a bounty on my head?” I said and I heard a roar in the distance.

The four I heard shuffle a bit, the two behind me backing up more. I felt something coming, I don't know what it was or why I could sense it, but, I just felt something wrong moving our way.

“Leave now, something bad is coming. You don't want to be here when it gets here.” I said turning towards where the feeling was coming from. This made the four around me break out running towards Old Appleloosa. As they did the presence seemed to back off. Maybe whatever this thing was it feed off of conflict.

I went the next four days unmolested by anything, but, I noticed a group of figures following me a good ten minutes behind me. They stopped when I did, they moved when I did. I didn't like it, but, at the same time I felt that it was best not to look a gift monkey in the mouth in a situation like this.

Night had fallen of the fifth day. I was supposed to be in Colt by now, but, my getting side tracked in Canterlot had taken up too much time. Well not really side tracked, it was a accident that I had taken the wrong set of tracks and wound up in that hellish city. I drank one of the bottles of whiskey I had bought in Old Appleloosa, the warmth felt nice and reminded me of that night with Rose back in Dune City. I had high hopes that upon getting to Colt we could have a reenactment of that night. I smiled at the thought of it and felt my body start to react to the thoughts of that night.

“You're getting ahead of yourself, Moonlight. You still have to get there, best to not be a horny mess until after we get to the bedroom.” I bitterly stated aloud.

“We are not planning to take you to any bedroom tonight, Ranger of Seamane.” Came the booming voice of the Goddess.

“Oh for Luna's sake.” I said with an exasperated sigh. “Really, you are going to do this, tonight? It is Hearths Warming Eve, let me see my marefriend.”

“We will give you no such honor, you have spat in our eye too many times for any luxury to be given to you.” Came the Goddess again full of conceit and hate. Part of me was happy I had left such an impression on the annoying false deity.

“Too bad, would have not killed more of your bodies if you just walked away now.” I said as I began walking away again.

“You will not walk away from us! You will listen to US-” I heard a crunch and felt a crash behind me. I turned to see my E.F.S. completely red. The alicorn who was talking had been chopped in half by something. I started to run as I saw the remaining four's shields flare to life and a loud roar fill the air chilling the air.

Running I heard more crashes behind me and the ground shook again. Whatever it was that was fighting the alicorns it was big and it was angry. I saw the wing of a alicorn fly past me coated in ice. I kept running and took shelter in a nearby railway maintenance shack. I heard another roar in the distance and looked back down the railway to see more flashes of light as the battle continued.

There was a heavy fog around the area too and I felt a cold breeze blowing down to me. I shut the door and started to heat myself back up. After five minutes of warming up I heard another roar and a wall of the building shattered as a rock crashed through it. The cold immediately crept in with a vengeance as iced formed on every surface. I threw the door out open and began running. I turned to look behind me to see more alicorns engaged in battle with whatever was roaring.

I ran for a few more minutes then I encountered something that crept me out. I saw ice formations in the shape of ponies. I stood there eyeing them. E.F.S. was clear and I slowly walked into the formations. I heard something move with the sound of metal sliding over metal. I turned to see the ice formations had turned their heads and in some cases entire being at me.

“Oh, buck me.” I whispered and started to run.

As I did I lost traction and began to slide out of control and right into the legs of one of these ice pony statues. I groaned as I fought against the ice to stand up. When I did I saw the various ice ponies had drawn closer. I light a flame above my horn.

“Get back or I am going start melting you.” I threatened to the lifeless yet animated ice ponies.

I flash of memory reminded me of the ponies on the coast talking about ponies made of ice, I had dismissed it, I was very wrong. The formations moved towards me instead of away. I felt one touch my flank and cold immediately start to spread through me. I bucked it to only fine my hooves stuck inside of it after crunching a few centimeters of ice. I turned to see ice crawling down my now numb hind legs and ice spreading from where one had touched me on my flank.

I had no idea what they were or why they existed, it didn't matter either way I had to get away. I poured my magic into the flame above me. The heat began to wave over me and I watched the ice consuming me rear half slow. I knew I would lose my rear half if I didn't do this quickly. I pushed more power into my fire spell a layer of over glow on my horn appeared through my helmet. The heat washing over me more and I saw with great relief I had stopped the spreading of the ice.

Unfortunately during this time every ice pony that could had decided to attach itself to me I felt the ice start to spread over me again. I shut my eyes, and focused on the fire, imagining it growing as I fed every bit of my magic into it as I could. One thing I hadn't been practicing was how much magic at once I could do, and it showed. The slow trickle of magic feeding the flame wasn't fast enough to fight off the ice consuming me and draining my heat.

