Fallout Equestria: The Ranger of Seamane

Chapter 27 – Two Day’s Time

“You find no traps, you detect no intruders, and you are certain that is just a cardboard box full of watermelons.”

The mansion was on fire, the supports had fallen and blocked the doors out of the foyer. The stairs had burned away as well. The walls were alight and the wood around me was crackling as it burned. Yet the worst were the mimic's, they were still fighting on, ignoring the presence of the fire eating away at the building. The fire that would consume them, and myself, the fire that would bring this whole damn place down upon our collective heads and leave us dead. No matter how strong I had become, I still could not live through something like a building landing on me. I may have lived jumping off a train and slamming through a wall of a apartment building, but, that wasn’t the same as tons of material falling upon me with nothing except the air to cushion the fall.

        Pin pricks of pain erupted across my body as more of the darts from the mimic's hit me. I tore the damnable things out of myself, blood trickled down my legs from my wounds leaving my coat matted red with my own blood. I hissed as I prepared my magic to do a final last stand.

        I had no way out other than hope I wouldn't die when the roof or walls collapsed upon us. It was a long shot, but, it was all I had. I doubted though that it would work, everything else tonight had fallen apart. I found that my friends had been manipulated and turned into more of these things while I had been stuffed under a desk, recovering from blood loss. Now... In a fit of anger I had set the place ablaze. Upon finding the fate of my friends... my marefriend... those who I had cared out and entrusted my own life too and in turn had done the same to me. I couldn't stand letting them be some mindless creatures. I couldn't stand to let this nightmare of a mansion stand any longer. I had erupted in fire, my coat turning black and like ash, my mane bellowing like a raging firestorm of blue flame. My hooves now were still cracked and bleeding from the cracks in them. I had for a brief moment had become an elemental of fire, and the embodiment of the element of wrath.

        In those brief moments I had set fire to this place, I had killed my friends and lover. I had destroyed everything in a fit. I had let my emotions get the better of me, and now? Now I was going to burn to death, or be crushed, or eviscerated. It didn't matter, everyone’s adventure comes to an end some day. Today just so happened to be the end of mine. My own adventure came to a close with the loss of my own control of my emotions, of my magic, of myself. I had lost to the one pony I was never to lose to, myself. And now, it was going to kill me. It didn't matter what caused it, my death was set in stone.

        The worst part of it all was I knew, in the end, my death, the death of my friends, didn't matter. We never did. Seamane never mattered, my family never mattered, no wastelander ever mattered. The world would just wash our remains away with time to make room for somepony else. Even those above who kept the clouds over us would eventually be washed away by the corrosive nature of time. So what did it matter that tonight I died.

        I opened my eyes to see the mimic's alight with my blue flame, the fire around me whipping up and circling me. I looked down to see my tears falling as molten blue fire. My coat was made of ash once more. My wounds bleed liquid fire, marked with the color of my magic. The wood below me crackled as it burnt away. Everything burned, everything turned to ash, all was dust. But, I endured, standing there as the vortex of fire built, roaring, demanding me to give away what was left of myself as a sacrifice to sorrow. I let it consume me, I felt myself burn and fall apart as I was ripped apart from my hooves up by the hungering flames I had created with my wrath.

*                *                *

        I had woken up for the fourth time tonight, though it had been day for hours now. The house had already finished burning down. The turrets had never fired off and several times I had checked for anything alive within the ruins to find nothing left alive.

        I had finally given up on getting any rest, every time I slept I woke up from a nightmare. The images still stuck in my head, the ideas my dreams presented me haunting me still. Losing control and through that losing my loved ones, and even myself.

        I looked back at Rose who was still peacefully asleep with bliss of ignorance upon her muzzle. Everypony else was asleep except for me. None of them seemed to being haunted by any fowl dreams.

        I pulled out my canteen and filled it with water before stuffing a teabag into it. I needed something pleasant to drink, as well as warm, with something to help my brain get moving. Tea would help, and so I lit a flame below the base of the metal canteen and let it begin to heat as I ate a bit of food. Today was still a cold day, cold enough that the snow that lingered in the valley was not melting at all today. I muttered nonsense to myself just so I had something to hear outside of my head.

        Once I had gotten to drink my tea I felt a little better, the warm drink chasing out a bit of the cold and the caffeine helping sharpen my mind a bit.

        I let out a sigh as I rested with my back against one of the still standing supports of the mansion.

        “I see you couldn't sleep.” Anabel said as she walked into the burned out ruins.

        I shook my head. “What about you?”

        “Just fine, apparently most of the stuff ponies developed back in the day that messes with people's heads doesn't work on non-equines. So I got off easy, Foresight... He isn't saying it, but, I feel he saw some things that don't sit too well with him.” Anabel said as she sat with her fore legs crossed.

        “Which means I probably need to check on Rose to see how bad she got messed up as well. Though...” I trailed off as my mind tried to put things together.

        “They’re sleeping quite soundly, unlike you. Which means they are coping just fine.” Anabel finished for me.

        “Right...” I sighed, realizing that my sleep had not done me any favors.

        “That bad?” Anabel asked before digging into her saddlebags.

        “I really didn't get any restful rest last night or so far today.” I explained before sighing again.

        “Back to sighing all the time?” Anabel teased before beginning to eat her breakfast.

        With my head still turned to the sky as I leaned against support I turned my eyes to her. “It’s a habit, a bad one, we all have them. Our little vices, the things that let us cope, the things we habitually do which aren't actually good for us.”

        Anabel swallowed her mouthful of food. “I would think then your vice would be sex.”

        I facehoofed, with the wrong hoof, and proceeded to smack myself with my powerhoof hard enough to set it off sending me through the support onto the pile of ash that was once a lounge sofa. “ow...”

        “Did... Did you just punch yourself through a wall?” Anabel asked amused.

        “I think facehoofing is off limits for me now.” I coughed as I sat up. “Damn force multipliers...”

        “That was glorious, if not painful.” Anabel laughed quietly as I dusted myself off, which is a trick when your coat is the same color as said dust.

