Fallout Equestria: The Ranger of Seamane

Chapter 18: Mind The Hoof

“Why did you do that?” - Everyone at some point in their life.

        I should have realized going further north would mean colder weather and more snow. As it was I hadn't expected the amount of snow that I saw as we entered the valley that Hoofington sat within.

        “How often does it rain in Hoofington, because this is insane.” I bemoaned.

        “I think you count the number of days it doesn't rain in the hoof over the number it does.” Ruby chuckled.

        “This place must practically be underwater during what the rest of Equestria calls the rainy season.” I replied as I followed the rest of the group. The snow was annoyingly thick and I was certain our hooves weren't actually touching ground, we just couldn't sink any deeper due to the snow had compacted to the point it could support us.

        “Well look at it this way, most ponies won't be out in this weather so we should be fine. Well so long as we don't get spotted by one of the gangs.” Ruby called back in a tone more jovial than I wanted to hear.

        “Whatever, lets just find someplace to warm up in soon, there is only so much clothing can do.” Rose interjected, it was good to hear I wasn't the only one being chilled to the bone and frustrated with all this snow.

        “Foresight, start looking for a place that we can hold up in. Rather not sit somewhere that puts us at a disadvantage if we are attacked.” Ruby called out to Foresight who was at the end of the block already. Somehow he could move through the snow like it wasn't even there. I saw him raise his hoof and give a sign I had come to know as “Okay” from him.

        I sat down in the snow and looked around us. We had made decent time from Manehattan and barring a few encounters with Gryphons and bounty hunters things had been quiet. I was rather happy for that. Now though I felt like we were walking along a ledge and it made me uncomfortable. The creeping sensation of something was near or something should happen soon reminded me of Stable twenty three once again. Thankfully there was no single note scream clawing at my mind, yet.

        “Hoofington sucks, you know that Ruby?” I said aloud as I stood back up as Foresight showed up at the corner and motioned for us to come to him.

        “Yeah, I am well aware of that fact Moonlight. But, there are a lot of caps to be had and you said you needed caps and guns so here we are.” Ruby shrugged as we reached the end of the block.

        “We have two blocks until there is a shop I believe we can hold up in. If nopony minds the fact that it is a abandoned adult store.” Foresight explained without a hint of joke in his voice.

        “Don't mind, lets just get there and out of this blasted cold, I think I have ice in my fetlocks.” I grumbled shaking the snow stuck to my boots off. He nodded and began to guide us. I kept in back as I had for most of the trip.

        When we got into the store, I saw he hadn't been joking about the adult aspect of the store, the place had been abandoned, but, untouched. Guessed when Hoofington fell nopony decided to loot the adult stores. Or maybe the looting hadn't been allowed to go on for that long because of whatever killed everypony. Which that was something that had been bugging me. There were few indications that the city had even got touched by the war once we had gotten within it. It worried me that the city hadn't survived in population, but, did physically. I wondered if perhaps some sort of shield had protected the city from majority of the megaspells after everypony evacuated, it would explain the lack of ability for the city to keep going if everypony who lived here had died. I gave out a sigh, something to look up when I had some free time to question those who lived here.

        “Alright, everypony, relax for the next hour, then we are off again, we should make it to Flank if we keep up our pace. Once there we will hit up Stable Sixty Nine, I can't think of a warmer place other than a Burner Boys camp.” Ruby commented before finding a barrel to set fire to to help heat the building.

        Rose on the other hoof was going shopping it looked like. I did my best to not pay attention to it. I just curled up next to the burning barrel once Ruby got it started and pulled off my boots so I could dry both my hooves and the inside of them before we left again. I closed my eyes and laid my head on my forelegs as I listened to the fire crackles next to me.

        I cracked open my eyes to see that more than just an hour has passed by, the fire was still going and there wasn't any indication of my companions having turned into smooze. I did notice more individual blue bars in my Eyes Forward Sparkle. That couldn't be something good for us, though, the lack of red meant at least for now nopony wanted me specifically dead. The lack of screams, war cries, or weapons fire meant that nopony had started fighting either. So, that was a good thing too.

        I let out a yawn to indicate my awaking and opened my eyes further to take in the situation. There were a good number of stallions now occupying our camp, all of them seeming to carry something explosive or fire related. One looked at me as I yawned then resumed warming up paying me no further attention. That told me a lot, they were welcome guests and I was, at least for now, not a threat or prisoner.

        I pushed myself up right feeling dry and warm for the first time in days and pulled out my canteen for a drink. As I looked around more I noticed a few ponies talking to Ruby and Foresight. I turned my gaze around the rest of the shop to see Rose sitting behind the register of the shop watching the group. I pulled on what I had taken off and joined her. She seemed to be relaxed, but, I could tell from my own lingering paranoia that she was also slightly on edge.

        “How long have they been here Rose?” I asked Rose keeping my voice down as I sat and began to eat a snack cake.

