Fallout Equestria: The Ranger of Seamane

Chapter 7 – Farm Country

“I have given all that I have all that I own to you, and now I ask for you to do the same for our children.” - Red Eye, Fallout Equestria

Eventually we had to set down, Bryn's wings were too tired to keep flying unabated. When we landed he covered my eyes with his tail and moved quietly all the while dragging me. We both knew the second one of us made a mistake this was over. We both had a problem that we couldn't fight as easily as each other, our bodies basic needs. I had been badly injured without a chance to sleep, he had been burning energy flying and carrying me. Both of us needed food and water as well. Bryn was doing his best to make certain I lost this fight and would pass out before him, then he would disarm me and I would have no method of fighting back.

        “Bryn, neither of us will make it anywhere like this, you let me keep a knife and my revolver, you get everything else. When we get to Fillydelphia we can go our separate ways.” I said.

        “Sure thing, maybe we will sign a contract on it, oh wait, ponies don't respect the contract.” Bryn fired back with a heavy tone of sarcasm.

        “Listen, I just want to live, simple as that. In this situation we are both dead if we don't work together. And yeah, I hate you, I want to gut you. But, I like being alive more than I like getting revenge at this point.” I fired back at him.

        Bryn grumbled, “you have a point, a annoyingly valid point. You understand if when we get to Fillydelphia I decide to instead knock you out and sell ya right?”

        “Really,” I just flatly said to him.

        “Here is the thing, my contract is to bring everypony I can to Red Eye, in doing so I work with Helgrim. Now here is the thing, protecting and working with the ponies I am to sell isn't against the contract. Surprisingly it kind of helps getting ponies to Red Eye a lot easier if I protect them. So if I want to stay loyal to the contract in everyone elses eyes you are going to have to beat me when we get to Fillydelphia. Until then, don't shoot me in the back.”

        “Agreed, set me down and I will get what I took from you out, patch you up some too.” I really didn't like the idea of helping him, or the fact he just told me as soon as we get to Fillydelphia he was going to try to take me out so he could get some caps. I felt my hooves touch the ground and as soon as they did something forcefully grabbed my revolver.

        “Sorry, but, until you get me armed up with those battle saddles I am going to keep your revolver. Still don't trust you.” I opened my eyes as his tail released my head and I saw my revolver in his talons aimed at my head.

        I stared at him for a moment then went to taking off the battle saddle. My back felt much better once the battle saddle's straps came loose and it slide off of me and on to the ground. I pulled out my medical supplies and went to patching Bryn back up, the entire time he kept his gaze firmly locked on me. It took the longer than I would have wanted to properly fix a lot of his injuries, due to having to cut out pieces of glass that his body had healed over from what I assumed had been the reckless use of a healing potion. I could also tell he was very exhausted as I listened to his breathing and pulse.

        “Bryn you are going to have to trust me with this, I need to check that there isn't any internal damage, which means I need to cast a spell.” I stared at him as he slowly nodded, I was starting to get used to avian eyes. I cast my spell and began to check him over. As I had assumed, majority of the damage I had done to him had been healed with a healing potion, he got lucky nothing was out of place. “Alright, beyond exhaustion you’re good.”

        Bryn didn't say anything as he pulled on his armor, then put on the battle saddles. “Thanks, catch” he tossed my pistol towards me which I caught in my magic. “Lets get somewhere a bit safer for the night.” He began to walk towards what looked like a small barn a few miles away. I put my revolver in my mouth and followed after him. It looked like for now Bryn was going to hold up our verbal contract. I decided not to mention it, I honestly didn't want to aggravate the gryphon. I honestly was also surprised that he was so willing to let me walk behind him, out of his sight. Maybe that was just exhaustion effecting his judgement.

        The walk to the barn was cold as not a few minutes after we started to walk it started to rain. I hate the wasteland, it rained too much. I don't think there was a five day stretch so far that it hadn't rained at least once during. Maybe the pegasi were trying to drown us, that or thought with enough rain they could wash away all the mistakes of the past as well as the various poisons that still remained. Either way, I was getting really sick of the rain, and of the cold. I did notice the the weather didn't affect Bryn at all, he kept up a constant pace, looking like he was completely fine. Even when I picked up the pace and was now a ways ahead of him. I just wanted out of the damn rain, let Bryn shoot me in the back at least then maybe I wouldn't be so cold or wet.

        When we got to the barn I crept in first, the place was barely still standing, the stairs leading up to the loft upstairs had fallen apart some time ago. The ground floor barely had anything other than some loose dirt. I turned as Bryn walked in and gave a nod to the loft, he looked up then closed the door behind him before stretching his powerful wings and flying up there. I listened as his feet moved around up there, bits of dust falling from the cracks. Mercifully the structure stood and I heard him lay down. Guess that solved one problem of sleeping arrangements. Grumbling to myself I found a intact stall on the bottom floor and went in, closing the door behind me. I sent thanks to Luna and Celestia that the place at least had few leaks and the dirt was dry and soft. I set my revolver in a corner by the door so anypony looking in wouldn't see it.