        I groaned and looked at her with mild disdain for her at the moment. I know she was just trying to lighten the mood, but, I was stuck being a grumpy pony, and a tired pony. “At least nothing tried to kill us over night.”

        “And you are still bleeding red.” Anabel said before returning to where she was sitting before.

        I looked myself over to see a few small scrapes bleeding red. I pulled out a few bandages and covered the wounds. It was so minor to use magic or a potion was a waste of materials. Bandages were easy to make, even more so when you are good at making them out of the tattered cloth of your clothing that you go through far too quickly.

        “Anabel... Do you think I am safe?” I asked, wanting the opinion of my newest companion.

        “Safe? With all the moping you do, the periodic swings of your mood from murderous to jovial, to depressed, I think you might be a danger to yourself, others though? Only if they shoot you, twice.” Anabel replied without losing a beat.

        “So, do you think I am reckless or self destructive?” I asked as I sat back down in the remains of the foyer.

        “Reckless, you obviously don't want to die. However, remember, this is a horrible world we live in, being depressed is perfectly normal. You just seem to swing hard, as going through that wall can attest to.” Anabel said before chuckling.

        “Swing for the fence.” I laughed, finally feeling a bit of my dark mood lifting.

        “That is more like the Moonlight everypony knows.” Rose said walking in.

        “How long?” I simply asked.

        “Since you put yourself through the wall. Foresight is still out cold. Given how much he went through I don't blame the guy.” Rose said looking over her shoulder back at the one remaining member of our party who was still asleep. “I am surprised he didn't wake up from that though.”

        “Well, we are going to let him rest until he feels like waking up. Last night was not easy on anypony, er...” I bit my tongue looking at Anabel.

        “I don't mind, you're a pony, it is expected for you to say that.” Anabel shrugged.

        “Still doesn't make me feel any less awkward.” I sighed, as I did I was greeted with a kiss.

        Breaking the kiss after a minute Rose looked me right in my eyes. “Stop that, there isn't any reason to be down in the dumps.”

        As she said this a flash of watching her burn away from my dreams hit me again. I closed my eyes to keep the tears back.

        “She didn't get any sleep, Rose. I think I have a idea as to why.” Anabel said as Rose wrapped her forelegs around me.

        “Come on, they’re just dreams, what happened in them doesn't matter. Dreams are just dreams, no matter how good or bad they don't matter.” Rose softly said into my ear.

        “I know, Rose, I know...” I whispered back as I heard Anabel quietly walk out of the burnt out remains of the mansion to our camp. “It doesn't make what I saw any different.”

        “Look at me, Moonlight.” Rose said, her voice holding a sternness that I hadn't heard often before. I opened my eyes to see a blurry world as I looked at what I assumed to be Rose. She wiped away my tears with her magic as I blinked her back into focus. Looking into her eyes I felt my heart slow down, my muscles relax, and a calm over take me as she smiled at me. “That's better.”

        I nodded before leaning my head against her chest and letting out another sigh, though this one not depressed, this one carrying out the feelings of depression with it.

        “Thanks... I needed that.” I whispered as I pulled myself together again now that Rose had managed to break my dark thoughts grasp upon me.

        “Anytime, Moonlight.” Rose said as she rested her head atop my own and stroked my mane. “Anytime.”

        A few minutes later we walked back out to the camp to find our two companions awake and had packed everything up already. Anabel gave Foresight a small bag of caps.

        “What was that bet on?” I asked bemused at the two.

        “On if Rose would have to bed you to pick up your mood.” Foresight laughed as he put the bag of caps away. “Don't worry, we aren't making huge bets, only fifty caps.”

        “Okay, fair enough.” I laughed feeling the last of the depression slip away, leaving me tired and aching.

        “When you two are ready.” Foresight said as he hefted his load onto his back.

        “Yeah, lets get out of here and make some progress today.” I smiled as I got myself equipped with my equipment and load.

        A few hours later we bumped into some raiders, they weren't that strong, but, they didn't surrender or run once we started to over run them. As it was, I was choking a mare to death with her own overly long tail as the rest finished off the few still alive around me. After a few failed attempts to break free the mare went limp, I held her in my grip for a minute to make certain she wasn't faking before releasing her. I then put a round through the back of her head to make certain she didn't get up.

        “Was that really necessary?” Foresight asked as he saw me make certain the mare was done for.

        “I don't know how effective my holds are, she could have been faking it. Plus, these are raiders, not bandits, raiders you can't save.” I retorted as I looted the mare's ammo.

        “No, she was dead, do you ever check your E.F.S.?” He chided as I looked at him, I then spotted that he had a pipbuck of his own.

        “No, and when the hay did you get a pipbuck.” I asked frowning at him.

        “Retrieved it while you had dinner with your family.” He answered, the way he was looking at me told me I wouldn't get any specifics.

        “Well, good to know you have it, now.” I muttered as I reloaded my guns. “Alright, they didn't have much here, lets keep going.”

        “You know you still can talk to me.” Foresight said as we walked towards Rose and Anabel.

        “That's good to know, just, don't worry about me too much so long as Rose is around and conscious. She can... put me back together better than anypony else in this damn world.” I muttered, not feeling like really talking anymore. The entire walk today had been filled with playful banter between my friends, I had joined in a few times, until I had just felt too tired to keep up with them. I think the bags under my eyes told them that it was exhaustion fueling my current mood and nothing else.

        He just gave me a glance before returning to leading our group down the road towards the Unbound. We had passed the path that would take us down towards Dune City and Seamane proper, during the time we were walking by it I had started looking down it noticing how accurate it was to when in that weird dream scape I had gone through here. As I pulled my attention away from it I caught Rose looking down that path as well, a look of confusion sat upon her face.

        I pushed my tired body to get beside her, she didn't notice my approach, though Anabel and Foresight did. They put a little distance between us and them.

        “Hey Rose, everything alright?” I asked as I got beside her, she shook her head and blinked.

        “Huh? Oh, sorry, I was just got lost in thought. What's up. Moony?” Rose asked sounding a little distant, almost as if with a hint of nostalgia.

        “Nothing, I just wanted to make certain you were alright.” I said shaking my mane. “Say, did you have some sort of odd dream while in the cocoon?”