        “They showed up about an hour after you fell asleep. Apparently we are on their turf, but, they seem to know it is a good idea to not attack caravans, even if part of it is asleep.” Rose joked, I gave a soft laugh to it.

        “Alright, so what is the deal for us. They going to keep us from going when we are ready or are they coming with?” I asked after finishing the snake cake in probably a unhealthily short period of time.

        Rose frowned, “you would have to ask Ruby, nopony has really told me anything.”

        Once again, we were on the outside of the loop of information. I heard the purr of cards in my mind as I saw us once again in another game that I didn't know all the rules for and the cards were dealt.

        “In that case we wait, if Ruby has yet to tell us there is a reason. Us sticking our noses where they don't belong won't get us anywhere or earn any friends.” I muttered before looking for something more substantial to eat in my pack.

        As it was Foresight was the one to come get us. I didn't ask any questions and Rose seemed to be trusting my judgment of the situation as we moved out. The gang stayed in the store as we left and headed out to Flank. Like Ruby had said it wouldn't take much time to get to it. However I wasn't expecting what I saw. The place was rather run down, it looked like one hell hole of a drug den and only really had a few buildings and a chain link fence to guard it. As we entered Stable Sixty Nine I noticed the the six had once been a eight, but, was painted over. Once inside I knew why it had been, the place was a brothel for the most part.

        “Ruby, you certainly bring us to the most interesting places.” I commented as Rose and I were given the key to our room.

        “Figured a place like this would be like a second home for you two.” Ruby countered wearing that smirk of hers.

        “While we enjoy each other, we don't particularly indulge in others.” I said pointing my nose in the air as I walked away, fighting the urge to laugh.

        Even with the nature of the stable, it was still a stable, which started to get to me while we walked to our room. My creeping worry was constantly countered by the various sounds of ponies enjoying life and forgetting the world around them. Still, once we got to our room I was very happy to strip off my gear and splash water across my face and stare into the mostly intact mirror in our bathroom.

        “You alright Moonlight?” Asked Rose from the other side of the door.

        I shook my head to help with centering my thoughts again and clamp down on my paranoia.

        “Sorry, just, since we got here I have been more on edge. I am not certain if it is the ambient enervation that they mentioned or being in a stable again is doing it. Maybe it is that we are in a stable that has enervation, just like twenty three.” I said as I opened the door to a worried Rose.

        “Is it just that, or did what say Ruby get to you? I can understand if it did, or being around ponies enjoying each other so much is bringing back bad memories.” Rose said as she embraced me.

        I stopped and wondered about that, I had thought I would react badly to comments about what had happened back in Manehattan, as it was, it didn't really bother me. If I still had emotional landmines over what happened, apparently they had not been triggered by the stimuli here. Which boded well for me.

        “No, even thinking about it right now it doesn't seem to be the issue. I mean, yeah it hurts thinking about what happened, but, I guess none of this seems to have triggered any response from me. From what Helping Hoof said though it might be more of when I get in a situation where I perceive a lack of control that I might have an issue.” I stated then rested my head on Rose's back.

        “Well, if anything does, just let me know. I am here for you no matter the situation, understand?” Rose whispered into my ear.

        “Crystal clear, now then, I wouldn't mind warming up and getting some good restful sleep now that we aren't sleeping outside again.” I said as I lifted my head back up and stared Rose in the eyes, she smiled.

        The next morning I was finally feeling far more relaxed than when we had left Tenpony. The constant worry about gryphons swooping in and flying away with me or blowing us away hadn't left me in the most rested state. Once within the hoof my worry over enervation had kept me on edge as well as my well trained wasteland paranoia hating the many corners and places to hide within the ruins of the city. I really didn't want to get up today, it felt too good to be snuggled up with Rose again without armor or cold between us. I buried my muzzle into Rose's coat as I let my thoughts wander.

        I laughed quietly realizing how long ago I hadn't ever thought I would manage to make it this far north. Hay, I never really thought I would go to Manehattan until a bit over a month and a half ago. Though now I was not as naïve as I was back then. Though, thinking about it again, I was still brash. I weighed things more than I did then, I knew how quickly a fight could go against me and just how quickly I could be hanging onto my life by a thread. I also knew now that there were just times that no matter how much you wanted to change the situation you just had to fold and accept things had gone against you. Still though, in the end I was still free and alive. I smiled and planted a soft kiss on Rose's neck as thanks for rescuing me. All in all I was still pretty lucky to not be dead, though I knew some of that luck had been self made.

        As much as I wanted to continue laying in that warm and soft bed with Rose my body wanted to move and I wasn't going to neglect it. I had learned that doing what my impulses told me to do worked reasonably well when in my down time. I did put on my barding and coat first, as I left I remembered to pull on this and that gun and my bag of caps. While Flank was a safer place, it was just that, safer, not safe, so for a pony with a price on her head it was a bad idea not to carry some weapons. One thing Rose and I had done was split our caps four ways, both of us had a small bag of caps on hoof for if we wanted to buy something small or cheap, then we had the majority of our caps in the other two bags held by both of us and stored deep within our saddlebags instead of in a pouch or string.