        I lay there on the floor for what felt like hours never relaxed enough to sleep, my whole body now felt tight. While it seemed Bryn was being reasonable enough about this temporary cease fire it didn't make me relax any. I looked down at my pipbuck zero. I watched the minutes tick by, I pulled out the ear bloom and turned on the radio. To hell if I was just going to keep listening to the rain all night trying to hear foot steps.

        Listening to the radio didn't help much, time seemed to pass a bit faster by. Every creek, every sound that wasn't a drop of rain made my ears twitch in every direction. Every time I heard something any semblance of tiredness was washed away. What I would give for a book to get lost in, even if somepony crept up on us I still had my gun hidden from sight, my knife, and was tense enough to probably not feel the first two shots that hit me. I listened as DJ Pon3 came on with some sort of informational broadcast. At least maybe I would learn something new.

        “Alright folks I have been hearing of a lot of sightings of the Princesses. Now I know what you are thinking, “But, the Princesses died two hundred years ago when the bombs fell”. Well you are right, these are not our princesses, whatever they actually are they are not our princesses and they are very powerful. I have seen them engage with raiders. These alicorns have quite the magical prowess. So, don't shoot at them unless you want to die, treat them like any other dangerous animal out there like the Manticore or Hell hounds. Give them a wide berth if you see them, if they come to you don't shoot, hopefully the worst they will do is scare you. I have also heard unconfirmed reports of these Alicorns working with Red Eye's slavers as well as foalnapping. So, if you think you see the princesses you don't try to hurt them, run, hide, lock the door. These things aren't to be trusted beyond probably not wanting to kill you outright. Now then on that note I am going to leave you with some Sweetie Belle and get some sleep. DJ Pon3 out.”

        So, now besides looking out for Gryphons and Manticores when I passed through Fillydelphia and Manehattan I had to be on the look out for Alicorns. I mean yes I had to look out for raiders and all that, but, these were enemies that can fly. Honestly as if the wasteland didn't have enough problems already with slavers, raiders, predatory animals, and steel rangers. Of course everything also got a lot worse the closer you get to any cities ruins. Honestly I was glad to that apparently Seamane was not of much interest at the moment. I felt a chill go through me, I just jinxed myself didn't I? I let out a sigh, well whatever the case, deal with whatever horrors and monstrosities that popped up in Seamane when I get there. I rubbed my eyes, maybe my mind wasn't able to rest but seemed like the stress was catching up to the rest of me. I pulled open my saddlebags and grabbed some food, I didn't feel hungry, however, I knew I should eat something. I sat there eating, waiting. Waiting for what?

        I continued to blankly stare at the door of the stall I had taken. The mixture of rain and music turned into a quiet white noise as I zoned out my body not wanting to sleep yet, my brain not wanting to sleep either. So I lay there staring at the wall with a blank mind.

*                *                *

        The rain continued to pour down, small streams went around my hooves, the loose dirt having turned to mud. I was laying on my side, I don't remember laying down on my side. I pushed myself back upright and notice my ear bloom at some point fell out too. I reach down to put it back and saw the radio is off. I blink and look at the corner where my revolver is, no, was. I looked around and found it was laying next to me caked in mud. I pulled the cylinder out and checked it. It was still fully loaded, so I just cleaned it off. The hell had happened, last I remembered was listening to the radio and the rain. I guessed I ended up passing out eventually. I looked at the walls. No, this isn't the same place, it is another barn, like the one before. Or maybe it is the same one. Damn it why did I feel so off at the moment.  I grasp the revolver in my magic and slide open the stall door. The sound is deafening to me as the door fought against my effort to open it.

        I crept out of the stall keeping low and quiet. Slowly my hearing adjusted to the drone of the rain hitting the barn. Everything was right, but, not right. The stairs were still destroyed and unusable, the barn in places was better repair than I remembered, others in far worse. I opened the front door to see it was the same place, some how I had missed all of these detail when we first arrived. I shook my head and closed the door. I began to check each stall in the barn for anything of use, sadly all that I found for my effort was two bottle caps. I slid them into my saddlebags as I felt a itch running from the base of my mane to my horn. Maybe I needed to wash my mane again, laying in the mud must have gotten it itchy.

        As I sat using my magic to gather water above me wash myself with I heard the sound of talons coming from the loft. I guessed that Bryn had awoken and would be down soon. I opened holes in the bowl of telekinesis that I had holding the water above me. Letting streams of water come down on me washing away the grime and dirt that had built up. A frightening amount of the water that flowed off of me was red indicating I had a lot of caked on blood on myself. I had just bathed and yet I was already caked in my own blood yet again. That is kind of sad isn't? Tragic tale of hygiene in the wastelands. It didn't take long for me to wash myself, next came cleaning the rest of my stuff. Thankfully most of what was on my stuff was thankfully mud or just easily came out.