        “Huh, oh, um...” Rose paused as she collected her thoughts. “Yeah, that I was in prewar Seamane, it was... kind of out of place, I mean out of all the places I could have dreamt of, why there?”

        “Do you remember bumping into anypony while in there?” I asked, curious to as if it was really a shared dream or what.

        “Well you, then my parents.” Rose answered. “Why?”

        “Did you find me on a hill top looking out towards Seamane from the hills south of us right now?” I asked.

        “Yes, wait, how did you know that?” Rose asked now frowning.

        “We then went for dinner and after that we parted ways, correct?” I asked, ignoring her question.

        “Yes, how do you know this, Moonlight?” Rose demanded.

        “Because it wasn't just your dream. What happened after you left?” I asked.

        “I went... home? I went to a house I thought it was my home. In the morning when I woke up I went to the base in Seamane because I felt that was where I should go. I saw my family at the gate, they approached me and then I woke up with you having a blade to my throat.” Rose answered, frowning at me.

        “So... hm… How interesting...” I turned to look at our other companions. “Hey Foresight, Anabel, did either of you two get caught and stuffed into a cocoon?”

        “Yes to the first part, no to the second part, why?” Anabel answered as Foresight shook his head.

        “Just trying to figure out what kind of mind fucking went down in that place.” I answered and turned back to Rose. “Looks like a shared dream-scape, I am guessing the others we saw in there were attempts to pull us deeper into the mimic's grasp, for whatever purpose they had for us.”

        “I guess, at least we stopped whatever was going to happen before it got all that far.” Rose sighed. “Well for the most part, you did go insane, and my magic is now all green.”

        “That hasn’t gone away yet?” I asked as Rose used her magic to lift a bottle of water to her mouth, it was wrapped in her now sickly green magic aura. “Maybe that will just take some time... I hope that is all it is.”

        “I hope so too... Oh well, at least I still have my magic.” Rose smiled and I nodded.

        “Yeah, losing your magic, even when temporary, is not fun, at all.” I said before frowning. “I know how losing my magic feels far too well.”

        “That you do, but, you have regained it every time, even if it took a long walk north to get it back.” Rose said giving my flank a bump with hers.

        “Yeah.” I said smiling back at her bumping my flank against hers. “Thanks for the help with that.”

        “What are friends for?” Rose snickered.

        “Bucking.” I snickered in return.

        “Still not interested in mares or interracial intercourse.” Anabel called back from ahead of us.

        “Still not interested in either of you two.” Foresight added.

        “Just you wait, I will get a harem and you two will be part of it!” I shouted at the two of them, smiling harder than I had all day.

        “I would still be your right hoof mare, right?” Rose asked.

        “Buck, yeah! Nopony could ever replace you as my right hoof mare.” I said still smiling and feeling a bit refreshed.

        Rose kissed me deeply making me stop in my tracks to savor it. After a few moments she broke the kiss. “I am glad to hear it. Now then, on to finding more members for our harem.”

        I giggled and nodded. “Yeah, lets go hog tie some more ponies for this.”

        “Who says they have to be ponies?” Rose asked before laughing. “No really, we shouldn't just exclude non ponies if we are going to really have a harem.”

        “True, wait, what. Why are you putting a lot thought into this?” I laughed looking at her as she pretended to be in deep thought.

        “Maybe I had a lot of free time in the past and figured out what I wanted in a harem.” Rose answered before sticking her tongue out at me and blowing raspberries at me.

        I shook my head smiling. “I love you Rose, I really truly do.”

        “Good, then you don't mind that we stop early today.” Rose asked.

        “No, our hours are all messed up, and some of us are still tired from last night.” I replied. “Hey Foresight, find us a good place to hold up for the night.”

        “Will do, Star Paladin.” Foresight replied with a soft laugh.

        “Since when did I become a Star paladin?” I asked looking at him, amused by my new title.

        “Sorry, I meant Commander, you aren't a Steel Ranger after all.” Foresight laughed, tossing his short mane. “Anyways, just keep going at your pace I’ll scout ahead for a place to hold up for the night. Anabel, care to give me some eyes in the sky?”

        “Sure thing, Foresight.” Anabel said and then took to the air as Foresight galloped off.

        “Well, looks like we are alone again.” I said cocking an eyebrow at Rose.

        “What? Here, in the middle of the road?” Rose asked.

        “Wait, what? No! That isn’t what I meant!” I said, flustered now.

        “Are you certain, your face says otherwise.” Rose purred.

        “Seriously we need to cut down on this, it’s going to get us in trouble.” I muttered before shaking my head. “No, I meant it is just you and me getting to spend time together, while we are both in reasonably good moods.”

        “Oh, so no sex then?” Rose smiled at me.

        “No sex, I would like a roof and two walls for that, maybe a floor as well.” I responded.

        “Those aren't hard requirements to fill.” Rose giggled.

        “Nope, I am rather easy after all.” I laughed causing Rose to blush this time.

        “Well, you are getting more okay with this type of humor aren't you.” Rose giggled shaking her head at me catching her off guard.

        “Well, I am learning from the best.” I said with a smirk.

        “Why thank you.” Rose giggled. “So I guess you are doing fine now?”

        “Yeah, I am feeling better.” I sighed, still with a smile on my face as I broke out my canteen and some more leaves for tea. “Want me to make you some tea?”

        “Sure, a warm drink would be nice. How long until this cold goes away?” Rose asked as we continued walking down the road as I heated our canteens full of water.

        “Well today is the sixteenth day of the second month, spring used to roll around around the twenty first of the third month, so a while. So... Fifty days or so?” I said shaking my mane softly.

        “It gradually warms up right?” Rose asked, and I nodded.

        “Yeah it gradually warms up, we should be through the Unbound before it gets warm enough for insects. Then again I don't know if Cazdors are hot blooded, if they are... Well, I am glad you have Applebuck if they are.” I finished as I levitated the canteen back to Rose who put it back around her neck while it cooled.

        “You also have that shotgun, it alone should do a number on their wings at very least. I would imagine the slug rounds would be pretty nasty as well.” Rose added.