        Upon exiting the stable I wandered through what little of a market there was in Flank. As I had thought upon first seeing the town it was mostly a drug den. There was fresh food from someponies representing the Society here as well. Frowning at the fresh food I decided it was best to ask them how they managed.

        “I for one can honestly say it has been a long time since I saw fresh food in the wasteland. How do you ponies do it?” I asked as I bought some of the food and took a bite of one of them.

        “Not from the hoof are you? Well it isn't that difficult to explain. We of the Society have some clean and fertile soil as well as a lot of willing workers. It isn't easy, but, we have managed to slowly build up a reasonable crop. Though as you can tell by the price it is still rather limited, and, we must feed ourselves first before the rest of the wasteland.” Said the stallion running the stand, I nodded in agreement.

        “Quite impressive, I am surprised you haven't managed to rally more of the hoof to your side with the fact you can grow your own food. Then again I imagine it is hard to find places to expand to for growing more crops.” I said before taking another mouthful, while the stallion spoke in a more posh manner than I expected he didn't seem to mind the idle chatter or me eating while we talked.

        “Yes, we have had issue getting ponies to work for us, but, with the promise of protection, food, and shelter we have at very least managed to have enough ponies to keep things in the Society moving decently.” He replied.

        “Smart to offer up protection and a place to sleep in return for food. Must be a lot easier to manage the ponies working for you when they have a reason to keep working other than not dying. Honestly, don't understand why ponies ever expect slaves to be half decent workers. Give them something to work for other than freedom and you will keep the ones who will actually be useful over wasteful. After all you would want a workforce to excel at what they are doing not meet the bare minimum.” I suggested.

        “Well, that would be ideal, but, peasants don't generally want to excel they simply wish to do as little work as possible and gain as much as they can from our generosity.” He countered, and I raised my eyebrow at him.

        “Peasants? What do you in the Society think of yourselves as, royalty?” I asked as I put away the rest of the food.

        “Well yes, we are directly descended from the old rulers of Equestria, the wealthy elite who ran the nation with Celestia, and then Luna's blessings.” He stated puffing out his chest.

        “I see, well then, where are you ponies operating out of, sounds like a nice place to visit. Unlike say the Hoofington Sports Arena.” I asked, feeling a chance to have another place marked out on my pipbuck. Plus another place I could possibly run past to get enemies off my tail.

        “You have a pipbuck right?” He asked, I nodded and extended it to him, he quickly gave it the data for where their operation was located. “So long as you have your weapons holstered we will welcome any merchant who comes along.”

        “Thank you, I will keep you in mind next time I am planning a run in the hoof.” I said with a smile and giving a hoof shake to the stallion before moving on to examine what else was for sale.

        I found another curio stand, things seemed to be popular, then again why wouldn't odd curiosity items be popular in a world of ruin? Something other than guns and bullets or scrap materials was welcome. However, while picking through it most of the stuff was junk, as to be expected, but, it was uninteresting junk. Or maybe I just missed the point of curio shops. However I did feel something pull my attention to it. It was a simple piece of metal shaped into a odd series of curves and lines. As I touched the metal I felt something felt off about it, but, not in a unpleasant manner. I smiled and picked it up.

        “Hey how much for this bit of scrap metal?” I asked the shopkeeper.

        “Ten caps, don't ask me what it says, don't have a clue.” He said as I handed him the caps and continued to sort through the various junk. I saw things that a few months ago I would have been excited to see, a spritebot EFS system, Geiger counters, radios, digital time and date keepers. All of the parts to make the pipbuck zero. I smiled remembering leaving it with the Baroness back in Black Woods. I hoped it was serving her well and the pipbucks I gave them were helping them make it through the winter too.

        After a few more minutes of searching I found something of interest. A sword, though the blade of it looked charred it seemed to be in good condition, at very least it would look nice in my room back in Dune City.

        “What about this thing?” I called out to the shop keeper again, he blinked looking at it like he didn't even know he had it.

        “Well given how poor quality it is in, thirty caps, thing is probably best for sitting on a wall and looking pretty by now.” He said as I exchanged the caps in question to him, I set it across my back as we found it's scabbard before I left. I knew that it was always a good idea to search through the junk shops, who knows what interesting things one would find there. Just like how everything began, I gave a whimsical smile as I pranced back to the stable.

        Upon getting in I set to the bar, I hadn't gotten to really chat with anypony last night as all I wanted was a warm bed. As I sat down the barkeeper walked up to me.

        “Morning, so how are things going here in the Hoof?” I asked as I began to think of what to order, drinking something hard was out of the question, maybe she had something non alcoholic.

        “Alright, as ever the winter slows things down, I imagine it is the same where you are from.” She said offering up a shrug.