I woke up surrounded by re solidifying water, steam rose around me. I was panting hard, I had collapsed. I looked at the rails around me glowing faintly. I coughed and felt dizzy. There is a limit that unicorns had with their magic. Several limits. First was their magical reserves which could be built up with weeks of practice on spending as much of it as you could without burning out. The second was bandwidth of magical energy. Just like the first one could build it up with weeks of practice though there was no need to go to burn out. All that was needed was to push the amount of magical energy you pushed out with your spells little by little. Third was an absolute limit that no pony knew how to pass, there was a point where a pony's magic exceeded what their body could handle. In these cases either the magic would kill the pony, or some pony would have to step in and cut short their spell. Both were dangerous and could kill a unicorn. In this case my spell burned out before I burned out. It left me weakened and physically shaken.

I tried to stand, but, couldn't, thankfully where I was all the water had been annihilated. I shook myself and noticed bits of ash falling off of me. I felt positively warm, but, at the same time I felt drained. My horn felt like it was ringing, it also felt like it also had warped. Damn that was a weird feeling. My stomach agreed and I tore off my respirator gasping for air. Nothing came up but steam. Then I belched and felt fire come from my stomach. I noticed some smoke exit my mouth as my tongue burned. I blinked thinking for a moment, trying to make sense of this. Then I felt the cold seeping back in. Right, there was something horrifically deadly around here that is tearing alicorns apart. Time to get moving before it decides I am it's next meal figure out why I had just tasted fire later.

Moving down the track again I saw more of the ice ponies, they weren't looking towards me. Actually they seemed to be sliding away from me. That was another unnerving thing, they glided, no walking, just a slow quiet sliding. I pulled out my revolvers and started shooting at them. The rounds did a bit of damage to the icy equine forms. They turned and started to move slowly to surround me. I put the revolvers away, ice was strong and the revolvers didn't do enough. I swapped to the lever action shotgun and started pumping rounds into them. The pellets chipped at them, the craters on their forms leaked water that slowly froze on their features. I loaded three ought buck rounds and began pumping them into, that did less.

I hissed into the frozen wind as it grew to a howl. “Right... Ice is hard”

The wind had picked up, the snow blowing again as I heard another roar from behind me. I loaded magnum rounds and fired one off into the head of the nearest ice pony. It blew apart much to my satisfaction. I pulled out the pistols and my stock-less assault carbine loading armor piercing rounds. I opened up watching that armor piercing rounds slice through and shattering limbs, heads, and bodies of the ice ponies. I grinned and kept pulling the triggers of my guns letting loose with all my firepower.

I continued firing until the barrels of my guns were glowing a faint red, I had spent a huge chunk of my ammunition. I still had two unopened containers of five millimeter rounds for the assault carbine. The shattered remains of the ice ponies around me hadn't reformed yet. I let out a breath as I started running again reloading everything I had and loading my rocket launcher.

I felt something smash into my back just below my neck, I felt something crack, I wasn't certain if it was my bones or my armor. My face smashed into the ground and I skidded along the ice once more. I rolled groaning looking up to see frozen mockeries of pegasi. I glared up at them.

“You have to be fucking kidding me!” I shouted as I rolled and dodged a diving ice pony and tossed a fire spell into its path.

I watched as it melted and splashed on the ground where I had last been laying. I felt my horn burn from that, burn both from heat and the threat of burnout. I had pushed too much magical energy at once with it. Damn it I needed to work on that when I had some down time. A smile flashed over my muzzle when the hay did I get down time? Wasn't it always one string of events after another that required me to be at full strength at all times? Yeah it was, well time to skirt danger and death. Tonight I had a date to keep and I was not going to break that.

I fired two bursts into the air at the flying ice ponies shattering them. One part I was worried about was there was no way to tell if my attacks actually damaged these things beyond their physical forms. What I would give for a ripper, or a power hoof, hay one of them fancy zebra officer swords would be lovely right about now. As it was I just did what I could with my carbine and revolvers, saving my shotgun for when they got thicker. The ice ponies had learned to keep further away for the threat of my lever action shotgun could tear them apart. I eventually realized they were waiting for me to run out of ammo before another amassed attack. They saw what I could do and wanted to stay back. I started running away, if I wasn't actually reducing their numbers than I had to escape. If I was actually reducing their numbers they would be wary to follow. I could catch a break and rest letting my horn relax and my magical pathways recover.