        “I also have those unique sub machine guns, they should do the trick as well. If not, my Black Blade should do the trick.” I frowned. “Though that means letting them get close, though I can still just throw fireballs which hopefully will help. However, I rather not set the Unbound ablaze, after all it is a lot of it is apparently rolling plains of grass.”

        “From what everypony says, and nopony has gone into it and come back out in two decades.” Rose said before taking a sip of tea.

        “True... Which reminds me, that would be around when Foresight would have been with Ruby.” I said as a thought dawned on me. “Wait, I didn't think the Steel Rangers came out of hiding until rather recently. What the hay was he doing out and about two decades ago.”

        “Uh... That is a good question. You don't think him being around and the Steel Rangers of Seamane being disbanded for so long is tied to nopony returning from the Unbound for the past twenty or so years, do you?” Rose asked as I took a sip of my tea.

        “We’ll have to ask him. Maybe it is why he wanted to come with us out here, beyond my talent for bumping into the weirdest things in the world.” I said now frowning before taking another sip of tea. “Also, I just remembered that was the copy that told me about being with Ruby, so I guess we really will have to ask.”

        “I guess so... Hopefully he trusts us enough to tell us the truth. Of course, maybe he was just not saying since we didn't ask. Lying by omission sort of thing.” Rose offered before sipping some more tea.

        I nodded as I saw smoke start to rise a few miles ahead of us. “Yeah, maybe, and it looks like they started a party ahead of us.”

        Rose nodded as well. “Do you think we should gallop off to lend a hoof to them?”

        “Nah, if they needed help Anabel or Foresight would fire off a flare.” I said sipping at my tea again as we continued our relaxed pace down the road as a fireball erupted from where the smoke had been rising. “Still not a flare, if anything that is Anabel having fun.”

        “We shouldn't be so relaxed about this should we?” Rose asked as we kept walking and I heard the sounds of distant gunfire and explosions.

        “Hun, the world ended, this is relaxing as it gets. I mean really, the only way it could be better is if the clouds broke and we were on a sandy beach during spring. I don't see that happening anytime soon.” I explained before I finished my tea.

        “I guess, and those two have spent a long time fighting on their own compared to the two of us.” Rose said before finishing her own tea.

        The gunfire died off and I saw a green flare go up from the ground. “Well, there is our camp for tonight. Gotta admit, those two are good at clearing a base, much better than I am.”

        “I think a decade or two of experience at doing it against your few months helps a little.” Rose giggled as we picked up our pace a little now that we were done drinking.

        “That would help, heh, I am glad not to be a stable-pony thrust into this world, I doubt they would last two months let alone four.” I said shaking my head.

        “Well, who knows exactly what the remaining stables house. Maybe, they the ones that have yet to open up are training a bunch of special lone wolf operatives to take over the surface and rearrange local power structures.” Rose laughed and I laughed with her.

        “How the hell could one pony manage to do all that. Look at me, I am a wasteland pony and in the past three months I have just managed to not die for the most part. Yeah I have killed some monsters, seen some of the powerful players in our neck of the woods, and nearly died repeatedly, but, still, anypony alive in the wasteland does that last part.” I said frowning. “That said, I really haven't gotten much done in these past few months, then again it takes years to do any real lasting change. It takes even longer to do it right.”

        “Righteousness has it's place, but, it must be tempered with patience?” Rose asked and I nodded.

        “What good is it if you destroy a foe only for somepony else to step in and replace them. What good is it to defeat an army only to create a horde of directionless armed ponies who have no supply chain?” I looked at Rose. “That is why I am not rushing into changing things, it will kill me if I do, it will level towns in Seamane if I just recklessly purse fixing everything at once. I know I am swimming in blood already, but, I don't need to add the names of towns to the list of those who I have caused to die.”

        “Moonlight.” Rose said with a stern tone.

        “I know, however I am not moping at my actions. I have a point, Rose.” I fired back. “If I want to change things I need to get a better grasp of how things work in Seamane proper. I need to identify who is pulling whose strings. I need to learn, and I know it will cost me blood and lives of those I know to do it.”

        “But, it’s worth doing, isn't it.” Rose said, looking at me with a unknowable look in her eyes.

        “I don't believe in the idea that you should go all out or do nothing at all. Fixing things requires steps, and I don't have all the answers.” I looked back at Rose, turning my eyes away from the road. “We walk while asking questions, because we don't know the answers, and I want as many others as possible to walk with me, asking questions as well.”

        “If you know it is going to create a mess so maybe you should say that you piss while walking. You are going somewhere, but, you leave a mess along your path.” Rose smirked.

        “Maybe, still though, I am going to try my best to keep the mess as small as possible. Even if it ends up with us having to do some questionable things.” I sighed as I looked back at our destination, closer now I could see it was a old spark battery swapping station with a wall built around it.

        “Moony, our relationship is a morally questionable thing.” Rose giggled.

        “Only to those looking in.” I laughed.

        As we trotted up to the switching station I drew my pistol, just in case as I hadn’t spotted either of our two companions on the way in. As I looked inside the wall I didn't see Foresight of Anabel on the wall walkway and figured either something had drawn them away, or, things had changed in the ten minutes it took to get to them. Rose followed suit with her own forty five pistol. We quietly crept into the camp, I kept my eyes focused on my E.F.S. for tags as well as for movement. It wasn't long before two blue bars showed up in my vision and I pointed in their direction for Rose who nodded. We continued to slowly move upon them to find that they were within the station building itself. I slide open the door to find our two companions looking over a corpse, a corpse of a raider who bleed green.

        I holstered my pistol then knocked on the door before asking them, “what did you find?”

        “Another mimic, it was blended in with the folks who were set up here.” Foresight replied.

        “So... either they naturally infiltrate, or they really aren't that hostile.” I frowned as Rose and myself joined the two.

        “I would guess so, they also don't seem to have a base state that they revert to. They physically change into their new shapes. So I guess there won't be a magic spell to force them out of their disguise as it isn't so much a disguise.” Foresight postulated.

        “I guess so, but, they can't perfectly change, hence the green blood.” I added.