        “Got anything that isn't alcoholic. I told myself I would never drink before going out of town.” I said as I put down a few caps.

        “I might have a thing or two that might do. So what is such a armed and armored pony like you doing with Ruby?” She asked as she started to mix something.

        “Got hurt and needed to make use of the medical facilities up in Tenpony, decided we would make a trading run out of it to make up for the operation. Then decided to add a trip out to the Hoof so we could get me some bigger guns. Have some really nasty monsters down in Seamane that I want a big gun for dealing with. Giant fucking wasps, we call 'em Cazadors.” I explained and received a sympathetic look from the earth mare. “They are nastier than giant Radscorpians, they will just impale you over using their venom, if you do live, well you probably got venom in that wound and are going to bleed out.”

        “Well, I can see why you would come to Hoofington for that, I guess you would be going up to Mega Mart then?” She asked as she set a drink on the table, I eyed it before downing it in one go.

        That was a mistake, I managed to keep it down, but, the look on the peach mare's face was both of amusement and sympathy.

        “The fuck was that, oh goddesses what the fuck did I just drink?!” I cried as she gave me a bottle of water to wash my mouth with.

        “Sorry, a few ponies like that drink and it is meant to help with hangovers. Figured I would see if you liked it.” She apologized.

        “You know, for being the leader around here I could have taken that as an attempt to poison me so you could get the bounty on my head.” I said as I coughed a bit and glared back at her. “Caprice, if I remember what Ruby said, is your name and you are the sister of the other two who more or less run the Finders.”

        Caprice for her credit took my threat quite well.

        “Well, somepony did her homework. Yes I am who you say I am, no I wasn't trying to poison you or get any bounty on your head. I am okay with ponies selling their bodies, but, I am not okay with selling ponies. Now my sister, Usury, would be a problem.” Caprice said with the tiniest hint of a scowl.

        “Fair enough, thankfully her operation is not on the list of places to go. Also if nopony told you who I am yet, name is Moonlight, also known as the Lonely Ranger or the Ranger of Seamane thanks to DJ Pon3.” I said as my chest filled with pride as I offered a hoof to Caprice.

        “Ah, so you are the most exciting thing happening this season. Honestly been a while since somepony really stirred up things.” Caprice said shaking my hoof. “Here let me make you another drink on the house, I promise it isn't like the last one, nor is it alcoholic.”

        “Thanks.” I said as I finished the bottle of water Caprice had given me washing out the last of the rancid drink from my palette.

        “Here, I hope this is more to your liking, Moonlight.” Caprice said as she set down another drink. I grabbed it in my magic and sipped the drink, I found it sweet and fizzy. I drank it down slowly so I could enjoy the taste as long as possible.

        “I guess you enjoyed it didn't you?” Caprice practically purred.

        “Yes I did, now then, no trying to manipulate me, and I already have a marefriend that I crossed the entire Equestrian heartland for.” I said putting the glass down on the bar to a miffed looking Caprice, though the expression left her face a moment later.

        “You seem to be a bit more perceptive than most around here. Then again, I did make this place to be a drug and sex den.” Caprice said with another shrug, and a smile finding its place on her muzzle once more.

        “Quick question, do you have anything that needs to be taken up to Mega Mart? Because I have a bit of free space if there is any courier like jobs available at the moment.” I asked, it would never hurt to get more caps if it wasn't out of the way.

        “Sorry, right now pretty much everything is filled other than hunting down some computer file, but, that is a hunt all over the Hoof.” Caprice offered up with a shrug.

        “Eh, well it was a shot in the dark anyways. How much for another one of these drinks, because right now I'm just waiting on everypony else in my caravan to be ready to go.” I stated with the roll of a hoof looking back to the doorway that lead to the rooms. “That reminds me, how come you were fine with us sleeping here instead of in that apartment complex? Just slow business at the moment?”

        “Sure thing on the drink. As for you staying here, those rooms don't hold heat like they used to. Plus, like you said, it is winter, business is always slower during the winter.” Caprice said as she finished mixing me the sweet fizzy drink.

        “Thanks, how much for the drink? Also thank you for letting me chat with you so candidly. Some ponies back home who run towns are rather tight lipped, or stuck up.” I said as I took a sip of my drink.

        “Five caps, and I don't mind, mornings are generally dreadfully slow. Even worse when nopony wants to get up and go into the cold.” Caprice answered as she took the five caps I set on the bar.

        “You know, I would expect this city to be picked clean by now, well beyond the places where the enervation is worst. From the sounds of it though this place just keeps offering up salvage like somepony keeps restocking the whole city over night.” I commented as I took another sip. I was hoping maybe Caprice had noticed this oddity of Hoofington and might have some idea as to what kept this nightmare of a ruined city going.

        “I don't know, my father thinks something like Discord is playing a trick on us by shoving random stuff into desks and drawers across the wasteland. But, I know what you mean, vending machines mysteriously restocked, chemical plants seeming to have unending reserves to draw upon. It seems too good to be true, but, who knows maybe there is some massive automated system that keeps the city stocked up as it can. After all nopony goes into the tunnels underground, everything down there is a death trap.” Caprice mused.