Except, I couldn't keep running. If I did keep going I would run into Colt with an army of frozen ponies on my tail that would kill every pony in town. So that was it huh? So how do we take care of them? I heard a gunshot and saw another ice pony shatter I turned to see a familiar mare. She was not the one I had expected to see.

“Ruby?! Why the fuck are you out here! You fucking idiot get back to Colt before what the everloving fuck is out here kills you!” I shouted at her. The smile on her face vanishing as I opened up on a few more ice ponies before rushing up to her.

“What in the name of Celestia are you fighting?!” She cried out firing another shot from her forty four revolver.

“Ice ponies!” I shouted over the rattle of my rifle. “Honestly I don't know why they are, they just are!”

We heard the roar echo out across the valley. Ruby turned to me fear clearly in her eyes.

“Don't know what that is either, think it might be a dragon.” I said, she gulped. “What, it is busy fighting the Goddess' alicorns, no need to worry about it at the moment.”

She simply looked more dumbfounded. Had I some how gotten to experience things that she had never seen or imagined? Reminder Moonlight, you had sentient goo try to eat you about a week ago, yeah your experiences have been a bit on the unique side of things. Wait, if the dragon was here maybe it was tied to the ice ponies. SO just kill him and they would go away. If not, wait did I honestly just so off offhandedly say that I was going to kill a dragon on the off chance it is causing this? Moonlight you are not that awesome, it is a FUCKING DRAGON!

Ruby had been cowering away from the unholy things that we were fighting. I continued firing at them with impunity, they were nothing but a pest at the moment. Without them diving at me or getting close enough to get their icy grip on me I was fine.

“Moonlight, what the fuck do we do here. Is that honestly a dragon?!” She cried out as a ice blue glow emerged from the fog. The thing was outlined by electric blue white lines. It was equine in nature as it roared. I saw a alicorn drop from the sky coated in ice and shatter upon hitting the ground.

“No, that isn't a dragon, and honestly I don't know the fuck what it is.” I said finding myself shaking.

Ruby was long gone when I turned to look at her. The magical equine was floating above the battlefield as more of the ice ponies showed up. I fired a few rounds up into it to watch as they did nothing to it.

“Well... Buck me, guns did nothing to it.” I sighed as a wave of ice ponies came at me, I sprayed rounds into them watching them shatter.

The equine whinnied almost in delight. I ran to the north while it did. I got about five seconds of movement before it began to chase after with its army of ice ponies.

“That is right, follow me you fucking ice MONSTER!” I called out over the snowy silence.

I was too close to Colt to head towards it. I was not leading this thing to more ponies. I was going to lead it away or kill it. I really hoped I figured out a way to do the second because I did not feel like becoming a pony popsicle tonight.

From time to time I gained enough ground that I could turn and fire a few rounds behind me. Whenever I did I saw a horrifying grin on the face of the monster chasing me. The thing delighted in this, maybe it delighted in causing terror in a ponies heart. I fired a few more rounds into it and watched it knicker at my futile attempts to harm it.

“Yep still no idea of how to kill the damn thing.” I sighed to the winter night.

I did notice that it seemed to be running short on its army. That was a relief though I figured once I was through with them I would be dealing directly with a enemy that I had no way to hurt.

I turned my head around and saw that I was running into the face of a cliff. I didn't stop in time and ran into it. Time felt messy for the bit that it took for me to sort myself out and got upright again. Now I was surrounded by a wall of ice.

‘I’m caged, great.’ I thought to myself. I sighed. “Well maybe being a pony popsicle wouldn't be so bad…”

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. Adrenaline made my body want to run, my brain wanted me to think and figure out what to do next, my horn wanted to invert itself and kill me. I kept breathing deeply as the thing fucking laughed at me. This was not a good thing. I needed something besides bullets or rockets. I threw a fire spell at it, the way it reacted was good, well good for me not it. I smiled and did it again and felt my head explode in pain. I fell over disorientated from a bright flash as my horn burned again. I looked up and saw the metal of the helmet had warped and ripped open around my horn. My horn itself had warped and curved slightly, the bands on it had faded only showing slightly by the base. It was glowing a faint red like heated metal. The steam hissing off of it told me what I needed to know. I was about to burn out and I still needed to kill this thing.