        “Well, you didn't find any cocoons, did you?” Rose asked.

        “No, I am starting to wonder how many have been replaced or turned...” Foresight sighed.

        “No use wondering about it, they seem peaceful enough, most of the time.” I suggested.

        “Well, whatever the case is, we have a nice place to hold up. The walls are pretty thick and there are a few rooms so we can rest well.” Anabel informed us.

        “Perfect, lets get a meal in and then set up the turrets at the entrances for the station.” I ordered, my companions getting to the task of setting up camp.

        I decided to take the last shift for the night watch. Foresight had taken first watch with Anabel, and Rose was set to be on her own for the middle shift. When I woke up to Rose shaking me awake at first I thought there was a problem and went for my gun, she put a hoof on it and shook her head.

        “You were just sleeping like a rock, Moony.” Rose explained as I yawned.

        “Oh, well that is a good reason to be so forceful.” I said shaking my mane out of my face. “Well how about you get some rest, first though... Did anything happen that I should know about on the previous watches?”

        “Nothing, haven't heard or seen anything all night, same for the other two.” Rose replied before stifling a yawn of her own, causing me to yawn again.

        “Alright, well, rest well knowing I am awake and on watch.” I smiled at Rose who kissed my cheek before laying down on the bed we had shared during the first watch. I pulled on my night vision goggles that Rose had been using, popping in a new power gem to replace the almost dead one.

        “See you in the morning, Moony.” Rose said as I pulled the sleeping bag over her.

        “Mhm.” I responded and headed outside to climb up onto the sign for the station.

        As I sat atop the sign for the station with my goggles on as I sipped some tea I had brewed for myself. I had a can of food with me as well for when my stomach woke up in a hour or so. As I was looking around I saw what Rose had said to me, nothing. The place was rather dead. Hay, looking more around I was surprised anypony was even in this damn station when we got here. I mean nopony went into the Unbound anymore, well we were, so it wasn't like there were many ponies to target on this road. I looked south seeing a familiar range of hills.

        “Or they were left over from Thunderlord's ponies.” I mused, finding a smile on my face remembering that day where I had taken out all those rogue ponies and Thunderlord himself.

“It feels like it was so simple back then.” I said before I shook my head to bat away the nostalgia to find that I was rubbing my chest where I had remembered hitting the ground with first when I had fallen so far that day.

        I sighed and shook my head again before looking around again. There really wasn't anything around here. I looked north toward the coast to see a long shadow going from ground to sky. I frowned as I tried to figure out what it was. Then it hit me, it was the tower I was going for. A day to a day and a half away to the north it sat on a hill.

        “Well, there is my target...” I muttered as a light blue triangle appeared on the shadow with a mark of the distance to it. “Thank you, that will help in the morning.”

        So I sat there keeping an eye out for any movement or additional tags in my vision. Thankfully nothing ever did. However, I did go and look into the research Anabel had grabbed from the house and I had copied onto my pipbuck from hers. What I found differed a bit from what I had read. I blamed the differences on the fact that as being a pony I was influenced by that places magic.

        What I did find was that there was to be a meeting with a Governor-General Stardust, the meeting took place two years before the end of the war. Nothing further was stated on that matter though. Further research was done on copying changeling disguise magic as well as getting technology to do said magic. It was a interesting idea, the ability to have a pony change shape to look like another. If you can't be actually invisible, make it so you look like you are meant to be there. Though I wondered what the eventual outcome of said research was. The last clue I had to that was a few months before the end of the world that they had moved their research materials and most sensitive data to 'the research hub'. I kind of disliked how nonspecific this pony was, they didn't have their name anywhere, or even state where things were moved. However, I did realize, once it dawned on me, that it was for security's sake. The house itself had been given to a family member and the studies of the researcher’s were hidden.

        “Clever ponies keeping it all hidden, keeping from saying anything specific...” I whispered to the cool breeze that had kicked up. “However, I have a idea as to where this is leading...”

        I tapped the keycard I had been forcefully given in Hoofington. “I am willing to bet my left hoof that you and this research are tied together.”

        I frowned. “So... I would guess more of those things lie in wait for me under Fort Stronghoof.”

        I shook my mane out of my eyes again and looked around seeing still nothing around, only the quiet sounds of the turrets occasionally turning as they scanned for threats. “What a lonely night...”

        I let out a yawn as I turned to my can of food. “I should eat even if my stomach isn't awake.”

        So I ate the can of food and drank some more water. Once I finished I decided to walk the parameter around the inside of the walls. I slide down the ladder to the sign and began to look for anything out of place. I passed the pile of bodies from our raid of the place and checked them over on a hunch about the mimic, my hunch turned out to be wrong and I found no duplicates within the crowd. I also noticed, these ponies weren't likely raiders, they were, if anything, bandits or scavengers. However, if Anabel and Foresight had to fight them, they weren't peaceful or open to outsiders. Though I did wonder if there were others like them around here on the border of the Unbound, darting in to loot things when it was safe.

        I let out a sigh as I shook my mane again, I didn't have a clue as to what was going on around here. All I knew was they had shot at my companions, my companions laid waste to them, and we took their place for the night.

        I continued on my patrol going inside to check on my companions, closely checking to make certain they were still naturally asleep and nopony was hiding in a cardboard box. I didn't find anything out of the ordinary and as such went back outside and climbed back atop the sign for the station and pulled out the DMR to keep an eye out for possible problems.

        “No news is good news.” I muttered as I waited for dawn to arrive.

        As I sat there watching our surroundings I couldn't help but relax. Even though we sat upon the precipice of one of the most dangerous and unknown regions of Seamane itself, it was peaceful. Maybe it was the knowledge that nopony really went this way, maybe it was the fact that for the past four hours I hadn't seen anything with my eyes or E.F.S. Maybe it was the fact that we had a minefield around us that would likely go off and at very least slow down anypony coming towards us.

        Whatever the case might have been, I felt calm and relaxed as I sat atop the sign sipping tea as the sky turned orange in the east as the day began. I would wait for the others to get up and break down camp before I left my perch, laying between letters of the sign with my rifle lying across my stomach. It was just so nice to relax like this every once and a while that I didn't want to get going yet. I almost wanted to settle down here, it was so quiet and pretty around here. But, alas it wasn't meant to be, not today at least, maybe in a decade or two when I had settled everypony’s need of me and could retire.