        “I see, I think you might be more right, though considering what I find in desks at times maybe Discord is also involved. However, I do think something is keeping this place stocked. I also don't like the fact that enervation is primarily a thing found only in Hoofington.” I paused as a thought hit me. “Might I ask, but, is the enervation worse underground?”

        “Generally it is, but, most ponies flee from the tunnels well before that is much of a issue.” Caprice replied. “Why, you think it might be connected?”

        “Maybe, or maybe they just occupy the same space. After all there are nasty pockets of enervation on the surface, but, there aren't factories in said pockets of enervation.” I countered then sighed. “Whatever the case, it is for somepony else to figure out, I still need to work on keeping Red Eye and Slate from taking over my home and enslaving everypony.”

        “Everywhere it is the same isn't it. If it isn't raiders it is slavers, if it isn't either it is some want to be warlord, right?” Caprice asked, again with a look of sympathy in her eyes.

        “I guess, I just hope I can get a winning hand at the right moment in this game.” I muttered as a scowl found a place on my muzzle again. “There is something going on back home, alliances I don't know about, lots of information trading hooves as well as not being given to me. The other players in this game know I am there, yet I don't know all of them. They have their hands and are making wages on what is going to happen next. I am trying my best to call bluffs, to get new cards and a better hand. What can one pony do when faced with potentially several armies and a large number of mercenary bands?” I finished saying as I rested my head on the bar.

        “Sounds like you got yourself into a much bigger game than you thought. Keep your chin up, the fact that you are still free and alive is something in your favor, Moonlight. Maybe you don't know who all is playing and who is working with who, but, I bet a intelligent mare like you knows that caps go a long way to filling in those gaps of missing information.” Caprice told me, I smiled at her.

        “The wise bartender, I swear I have read that in several books before.” I laughed and returned to my drink.

        “You pick a few things up when being both the leader of a town of addicts and prostitutes as well as a bartender.” Caprice chuckled as I finished my drink.

        “I would imagine.” I mused as I felt a bit better about the situation I was in. I know I had told myself most of what she said to me before, but, somehow hearing somepony else say it to me made it more true.

        It was half an hour before everypony else showed up ready to go, during the time I had chatted a little more with Caprice about how things operated in Flank as well as having grabbed everything I was to carry. I still didn't understand how I could pack things so efficiently, but, it was nice to have nicely ordered bags. I also kept the sword out in case I needed to do some killing without the sound that This and That gun would make. I also noted that my pipbuck said the sword was in better condition than what the shopkeeper or I had thought, though it did need some love to restore it. I planned to get what I needed to fix it up when at Mega Mart, after all they would in all likelihood have what I needed beyond the whet stone I carried.

        With nothing more than a nod we moved out and I gave a wave to Caprice. We would be stopping here again on our way out of the Hoof, but, that was between two to four days away depending on what we came across on our trip to Mega Mart. At first I was confused as to why we weren't taking the main road north, then they told me that way lead to trouble. I immediately agreed to our diversion. While the snow slowed us we made decent time and only after a few hours of having to use my helmets built in night vision we had made it to Mega Mart. Ruby once again handled the hoof shakes to get us in and I followed her and Rose as we made our way to where we would sell off all the various things we had brought from Tenpony Tower.

        True to Ruby's words, I was practically swimming in caps. Well I wasn't because that would require both a tub to fill and a lot more caps. Still though, I was delighted when I was given my share of the caps. Though the excitement was quickly curbed when I realized that I needed sleep badly. So we paid for lodgings and rested for the night.

        In the morning I took the charred blade with me and my whetstone and began to sharpen it. What I found interesting was that the blade wasn't just charred, the metal of the sword itself was black. When I finished sharpening it the edge seemed to be in better condition than it had any right of being. I frowned as I examined my sword more. It had a ruby hidden within the counterweight of it with some enchantment that if I had known my runes better I could understand. I did need to get something to rebind the handle of it as well as new guard.

        I returned to the warm interior of Mega Mart and began my hunt for both what I needed to finish restoring the sword as well as for what I had originally come here for, weapons I could trust to deal with Cazadors. Though in extension they would hopefully also help with making short work of those insanely over armored ponies that served Slate. Punching through power armor wasn't going to be easy by any right. I dishearteningly found that there was a lack of such weapons, though I soon found out why when I saw a group of Steel Rangers buying up every bit of ordinance they could get their hooves on. Best way to make certain nopony has something that can kill you is to buy all of them and keep it off the market. As it was I ended up picking up mostly more ammo, explosive rounds for the shotguns as well as fire rounds, lots of armor piercing rounds for everything else. I also made certain to get any weapon modification kits I found for my weapons and a fair bit of overcharged energy cells for my magical energy guns. Still, the lack of anything big and nasty to tear apart my enemies with saddened me.