The thing above me had retreated and my ice cage had shattered. I leapt the boundaries and started east. I was well to the north of Colt at the moment. I knew I needed shelter, I needed to let my horn recover again. But, every second I was recovering that thing could find Colt and attack it, it also was probably recovering. My luck seemed to be in my favor tonight as I found a raider camp. The bullet that ripped off the remains of my helmet told me my luck was still my luck. I pulled out my lever action shotgun and assault carbine. Time to be quick and efficient, and I was. Half frozen, half starved raiders were easy to kill. I went to looting the camp as quickly as I could with my hooves. I found a shotgun sawed-off shotgun and a number of Dragon's Breath rounds. Fire, fire was my best friend this winter.

I carried the poor condition shotgun in my mouth. At some point I would really need to get myself a better twelve gauge shotgun. The fact that there were both fire spewing rounds and flechette round for it was quite exciting in ways that it shouldn't be. I laid down near the only fire in the camp and examined the remains of my helmet. The horn protector had melted and torn. The rest of the helmet had been pulled apart by a bullet. There was no salvaging the thing. It had done its job for long enough and saved my life and my horn for a long time. I placed it in my saddlebags, it had earned a well deserved rest since the day I got it in Saint Clover.

I checked the time after I ate and recovered a bit. It was now eight in the evening. I had four hours before midnight, and if it did get that late my body would probably be wanting to make me pass out. Sleeping in this situation was not an option as much as I hated it. I fished out one of the chems I had. No-doze, it was pretty much just a pill of caffeine, I took two. A few minutes after downing them my body reacted to them. I felt every bit of exhaustion to seep away from my thoughts. I checked what other chems I had. I had a few inhalers of Dash, something called Stampede, and lastly was a tin of Mint-Al's. I put all, but, the Dash away. Dash was meant to make you go faster, subjectively the world slowed, to everypony else you accelerated.

I rubbed a hoof on my horn. It was still warm, but, it wasn't feeling like it was going to melt into my skull and boil my brain in liquid bone. Okay, lets make a plan. It didn't like fire, it commanded ice. So I needed more fire. I shifted slightly and felt the flamer fuel containers in my saddlebags shift. Okay so I have a source a fair bit of fire, and, while what I was fighting was intelligent it probably didn't know what was in it. Now though I needed to rest some more. So far I hadn't heard its roar again and the air hadn't had any dramatic cooling.

I saw red bars start to appear on my E.F.S. and I drew my revolvers again and moved away from the light of the fire. I saw them, more raiders returning to the camp. They had a few captives with them. Just shackles on them, no bomb collars. Good I could take care of the raiders and free the captives. While Colt wasn't the best place it was closest. I let the raiders move into the camp, then I saw them.

“Fuck, more ice ponies” I whispered to myself a little too loudly.

“Who the fuck said that!” I heard one of the bucks call out.

Well shit, time for a two front battle. I fired the first round at the closest raider not aiming to hit him. I was going to lead them away from the captives first. The shot gave away my position and I heard a shotgun discharge. It wasn't at me, they just killed one of the captives. For Celestia's sake.

“Damn it Slug don't shoot the meat!” Cried out one of the raiders. I took aim for the one who had fired at the captives and hit S.A.T.S. and fired two rounds into his flank. The bullets passed through him making him cry out in pain. It was not a mortal injury as my pistols still were loaded with armor piercing rounds to use against the ice ponies. He dropped his shotgun and I moved off towards where the ice ponies were. As I did the raiders completely forgot about the captives and chased after me.

“Get back here you bitch!” One of them cried out to me.

“Oh fuck they have back up!” Said another one as the ice ponies glided into their view.

Goddesses that will never not be creepy as fuck. I jumped over one as it reached for me and fired point blank with my shotgun that I had rigged under my coat so its flaps hid it from view.

The slug shattered it.

“The fuck are those things!” Cried another as they shot it with a ten millimeter pistol. The ice pony responded with backing off slightly as the other undamaged ones advanced.

While the bulk of the ice ponies focused on the raiders I had another issue, I had landed amidst a pack of them and was now having to pour out shot after shot to keep them back. I heard the cry of some pony in agony and while backing out the path through the shattered remains I of ice ponies saw one of the raiders head get consumed in ice. They were learning, shit. I drew the rocket launcher and fired it into the patch nearing the rest of the raiders who were fighting in a tight knot. Smart, combining your fields of fire. The explosion of the rocket shattered the thicket of amassed ice ponies and shook the raiders.

I felt cold seep through me as well as pain as something hit me in my ribs. I turned to see a lance of ice pinning me to the ground going through my left side and my lung. Fuck. I turned to see the return of the ice spirit as more lances of ice floated about it. I lashed out with my fire spell freeing me from the ice pinning me. I winced as my horn obeyed my command but reminded me of its situation. I then let my spell fail and pulled up my shield and began retreating towards the raiders. I would use them as cannon fodder. Except that wasn't happening. Upon seeing my course it speared all the other living ponies on the field. Dead, that fast.