        I let out a heartfelt laugh at the thought of retiring. Most ponies were forcefully retired with a bullet or blade, instead of by choice to hide away from the world. I would be one of those who managed to live to old age and retire, find some place out of the way where only those who had true need of me would dare disturb me at. Or maybe I would do something stupid and just grab a place that was close enough for everypony to remember I was still there, if they dared to approach me.

        I smiled as I shook my head. Thinking ahead that far would just make me want to rush through everything to that end. That wasn't what I wanted to do anymore, I wanted to just live life as it happened, to have a few goals for what to do next, but, never any really concrete to do by such and such time tasks. Would I help Seamane in whatever way I could? Yes, I would, but, on my own terms.

        I looked down as the sky was turning back to its usual dull grey to see my companions breaking down what we had set up to give us extra protection over night in lieu of having extra eyes and ears for the watch. I smiled as Rose waved up at me and I returned the wave to her. I looked up at the sky to see them being a light grey signaling no rain or snow for today, which was something nice considering how cold it was today. Since it was still cold today I had some more caffeinated tea to warm me up and keep my mind sharp.

        Once I had finished my tea Anabel flew up to greet me. “Hey, we're done packing up, so we can get going when you want to.”

        I nodded as I refilled my canteen with regular water before responding. “Alright, well go ahead and do some scouting around, my first objective is the tower to the north, according to my pipbuck it should be a day or a day and a half hike to it so I want to make certain there isn't anything nasty sitting on the path up.”

        “Alright, want a hand getting down?” Anabel asked as she hovered in the air next to me lazily flapping her wings.

        “Nah, I got this.” I answered giving her a cocky grin as I rolled to the side and fell. I let myself drop in free fall for half a second before my magic too hold of me and slowed my pace to greeting the ground to a safe pace. I landed and gave a bow to Anabel who just rolled her eyes and pumped her wings to gain altitude.

        “Show off.” Rose teased.

        “It is also a good warm up for my magic.” I replied. “Alright, everypony we’re headed north to the MASEBS tower for this section of the Seamane region. We are about to cross into the Unbound, so beware of everything that isn't us. I have no clue how the native life has changed, how the native populations have changed, or how the landscape has changed. I have no information on hazards, locations, or anything. We are going in on two decade old intel and have no other choice.”

        “Better than over a century's old intel.” Foresight added in.

        “Much better, alright, lets get going.” I said as I walked out the swapping station and began walking straight for the tower. There were no intervening hills until the ones right around the tower and those were going to greet us by the end of today. So with wariness and a good nights rest we headed in to the unknown passing the last bit of civilization that sat outside the Unbound.

        “So what is the plan after we get to the tower and turn it on?” Foresight asked as we walked on the melting snow.

        “Well, once it is on I can use it's camera system to look around and figure out locations of interest. There is supposed to be a resort town or something to the east of us along the coast. I also know there are a good number, or were, of farming towns and communities in this part. There are also likely more manors and mansions around the place.” I explained.

        “Sounds like a solid plan. Any objections to going somewhere if anypony else spots a place they want to check out?” Foresight asked and I turned my head to look at him.

        “You already know a place, you just want to know how it looks right now.” I said speculatively.

        Foresight frowned and nodded.

        “I have no problems with it. I just want to be briefed on why you are interested in this place.” I said returning my focus to our path that I was clearing with my hooves. “You don't have to brief us until we’re in the tower, once we confirm your destination still existences.”

        “Okay.” Foresight replied, sounding a bit relieved.

        “I’m guessing you are either worried about something over hearing your explanation of where we’re going, or that you would have to go there alone.” I hazarded a guess.

        “I don't want to go there on my own, if what I heard about it is right it is not a safe place even for a army of Steel Rangers.” Foresight explained.

        “Then why the hay would the four of us stand a chance if a horde of power armored ponies would die there.” I asked looking back at Foresight who had his helmet off at the moment.

        “Because we are a lot quieter than an army of Steel Rangers.” Foresight explained.

        “You know, four of us going in quiet is going to go badly as soon as things go loud, and we all know we will end up having to go loud.” I said remembering how usually being quiet fell apart when I tripped, sometimes physically tripped, over enemies.

        “Which is why we are going in geared for a firefight and going as far as we can, quietly.” Foresight explained.

        “So... Is this a we go until we win, or is there a option to retreat?” I asked as I moved a rock out of the way.

        “I...” Foresight trailed off and I looked behind me to see him stopped in his trail.

        “Foresight?” I asked as I looked at him, Rose standing behind him with a eyebrow raised at me.

        “I'll let you know once we see how the place looks, okay, Moonlight?” Foresight asked as I was unable to read what were dancing across his muzzle at the moment.

        “Yeah, I can wait for us to get to the tower for an explanation. Just... Keep you eyes open and head up. I don't want us to get jumped by anything.” I said as I started to push ahead again.

        As the day dragged on I kept an eye on the dark figure against the clouds that was Anabel, not once did she dive down, nor did I see anything greet her. I took her continued patrol up high as a sign that things were safe for now.

        “Well at least it seems that things are rather peaceful out here.” I sighed as I helped Rose climb up over some rocks on the trail.

        “Yeah it does seem that way. Though hopefully we didn't just jinx ourselves.” Rose said as she finished climbing up.

        “Don't worry about jinxing us, weirdness finds us due to Moonlight, and all bad luck is from me being here.” Foresight said, his voice betraying a hint of frustration or depression, I wasn’t certain which.

        “Foresight?” I asked looking at him.

        “Sorry, just.” He turned to look towards the tower. “I guess I will have a lot to explain when we get to the tower.”

        “Don’t worry about it, how about you lead, Foresight, maybe being on point will take your mind off of it.” I suggested.

        “Okay, just smack me on the head if I zone out.” Foresight said as he moved ahead of me.