        Once I finished shopping I gave a forty five semiautomatic pistol to Rose, she needed something other than Applebuck to use when rifles weren't the way to go. Seriously that pistol she got had ammunition rarer anything else I had seen so far. I also bought ever round, case, primer, and bit of powder for her pistol that I could find.

        “Rose, since Applebuck is both expensive to fire, as well as loud as all fuck take this forty five as back up. Already added on a silencer, a heavier slide, and some better sights on it. I also took the liberty of adding a laser pointer to Applebuck so you can aim it a bit easier.” I said as I tossed her the forty five.

        “Really now, and you are fine using those two revolvers of yours?” Rose asked as she put on the new holster and put away the forty five.

        “This and That Gun are perfectly reasonable sizes. Applebuck is named Applebuck for a reason.” I countered. “Plus if I am silently taking somepony down I will use a knife, my sword, or hooves to do it.”

        “I can just cast a spell and make Applebuck completely silent.” Rose countered.

        “It isn't about the sound, it is the fact that it is five caps per round to shoot it, and the recoil on that thing is monstrous. Hell it isn't even a six shot revolver it is a three shot revolver.” I retorted.

        “How much is the forty five per shot?” Queried Rose.

        “Fourth of a cap, and a forty five is still pretty nasty on its own. Just doesn't have the range that Applebuck can have.” I stated as the cargo for our trip out of the Hoof was sorted and set in my saddlebags. “How many gold bars are we taking, because these things weigh a ton.”

        “Shush you, and quite a few since you seem to be able to keep moving no matter how much crap we put on your shoulders. I swear you could carry the planet on your shoulders so long as you don't have to lift it.” Ruby said as she piled other valuables into my saddlebags. As it was I was focusing on fixing up my sword.

        “I thought you said that blade was charred, Moonlight, so why is it still black after you sharpened it?” Asked Rose as she slid her hoof over the edge only to wince and pull away as it cut into her hoof.

        “One, the blade itself is black, colored me surprised. Two, don't ever do that, it is stupid and dangerous like looking down the barrel of a gun.” I snapped at her as I pulled out our bandages from her saddlebags. “Are you bleeding or did it just hurt?”

        “Just hurt, and singed.” Rose replied and I glanced at her hoof to see it was indeed looking a bit singed.

        “Guess whatever causes the blade to be black rubbed off on your hoof.” I stated as I put back the medical supplies.

        “I guess, I feel sorry for whoever you first use that sword on though, thing is sharp, doubt it will just give them a paper cut.” Rose said frowning at the sword as I finished restoring what I could of it. What I really needed was another sword to take parts from to fix it. That or to find somepony capable of forging new parts for it.

        “Well hopefully it will be a while until we find out. So far our little trip to the Hoof has been as troubled, but, not disastrous.” I said, now worrying about having jinxed the trip. “I just jinxed us didn't I?”

        “Probably, thankfully we didn't take that superstitious guy with us.” Rose muttered as we both worried about what would happen next.

*                *                *

        “You just had to say that didn't you, Moonlight!” Cried out Ruby as we rushed into the building Foresight had directed us to.

        “Hey! I said I was sorry for jinxing this!” I fired back a I unloaded a few rounds from my revolvers into the Flash Fillies that had decided to try to dust us.

        “It is my fault as well, and I apologized too!” Rose shouted as she fired off a few rounds from her assault carbines.

        “Will you three give it a rest and move the table to block the door!” Shouted Foresight as he prepared a few traps. Without a word I grabbed the heavy wooden table to block the door. Against energy weapons I knew it wouldn't last long, but, it didn't need to, just long enough for us to get out and to the next building or wherever Foresight was guiding us.

        “Alright, where to next Foresight, I don't want to get turned to dust.” I said as I reloaded everything.

        “We are going through a short segment of the underground tunnels. Keep on me, don't get lost. If you do get lost, get top side as quickly as you can and head for Chapel. If we get separated make for Chapel as well. Don't shoot the fillies and colts running the place either. They tend to shoot back.” Foresight commanded as he opened a door and I followed.

        As soon as we were in I regretted not choosing to see how much damage a blast from my horn could do to the Flash Fillies. Now that we were down in the tunnels I could hear the single note quietly scratching at my mind.

        “Anypony else hearing that constant scream?” I asked only to be greeted with blank stares. “What, I hear it, faintly. I know it is enervation, I just want to know if anypony else hears it.”

        “No, maybe because your head is closer to the ground you are hearing it. I know the tunnels have a bit of enervation in them, but, this one isn't that bad. Plus fields of enervation never move or suddenly pop up.” Foresight scolded me.

        “Right, fine, maybe I am just more sensitive to it or something, just like I am to radiation.” I dismissively said as I rolled my eyes. “or was.” I whispered.

        Rose stopped and before I could react I walked right into her.