“Okay fine, lets do this you spirit of winter.” I shouted as I pulled out the flamer fuel canisters and chucked one with my magic at the spirit.

As it reached it the thing began to laugh once more, then I slipped into S.A.T.S. and fired a round right into the canister and watched it explode. The spirit made a hasty retreat from the flames. The ice ponies around me started to glide at me and I opened up with the lever action shotgun. I cursed as I realized there were too many. I yanked out the double barreled shotgun and fired two dragon's breath rounds into the crowd. The ice ponies cracked and melted where the flames hit them. I reloaded the carbine and began firing into them.

The sound of creaking ice filled the night air. More were coming to the camp now. I was surrounded. I had managed to free the two remaining captives and get them well on their way before the ice ponies returned. Now I was running low on ammo, all of my guns were getting close to failing beyond the rocket launcher I had. I couldn't take the time to repair them as whenever I did break out a kit to work on one of my guns a wave of ice ponies would charge. They were wearing me down. They were winning. I had taken another dose of No-Doze, it wasn't as effective this time. Soon either my guns would break or I would fall asleep. Both cases would lead to my death.

I glowered as I saw the return of the ice spirit. The thing kept in the distance, just close enough for me to see its electric blue outline. It wasn't taking any chances, but, I had hurt it and it was not going to let me live for that. I gave a long loud sigh as I stood up. The ice ponies around me I saw turn into a barrier sealing me into the raider camp with a fifteen foot tall wall of solid ice. I imagined I probably could crack through it with a rocket or two. The ice spirit drew closer as I finished sorting my inventory to lay the canisters of fuel at the top of my saddlebags. It stopped outside of the wall of the ice barrier. It stomped its hooves on the ground and I watched as ice spread out towards me. I jumped over the oncoming ice as the entire camp was frozen over. Even the fire was killed. Darkness flooded our arena. It whinnied again and I turned on my monocular. The air had gotten too cold for snow to fall anymore and now as thick icy fog was hanging over the whole place.

I kept E.F.S. up and saw the blotch of red that symbolized the spirit move to my left, I turned as fast as I could and found myself sliding on the ice. It had turned the ground to ice not only as a gambit to catch me if I was tired enough, but, to give it a tactical advantage of making it harder for me to move. I hate fighting clever enemies. Maybe I didn't hate them, more of I disliked the prospect of a fight I could lose. But, then again every fight one could easily lose through bad luck.

I gave a laugh. “you can't have it both ways Moonlight, get used to things not always being completely in your favor.”

I saw the spirit emerge from the fog and smash its fore hooves into the ice. A line of spikes started to rise from where it hit going directly at where I was standing. I rolled to the side and slide further out of the path of the spikes. They remained in place blocking off a third of the arena. Great, I was losing ground for my fight. I fired my lever action shotgun at the ice spikes and watched as a narrow passage opened up for me. Better than nothing. I turned my head as I heard a unearthly roar. I saw what only could be described as a massive snow ball being flung at me from the things mouth.

I rolled away again and tossed a canister at it firing as it reached it's muzzle. The explosion sent it reeling away again with screams of pain. The snowball impacted the ground where I had been standing and I felt a wave of cold press over me. I tried to move and saw a thin layer of ice had formed around me. I struggled as the ice melted from my body heat, the cracks grew larger until I managed to escape my icy prison. As I stood back up breathing hard I saw my foe had returned this time with an array of floating ice surrounding it. I would have to break its defenses before another canister could get close enough to hurt it.

I continued to dodge its attacks, again and again firing off rounds from my revolvers trying to break open a hole in it's defense. Unfortunately it regenerated them before I could get a hole big enough to toss a canister in through. I also was getting badly cut on my face where my goggles had shattered once again and my respirator had been torn off. Thankfully the scarf had protected my throat from any major lacerations. I drank down a healing potion as the spirit moved off again to reform it's shield. Then I felt a sharp wind pick up behind me and begun to turn to see it had forgone its defensive barrier.

The wind was strong enough that I was sliding across the arena. I tried to move against it, but, barring the use of my feeble magical reserves I couldn't fight it. I turned to see that it was pushing me rapidly into a wall of newly formed ice spikes on the wall of our arena. So that was the plan, impale me. I turned and pulled out the rocket launcher as I tossed three fuel containers at it they arched over the cone of wind that it was blowing at me and I hit S.A.T.S. and took aim for them with the rocket launcher. I fired and watched as the rocket fought the winds and struck one of the containers. The ensuing explosion sent the spirit toppling to the ground.