        “I will, as your commanding officer, smack you back to reality.” I said before giggling. “Come on Foresight, I won't let you walk off a cliff, and you don't have to worry about us wandering off for some fun behind your back.”

        “I promise not to drag Moonlight off for fun while you lead us.” Rose said looking at Foresight who started to smile.

        “Thanks you two, come on lets go, I don't think Anabel wants to fly all day.” Foresight said waving his fore hoof towards the tower.

        “Hey, just trying to keep us all together and get to our destination.” I said as I checked the time read out on my pipbuck. “If we push it we can make it to the tower tonight. So long as things keep as even as I they have been.”

        “Alright, well lets going.” Foresight said and started to find our path forward.

        I turned to Rose. “You doing alright?”

        “Yeah, I’m just not used to climbing like you are.” Rose answered as she took a drink.

        “I do seem oddly adept at climbing things.” I smirked, Rose had yet to figure out how to properly climb a ladder.

        “Shut up, you with your weird skills learned from growing up on a boat.” Rose jokingly fired back.

        “Hey, it is a beached ship, and really you should come with me on exploring the lower decks for some practice.” I teased back.

        “I don't think she meant those lower decks, Rose.” Foresight called back as he shifted some stones.

        “Hey! I didn't even get to make the joke, yet.” Rose pouted.

        “You were going to.” I teased back.

        “If you two are done.” Foresight said. “I could use a hoof clearing our trail.”

        “Sure, come on you can get revenge on me once we get in the tower, Rose.” I said as I walked over and began moving the rocks with a mix of strength and magic to make a clear and stable path for us.

        “Somepony is going to feel my wrath later.” Rose purred as she joined in with the building of our path.

        With Foresight directing our hooves and magic we managed to cleared a path through the remains of a landslide from who knows how long ago. Once our path was cleared we made good time as we found ourselves on relatively flat ground with the tower looming ahead of us. I kept taking glances towards the sky to see Anabel hovering above us a good ways up, now she was mostly gliding by the looks of it. I guessed she wasn't used to flying so much. I turned my gaze back to the tower to see it reading out to be only two miles away.

        “Come on we can do this.” I said as I put more energy into my steps. “We will be there in no time.”

        The others nodded as I pushed us ahead even though the night was falling quickly.

        We got to the tower to find the base of it stained in blood and the shattered remains of ponies.

        “This doesn't look good.” I said as I surveyed the tower’s base for the door.

        “You don't say.” Foresight said as he approached the blood stained wall. “Why do you think they’re here?”

        “I don't know, see if you notice a pattern or something while I look for the door.” I replied as I started around the base of the tower looking for the panel that would hold the terminal for the door.

        “Rose, stick with Moonlight, Anabel on me.” Foresight ordered as he turned the corner to the other side of the base of the tower, Anabel swooped over to him as we turned the corner.

        “Come on it shouldn't too hard to find this damn panel.” I cursed as I walked using my magic to illuminate the wall of the tower. “I mean yeah the base of this tower is fucking massive, but, still it shouldn't be that hard to find.”

        “Are you really just going to ignore the bodies?” Rose asked as she walked behind me.

        “Yes, they’re bodies, once we are inside we can lock the door and be safe from whatever is out here.” I replied as the panel was marked in my vision by my E.F.S. “Finally.”

        “You really certain it will be safe, I mean, have you seen what is written in blood on this thing?” Rose asked, I had actually not noticed any writing while looking for the panel.

        “I can honestly say, no I haven't seen any writing, too focused on getting inside.” I replied.

        “Okay, so you didn't see that they were making sacrifices to Celestia.” Rose said as I opened the panel.

        I turned to stare at her open mouthed then I turned my attention to the wall where Celestia's cutie mark was plastered in blood on the wall.

        “Okay, we are getting inside, now. I don’t want to be out here when whoever or whatever did this returns. I mean none of the bodies we saw were all that fresh, but, I don't want to run the risk of bumping into some sort of tribal cult. I like my blood being inside of me.” I said as I powered on the terminal and opened the front door.

        “Alright, I will get the other two, you secure the front room.” Rose said as she galloped off to fetch our friends.

        I nodded as she left and stepped inside, to see two red tags appear in my vision as two turrets descended.

        “Oh fuck!” I cried as I dove pulling out This and That Gun as the turrets began to fire upon me. The rounds I felt bounce off of me as I landed and rolled. I stood under the torrent of bullets confused as to why I was not dying. “Excuse me, what?”

        I walked up to the turrets and manually shut them down and unloaded them to find that they had non lethal rubber bullets in them which did nothing to an armored target.

        “Well now, that was just strange...” I muttered to myself as I took the ammo for myself and removed the turrets.

        “I know you're good with machines, but, this is ridiculous, Moonlight.” Anabel laughed as the three made their presence known to me as I finished removing the mounting brackets for the second turret. I managed not to drop the turret, but, I did end up falling on my hind as the field of magic I was using for support vanished.

        My wrench proceeded to smack into my head. “Ow...”

        I heard the three of them start laughing as the door closed.

        “Lend me a hoof will ya? If security here is active we need to get the terminal on the main desk unlocked so we don't get shot apart, even if these turrets shot non lethal rubber bullets I doubt the rest will be so forgiving.” I said as I rubbed my forehead.

        “I'll get the terminal, Rose make certain she doesn't have a concussion. Foresight, keep an eye out for anything that isn't us.” Anabel commanded taking over for me.

        “Got it.” Rose said as she walked up to me pulling off one of our medkits and began to check me over.

        “It was just a smack to my head, it shouldn't be hard to figure out.” I muttered as I sat there letting my marefriend check me over. “Still... it hurt a fair bit.”

        “Yeah it looks like you do you have a concussion, here drink a healing potion.” Rose said hoofing me a healing potion that I downed immediately once again being grateful for the pleasant feeling that came with the potions healing powers.

        “Much better.” I sighed as I returned the empty bottle to Rose. “Now then, how is the terminal coming along, Anabel?”

        “It is coming along. How about you two go and check the generators, there might be a switch for turning of security down there.” Anabel suggested and I nodded.

        “I am expecting you two to be here when Rose and I get back.” I said as I got to my hooves, drawing This and That Gun as I did.