        “Everypony stop and be quiet, there are hostiles up ahead. Lots of red bars in my E.F.S.” Rose stated drawing her carbines again.

        “I don't see them on mine yet...” I muttered, must be due to her keener senses some how tying in with however the buck the E.F.S. system worked. “Right lets be ready for anything.”

        I heard Foresight's quad-light machine gun battle saddle click from burst fire to full auto. I knew it was that since the safety was on the bit and didn't have a resounding cascade clicks. Foresight then proceeded and guided us in silence. It was not a minute after Rose mentioned the red bars that I saw them as well. As things were going I wasn't seeing a option other than going through them. I didn't speak up, I had quickly learned that unless Foresight says you can do something, assume you can't. Then I heard the all too familiar sounds of ghouls.

        We paused as Foresight weighed our situation. Then with his hoof he directed Rose and I to cross to the other side of the tunnel. Once over I relayed the rest of the plan to Rose as I could see him still thanks to the enhanced vision of the helmet. The plan was simply we proceeded up ten paces then waited for him to tell us to go further. As soon as we got into combat we were to stop moving forward and to just keep anything coming after us away.

        This plan worked until a ghoul stared at me and screamed as it rushed for me. I opened up with my battle saddle as I didn't want to risk losing any weapon in the dark. Behind me Rose opened up with the assault carbines and I was glad for the noise dampening of the riot helmet. Then I heard the belching of Foresight's battle saddle join our weapons. In a minute what had once been a horde of ghouls was nothing more than a field of shattered and twisted bodies. I stood there quietly as Foresight crept forward to scout the next room that the ghouls had been filling. I had no more red bars on my E.F.S. and from how Rose sighed I figured neither did she.

        All we got after a minute was a hoof sign to come. As we entered the next room we found ourselves on the platform for the old subway system. We were at the station for the Museum of Natural History. Foresight pointed up the stairs and then to me. I recognized his command for me to take point. It made sense, I had the smallest profile and going up hill that meant I was least likely to get perforated.

        Creeping up the stairs I found us in the Museum itself, but, no red bars beyond what appeared to be rad roaches. We quickly left the Museum leaving it as undisturbed as possible so nopony would think we had passed through. None of us thought that we had been followed, but, it was best to not leave things to chance. Upon reaching outside I noticed the Core was in full view and just looking at it I felt ill. The massive black towers, the wires running between them, the hint of green that filled the place. I could also hear the cry of enervation from here.

        “Lets get moving, I want to get someplace else as quickly as we can. The Core is making me sick.” I commanded, nopony argued as I lead us south to where Chapel was supposedly.

        Unlike traveling around the Seamane region travel in the hoof was rather easy. Mostly due to the fact that most of the hoof was well developed and the place fit in a area a bit bigger than all of Seamane's ruins and out to Dune City. Really the longest trip would be going from the cape at the north of the city called Star Point all the way down to Flank. Still the snow and being cautious slowed us down a bit. That and my constant staring at the Core which would cause me to pause as it felt like something was trying to get inside my head. Personally I wished somepony had gotten a few balefire bombs on that thing and made it a crater. No matter what knowledge and technology we lost, it was better than whatever the price was for whatever resided within that malevolent green glowing fortress.

        “Better let me handle introductions, Moonlight.” Ruby said as she took point as we came into sight of Chapel. I also now knew why the town was named as such, because of the Chapel that sat at the heart of it.

        “You know the ponies here more than I do, so go for it Ruby.” I said handing command back to her.

        As I expected she was able to talk her way into town and did a bit of bartering with the local shop keeper, who was not but a filly. I also noticed majority of the towns population were just children. Except one, a black stallion who left from the Chapel to greet Ruby. They exchanged a few words and as I began to notice something I hadn't expected from the town. I couldn't hear the scream of enervation anymore. Something about this place blocked it out, or at least dampened it. I stared at the Core that was just across the destroyed bridge from the town. By all rights I should be deaf from enervation and wanting to tear out my horn, yet, here, one of the places closest to the core, the enervation was silent.

        “Strange...” I muttered to myself.

        “What is, Moony?” Asked Rose who hadn't left my side after seeing how the Core messed with me on the walk to Chapel.

        “Remember how I said I could hear the enervation in the tunnels? Well the whole time I could see the core I felt the same thing. However, here, even looking at the core, I don't hear it. It is silent, and I don't feel as on edge. Something about this place is different from Flank or Mega Mart.” I looked at a few of the children playing. “It can't just be that there are a concentration of young ponies here, right?”

        “Who knows, we don't know what causes enervation, so who knows what counters it.” Rose answered looking puzzled herself after hearing my words. As she thought to herself on the subject Ruby walked up to us.

        “Anything I should know about this place, Ruby?” I asked as she drew closer.

        “Don't walk to the end of the bridge, the Core's defenses will dust you.” She replied coolly.

        “Wait, the Core defenses are still online and active after all this time?!” I shouted.