Unfortunately I couldn't deal the final blow as it landed outside of our little arena and I still had the issue of I was sliding towards the wall of ice spikes. I turned around and fired another rocket into the wall. The spikes shattered, the wall held, I was knocked on my ass from firing it while holding it in my mouth. I knew these things were meant for battle saddles, but, I hadn't had the time to rig one like I had for my shotgun. I got to my hooves and saw the spirit rise, it wasn't bleeding, but, it looked hurt from the fact that it looked like electric blue snowflakes rose off of where what appeared to be wounds were. I grinned as my own wounds closed up, I can kill it then.

It stomped hard on the ice and the entire floor began to become spikes of ice. I pushed myself off the ice and fired straight down with the rocket launcher, this time making certain to have a good hold of it in my magic and mouth. The rocket streaked down and hit the ice. But, that wasn't my real target, I flipped through the air and pushed all my remaining magic into one fire spell after letting go of myself from the telekinetic field I had used to send myself at the ice spirit. I felt something cold smash into my side hitting one of the ceramic plates of my armor. I felt the impact, but, the plate did not chill quickly. I let loose the fire spell and watched as the ice spirit was torn apart.

I landed in the snow some distance away after flipping end over end. I hadn't really put much effort into stabilizing my jump. As such I got a nice face full of snow. I pulled myself out of the snow bank I had landed it and sat on my haunches as I watched the spirit of winter's body disintegrate into motes of electric blue light and fade away. I heard snow crunch next to me and turned to see Ruby, her face was agape at the sight. She just stood there as we watched the lights one by one fade out of existence. I finally felt like standing again and pushed myself to my hooves.

“Hey Ruby.” I simply said as I touched my horn and pulled my hoof away immediately as I felt the coat around my hoof singe.

“Moonlight, what in names of the princesses just happened.” She asked still standing there though now with her mouth closed.

“I killed the spirit of winter. Or whatever the hell that thing was properly called.” I simply said as I stretched my very aching and brutalized body.

“You are one hell of a mare you know that?” She said finally having broken out of her stupor as she took me in and regarded me in a new light.

“I am starting to get the impression that I am.” I said with a smile as I slung the rocket launcher back against my sleeping bag.

“Come on, Rose is waiting for you. Think after that you deserve a good break.” Ruby said with a knowing look in her eye.

“I don't think that quiet counts as a break, but, it is better than the past... goddesses how long has it been since Oakmare?” I asked as we turned heading south east.

We encountered no further ice ponies and from how the arena had shattered once the last motes of light had vanished I figured they had been tied to whatever it was I had killed. After a few minutes of walking in silence my curiosity returned to me and I turned to Ruby.

“So what happened after Oakmare?” I asked her as we continued to walk through a valley.

“Well after you vanished Rose was out of all sorts. Aegis had his suspicions about the gryphons and was able to convince her that you were still alive. After that we started getting ready to head up to Colt when he offered us a mighty hefty contract to help him move up to Colt.” She shook some snow from her mane. “We took it and a lot of others came with us, hell of a caravan.”

I nodded, “So why didn't you guys head north afterwards?” I asked.

“Well there were a few reasons why. First, winter was coming, and we had started to get the first snows in the mountains. New Appleloosa doesn't like to run trains once the snow starts coming down. Second, most of my guards are good friends of Aegis and had requested leave while they helped him set up shop in Colt. Third, had to go visit Dad.”

I was confused on that last one, she took notice of my obvious confusion. Guess I wasn't used to being around anypony anymore, so I just wore every emotion on my sleeve.

“Things been stirring up while you were away in the north, and you are particularly to blame it seems for it. Oakmare is securely in Red Eye's hooves, Slate is beginning to do something, many think he is planning to move directly into Seamane.” Ruby gave out a sigh and shook her head again, though this time not to get snow out of her mane.

“Well I guess at very least having won the battle of Oakmare the way we did allowed a lot more to get out before Red Eye had time to consolidate control.” I said now seeing the distant shadows that marked the buildings of Colt.

“Yep, Helgrim showed up three days after the fight and started organizing 'reconstruction' which was mostly organizing everypony who wasn't already leaving into chain gangs. As of right now nopony I know is getting within ten miles of Oakmare.” She saw the lights of Colt in the distance then fished out a small silver gun. “Told 'em I would do this when I returned with you.”