        “We will, or we will make our way to you.” Anabel said as Rose pulled out her rifle.

        “No point in stealth tonight is there?” Rose asked as she clicked the safety off her rifle.

        “Nope, robotic systems are usually networked in a place like this. Once they know you are in, they start hunting.” I replied as I cocked the hammers for my revolvers. “Lets make certain there is enough power for this place so the DJ can have their tower.”

        “Right behind you.” Rose said as I took the lead.

        Thankfully the natives had never gotten inside, but, I suspected their activity outside had triggered an alarm, as well as our approach. Whatever the case had been it didn’t matter as we managed to disable or destroy any further turrets that activated, annoyingly they were not the type that had non lethal rounds and instead had very much lethal rounds. I also noticed that these turrets seemed to be using the same ammo as my unique smg's which bugged me. I think it bugged me due to these towers were meant to be standardized, and this one wasn't from I was seeing with it’s layout.

        Despite the strange layout of this tower we found the generator room just the same, there was only really one path anyways, it just twisted and went further down than expected, I guessed that was due to being on a hill they wanted to go deeper to make it stable. Once to the generators I had to power a few more on and had to manually cut the circuit feeding security. Once that was done we headed back up the many flights of stairs.

        “If we weren't in such good shape this would be murder.” Rose bemoaned and I grunted in agreement. “I mean how many stairs did they put in here? It has to be over a thousand steps, easily.”

        I just nodded in agreement, I just wanted to get to the broadcast floor, flip on the equipment and sleep. Foresight could brief us in the morning.

        We returned to the front desk where Anabel was reclining against the wall as Foresight had dinner.

        “Security is offline, lets get to broadcasting and hit the switch in there. After that, I am going to sleep.” I said as I turned to go to the elevator.

        “You and Rose go up, we’ll keep watch down here.” Anabel said as I stepped through the doorway out.

        “Fine.” I said as I hit the call button with my magic.

        “At least we got a nice shelter for the night.” Rose said as she sat next to me as the elevator descended for us.

        “Maybe more than one night.” I added.

        “Why? Do you think it will take that long to plan things out?” Rose asked.

        “That, and, everyone can get a good bit of sleep in. Also I want to get a good look at all the land around here.” I explained as the door opened to the elevator and I walked in, Rose following quickly. “Plus, who knows what the weather will do.”

        “Fair enough.” Rose replied as she hit the button for broadcasting.

        The ride up was quiet, both Rose and I forgetting about the sudden acceleration and deceleration that the elevators had leaving both of us holding each other and shaking.

        “Sleeping together?” Rose asked as we stumbled our way out of the Elevator, I simply nodded as I got control of myself again now that I was certain I wasn't about to fall to my death in a large steel coffin with my marefriend.

        “Lets just get this online and use the cot that should be up here.” I answered as I walked up to the monitor bank and hit the button to restart the system. I got electrified and was sent sliding on my back out of the room.

        “Ow...” I whimpered as smoke rose from my coat. “Please tell me I didn't just fry the tower.”

        “You didn't, it is rebooting, you just touched it with your powerhoof, and I suspect a lot of power just went through you.” Rose said as she lifted my head up after galloping over to me.

        “Right, I keep forgetting right hoof is no good for anything beyond smacking things with.” I muttered as Rose dug out a healing potion.

        “Even then, only for things you want to break.” Rose added as she put the potion to my lips.

        I drank down the potion as I watched the broadcast system reboot and reestablish contact with the MAS Emergency Broadcasting System. I saw a happy Homage waving to us as the sound of DJ Pon3's music filled the room for a moment before cutting out. I noticed in the corner of my vision that my pipbuck had picked up the DJ's signal again.

        “Looks like we are good.” I said as I got up.

        “Yep, alright lets make certain to turn off the camera so Homage can't watch us.” Rose replied as we walked back into the broadcast room.

        “Hi you two, it has been a while.” Homage said as we got to the console, Rose hit the broadcast to studio button before I could.

        “Hello, Homage, and yes it has been a while.” Rose answered with a smile. “We were just about to call it a night. You might want to turn off the camera on your end as our friends will be up here tomorrow morning to start looking for places to hit in the Unbound.”

        “Oh, don't worry I was planning on turning off after we talked.” Homage said as she adjusted something on her console. “You two should probably turn of the camera on your end as well.”

        “Of course, I don't want a voyeur watching us.” I teased causing Homage to laugh.

        “Please, I have more control than that.” Homage purred once she stopped laughing.

        I just rolled my eyes. “Apparently because world ended now everypony is automatically a lesbian and horny all the time.”

        Rose just nibbled on my ear in response to this.

        “Well we have to have something to get excited about, otherwise life is pretty depressing.” Homage replied.

        “Fair enough, it is why my friends place bets on what I am going to do when we aren't in the middle of a firefight.” I laughed back as Rose continued to nibble.

        “Anyways, just wanted to let you know that the Caravan you ran into in the Badlands passed through Dune City and is headed for the river. They are making their own road as they go.” Homage explained and my happy mood shifted to attempting to figure out what was the reason for the caravan's activity.

        “Is there a seven pony team following them?” I asked.

        “Yes there is, they are keeping an eye on them. Why, do you know them?” Homage asked.

        “I do, somewhat, they are... Friendly, I'm not certain what they are up to, but, keep an eye on both without informing the caravan. I rather not have those seven ponies die.”

        “I understand, Moonlight. Well I have to make an announcement about you getting this tower online later tonight. Is there anything you want me to say along with it.” Homage asked.

        “No, I'm good. Wait, if you don't mind, don't exactly pinpoint where we are, I still have some ponies after my head and rather not have them sending forces after us in the Unbound.” I replied.

        “Okay then, you two have a good night, stay safe out there.” Homage said before the screen changed to an image of Manehattan, likely from an exterior camera on Tenpony tower.

        I pressed a button setting the feed for the room to route to an external camera. “Alright, lets unwind and have dinner.”

        “In that order.” Rose demanded before dragging me to the cot for some unwinding.

        Footnote: Thirty Six Percent to next level.