        “Yes they are, why is that important other than it makes getting into the core a whole hell of a lot harder.” Ruby answered, giving me a puzzled look.

        “I am betting the Core's defenses being online and enervation are tied somehow. Some sort of long term build up. And... Oh that would make sense with Stable twenty three as well.” I muttered the last bit to myself and drew confused looks from Rose and Ruby. “Stable twenty three was outfitted with something called a Starmetal Reactor. I don't know what the hell it did to generate power, but, it was meant to power the Stable for a very long time and act as a generator for once they left to make a town. Problem was something messed up and enervation liquified the stable's inhabitants. Then turned them into sentient ooze that tried to, I hope it only tried to at least, eat me. The reactor was a gift from the Office of Interministry Affairs director to Stable Tec. From what I understand the O.I.A. helped with a lot of the rebuilding of Hoofington by organizing efforts between the ministries and the city itself during the reconstruction. Or I would assume so. I also vaguely remember mention that the reactor was developed here. I don't know the specifics, though the files on my pipbuck might have more. Anyways, point being, I am betting it was the Starmetal reactor caused the enervation from too much draw.”

        “So if we found these reactors we could get rid of the enervation?” Rose asked.

        “We could never get to them. In all likelihood they are either in the core or have pockets of enervation around them that nopony could handle. Maybe if we had a remote controlled robot we could. But, we don't have the resources or time for that. It is a problem to be, once again, fixed later.” I sighed. “I guess nopony ever pushed the reactors for long enough to notice the enervation, or maybe nopony cared.”

        “Or nopony has given it much thought, you know most ponies are busy just trying not to die.” Ruby said.

        “Too much time of my life was devoted to critical thinking and critical learning.” I stated, I imagine that probably there were a good number of other ponies out there who were just as good as I was, but, for one reason or another just didn't get the pieces to make sense of the puzzle.

        “Well, mystery solved?” Rose asked and I shrugged.

        “It is just a idea of what could be at the center of this. For all I know it is actually some space daemon thing that wants to devour all of the souls of our planet.” I said as I rolled my eyes.

        “What if it is a space daemon?” Rose asked.

        “Then we find a bigger gun to kill it with at some point. Who knows, maybe drop something from space on it. Bet a balefire bomb or other megaspells should handle it more or less.” I said with a sigh, and now I was worried it was a space daemon and not just a weird property of Starmetal.

        “Anyways, as much fun as it is to see you speculate on things while getting snowed one, want to go inside?” Ruby offered.

        “Yeah that would be best. Also does anypony know what the hay Starmetal even is or looks like?” I asked as Ruby ushered us into the Chapel.

        “I don't know, maybe you will find some when you go into the Ministries in Seamane.” Ruby answered as I shook the snow off of myself as we entered the aging Chapel. I blinked as I took in the interior. I let out a whistle.

        “Color me impressed.” I said at the end of my whistle.

        “Make that double.” Rose said from beside me, giving her own whistle.

        “And make you the lucky couple?” Asked Ruby with a chuckle.

        “Which one of us would be the lucky bride?” I asked looking at Ruby.

        “Who would our best mares or stallions be? Our social circles are a little small.” Rose inquired.

        “How the hay do we get my family out here on such short notice.” I jokingly asked.

        “That's enough you two, you ruined my joke.” Huffed Ruby as I broke out in laughter.

        “I was being somewhat serious, Moony.” Rose said with a pout.

        “As was I, Rose. That doesn't change that it was funny.” I smiled. “This chapel is beautiful.”

        “Indeed it is, after all this want to come back here?” Rose asked as a hoof went around my shoulder.

        “I wouldn't mind it. Better than getting a captain of a ship to marry us.” I giggled. “So how long are we taking a break for Ruby?”

        “Until morning, we are sleeping in here, no exploring.” Ruby ordered as she found a pew with a bit of padding left over and laid down on it. I shook my head and just pulled out the sleeping bag I had with me. As with Snow, and on the trip out from Colt I knew it could hold two ponies easily, and, quite warmly.

        “You don't mind sharing again tonight, right Rose?” I asked as I pulled off my equipment and set it next to the head of the sleeping bag.

        “With you? Why would I mind.” Rose purred before placing a kiss on my forehead. “Lets just keep it clean though, this is a church after all.”

        “Wasn't even thinking about that, Rose.” I paused then sighed which elicited a smile from Rose. “Now, I am thinking about that, Rose. You better hope we get more than just a night at Flank.”

        “I think it is you who needs to confess for your behavior.” Rose said and I heard somepony kick something hard.

        “I think we should stop and get some sleep before somepony decides to knock us out.” I sheepishly replied.

        “I think you are right.” Rose said in the same sheepish tone as myself. We knew it was best not to incur the wrath of our travel companions less they abandon us to fend for ourselves in foreign lands.

Footnote: Level up!

New Perk Added: Light Step; You no longer set off mines or traps thanks to careful hoofwork and being unreasonably light on your hooves as well as well aware of your surroundings.