 She then fired the gun into the air and I watched as a flare rose into the sky and hung high above us. I saw a matching flare a few moments later rise from Colt.

“Guessing it is a good thing I cleared up the roads around Dune City when I did then.” I said, though if Slate was moving into Seamane proper that wouldn't have done much good. The scavengers would be without sites to loot without significant resistance from the raider army. That would cut off pretty much the whole reason why anypony stuck around in this region. I gave a long sigh.

“You're right, it is just a matter of time until this blows up. More and more fights have broken out between slavers and raiders. Red Eye's group seems to be a bit upset at the state of things.” She said as I shivered slightly from the cold.

It was quiet for the next few minutes that we walked, we were still a ways away from the town. Well for now all I could do is what Homage told me to do. Reactivate the remaining towers in the region. From there she would be able to broadcast any major movements by either Red Eye or Slate within the region. So I resolved myself to rest up a few days in Colt before heading east into the Unbound. With the colder weather I figured the Cazadors would be a far smaller threat. Insects tended to dislike the cold.

“Hey Ruby, do you think you know anypony who would want to go with me into the unbound?” I asked, she tilted her head in thought.

Most I would assume to think that a suicide of sorts with the monstrosities that were reportedly up there. A whole ecosystem developed around being tougher and nastier than anything else. As far as anypony knew in the past few years the Cazadors sat at the top of the food chain out there. I doubted I could pay for guards to come along with me even with my caps. What use is caps if you are dead? Hay, I don't think there was a pony so stupid they wouldn't see the danger. That or stupid and loyal to the contract to not break it the moment they saw giant fucking wasps flying at them.

“Maybe, probably want to talk to Aegis himself. I think he has been wanting somepony to go out there for ages. If anything at least he will give you a discount on armor and ammo for going out there for him.” She said straightening out her neck.

“Well that will have to wait, I am going go nowhere for the next week.” I said with a smile on my face.

“Good, because I think Rose was planning on tying you down if you tried to leave before she wanted you to.” Ruby said with a grin.

“She also would tie me down until I let her come with me. Though, I have no intention of leaving her behind this time. Hay, I didn't have any intention of doing so last time. Still though, should be a bit easier to not get dragged away to Fillydelphia this time.” I said with a snort.

“Is everything you said to DJ Pon3 true about that trip of yours. Being taken captive and forced to march all the way from Oakmare to Fillydelphia by that gryphon?”

“At first I was captive, then I broke out. We both got rather hurt and he wanted caps for my hide. Hay, with how things went once we got to Fillydelphia I think he did get his caps.” Had Bryn sold me out? Honestly now that I thought about it he probably did. While yes the green alicorns could read minds I doubted he wouldn't have taken the chance to make some caps. I shook my head, no use trying to figure out what happened then. In any case he would be back on contract with Helgrim which meant even if he was 'friendly' towards me I couldn't expect him not to do his best to catch me again. Or kill me which I found more likely at this point.

I saw the form of a pony ahead of us, though far taller than a pony had right being. Then I noticed its long horn. I pushed past Ruby putting myself between her and what I quickly assumed to be another alicorn. I drew my laser rifle as we approached. As we got closer I saw that she was frozen.

'You...' I heard ring in my head. She was still some how alive, or at least intact enough for the Goddess to use as a conduit.

'Yes, it is me. What do you want the great and oh so frozen Goddess?' I thought in my mind. Clearly it was a green alicorn and I didn't want to involve Ruby in this strangeness.

'Your worry for your friend is unfounded. We only seek out you tonight.'

'And why is that?'

'Simple you fool, you defeated a Wendigo which was drawn to you, Bringer of Strife.'

I smiled at the title the self proclaimed Goddess had given me.

'Do not think it means we honor you, no we seek your destruction. We simply seek to give you one last chance to surrender to us before we forcefully take you to be one with us.'

“Here is your answer from the Bringer of Strife, the Ranger of Seamane.” I said aloud and fired the laser rifle into the frozen alicorn. She melted with the ice.

'So it shall be.' I heard echo in my mind.

“Uh, what the hay just happened?” Ruby said looking at the remains of the alicorn.

“That is, well, was alicorn, a member of the Goddess' unity. The Goddess is not either Luna or Celestia, she is an evil being. She is also not quite so great and powerful as she believes. I also have another faction of ponies wanting me just strait up dead now.” I said with a frown as I walked through the remains. “Come on, I want to get out of the cold before I get sick again.”

With that we walked into town after another half an hour of silent walking. Once in town I fell behind Ruby as she guided me down the streets. Nopony was out this late and I checked the time to see it had passed midnight. I felt a pang of guilt at the fact that I had missed Hearths Warming Eve. No matter, it was the fact that I tried that would matter to her, right? We entered a part of Colt marked Old Town. I figured this name was due to all the buildings here were of a distinctly Appleloosan style. I saw Ruby's signature carriage parked on the roof of one building, well no a wooden sign made to look like it over the building that sat at the intersection of two roads within old town. There was a warm yellow light coming from the windows. In the light I saw somepony standing as we walked up the street.

Ruby had gotten far ahead of me and was pushing past the pony standing there waiting for me. With the light that came in from the door opening I could make her out. It was Rose, my Rose. She had been standing there waiting for me. I smiled and walked up to her feeling all the cold in me running out. My sight blurred as I waked up on to the porch with her, my hoof steps resounding on the wooden walkway. I nuzzled her and sat on my haunches as she wrapped her forelegs around me.

“Hey.” I simply said in a quiet as we embraced.

“Hi.” She simply replied in the same quiet voice.

“Sorry I missed Hearths Warming Eve.” I said as I gave her another nuzzle below her jaw.

“Check the time again.” She said, her silvery voice full of warmth and love.

I checked the time again and saw the date. Today was Hearths Warming Eve. I started to laugh happily and Rose joined in with me. I had made it into town at twelve thirty six in the night. Hearths Warming Eve had only been going for a little over half an hour. I turned my gaze up to her and kissed her on her muzzle. With me being the shorter of the two of us it meant her having to bend down slightly and me to stretch my neck for our lips to meet.

“We should get inside before we both freeze.” Rose said as she broke our kiss. I nodded and followed her inside. Within sat a meal ready for the two of us, I noticed everypony else had vacated the place. I heard the radio playing quietly in the background. Our meal was set on a table before a sofa. I made it three feet into the building before falling over. I wasn't tired, or crippled, I simply slide on the wet floor. I laughed and just started to take off my heavy load. Rose raised an eyebrow, but, then simply laid down on the sofa and waited for me.

After slipping out of my gear I joined Rose on the sofa in front of the fireplace enjoying the heat washing over me as my stuff dried next to it. I took in what was to be our meal. What we had was some berries, fruits, and vegetables. I noticed all of them seemed to be rather fresh. I turned to ask Rose to instead get a cherry in the mouth. I blushed at the sudden intrusion of my mouth. I tasted the cherry and enjoyed the flavor. This was not preserved, this was something grown recently. I blinked as I swallowed.

“You owe me,” she purred at me her voice far richer than I remember it being.

I simply nodded, I owed her everything right now and I was willing for her to take whatever it was that would be the price. Then the DJ Pon3 came on the radio we both stopped and listened.

“Alright kiddo's I have a early, and I mean really early gift for all of my faithful listeners. A few minutes ago our Ranger of Seamane made it to Colt alive and safe. She, right now I am fairly certain, is enjoying a meal with her marefriend. As such I want to thank both of them. Thank you two for your help in restoring my broadcast to the south. I know you still got a few more to take care of, but, everyone you turn on is a amazing thing to me. So thank you, and to all my new listeners around Colt. The Ranger of Seamane is not a pony to be trifled with. She took on a force of nature tonight and slayed the Wendigo that had set itself up on top of the Canterlot Ruins. So for all you folks wondering why this winter was so much worse there you go. As we know from folklore...”

We tuned the DJ out as Rose began to feed me again. I didn't resist, I just laid my head against her just now realizing how much cleaner and fuller her coat was. She felt like she had filled out a little with more muscle while I had been away. The rest of the night was a blur to me as we caught up and enjoyed ourselves for the first time in weeks. I forgot the horrible world we lived in, I forgot about Red Eye, Slate, Bryn, Helgrim, the Goddess. All there was for me was Rose, and I was never happier in my life than in that moment to spend the late hours of the evening with the one I loved on Hearths Warming Eve.

Footnote: Level Up!

New Perk Added: Strong Back: Your back and legs are stronger than ever, thus you can carry fifty more pounds than before without problem. This also means you can in a burst of strength probably move a lot more without the aid of your magic.

Quest Perk Added: Pyromancy (rank one): You now have the base understanding of fire elemental spells. Any fire you use or make now burns twenty percent brighter and is the same color as your magic, which is awesome. In addition any fire based weapons or magic costs twenty percent less in S.A.T.S.