        I heard a small splash behind me as I set everything back down on one of the few flat surfaces of wood left. I turned to see Bryn standing there, the small streams of water rolling around his talons. His eyes were focused on me, calculating.

        “How long until you stop posing and are ready to go.” Bryn asked me.

        I blushed, “I didn't mean to pose, but, since it is still raining we can go as soon as I eat something.”

        “Get to it, been here long enough that my feathers are starting to stand up on end.” I saw his eyes start to dart around before he spread his wings once more and flew up to the loft again. “Let me know when you are done.”

        I pulled over one of the last bits of food I had, hopefully we would find some place that I could get some more. If we could not find more food for me this was going to be a short trip, or one with a very bad ending for me. I looked up at the loft where Bryn was watching me from, I hadn't seen him eat anything this whole time. Maybe while I was out cold he left to hunt something. I popped in a few shriveled preserved apples, I hated that they tasted so good for how horrible they looked. With a sigh I ate a couple more then put the box away. I donned my barding and set my saddlebags on my back.

        “Alright Bryn I am ready to go.” I called up to him as I used my magic to pull back my hair so the longer parts of my mane stayed out of my face. I wasn't going to be dry any time soon so at least I could set my hair so it would lay out of my face. Bryn hopped down from his position and motioned me to get the door. I lifted the board barring the door with my magic and set it down on the ground. With a push of my own magic I opened the door into the rain and walked out. Bryn walked out and stood next to me.

        “Climb on, we are still a ways away from Fillydelphia and I rather not take a month to get there with you having to navigate the badlands on foot.” Bryn said as he crouched down.

        “I promise to do my best not to get both of us killed.” I replied as I climbed on his back and opened the barn door.

        Within moments we were flying again, with my armor this time I didn’t feel as cold as quickly, but, still I was soaking wet. The day passed without incident before we landed at another barn a ways north. This time I slept instead of passing out. Without word we were ready for the next day of travel, though Bryn looked more tired than yesterday.

        “You are going to walk that way,” he pointed his talons off in a direction, “I will keep an eye out for any place of interest, or anything that might want to eat you.” I nodded and started walking in the direction he indicated.

        I was right, I couldn't really get any wetter, but, I could get a lot colder, though not as bad as flying in this weather. I thought about making a dome of my magic over me to keep the rain off of me then I realized that would just be a beacon to anything out here. More importantly I realized that beacon would be one for my head and horn, a shot to either would be lethal or make me nothing more than a frail earth pony. I kept my helmet and goggles on the whole time, what of my mane sat below the helmet dried, it was the only dry part of me. Even as the rain kept pouring down from time to time I would see a dark figure in the sky, never a gunshot or call, just a silent shadow. This figure I would see dive bomb something a ways ahead of me. The skill of a gryphon is both a marvelous thing to behold and terrifying at the same time for you now know how easily it could happen to yourself. Or in my case would be happening to me upon reaching Fillydelphia.

        After a few hours Bryn landed in front of me and dropped a satchel on the ground then took to the skies again. I picked it up and used my magic, a plus side to this trip was I had learned how to make the aura of my magic smaller on my horn thus making myself much less of a target. It also helped that I had seen exactly how far visibility was at this point. If I used my magic even openly the only one who would possibly see it was Bryn or other gryphons. As such I used my magic to examine the satchel. In it I found some more medical supplies as well as some more prewar food. I hazard a guess that at some point Bryn had seen either raiders or a building with these supplies. I also figured some of the times I saw him dive bomb the ground he had been attacking wildlife for food. Once I had the satchel around my neck I made a dome of magic over me, keeping water out was far easier than what the shield spell was. I also used my magic to pop a few more preserved bite sized apples into my mouth. I hadn't had the chance to check the time, but, I trusted my stomach as a good enough clock. From what I felt it was probably a bit after noon.

        As I continued on I thankfully began to dry as I held my shield up. The spell was simple enough that I could hold it for hours if needed, and as it was, I needed it. It was far too cold not to. I guessed that Equestria still did have severe seasonal changes, even if not quite as strong as they had once been. Instead of snow most of the time during winter it just rained and the air would sap what heat was in your body out when you inevitably got wet. That or I was just in a very cold rain storm. Either way I was not a happy pony, or a well rested pony. What was worse was that I kept on thinking I heard hoof steps in the rain or a voice over the wind.

        For the next few hours I kept up a decent pace with my rain shield up. I saw nothing or heard anything beyond the sound of my hoofs in the mud of the rolling plains I was trotting across. It was maddening how peaceful it was. A few times I stopped and ate what little grass still grew. I needed anything to supplement my diet with. After a few more hours of this the rain finally died off and I could took a rest to let both my body and magic recover. While I sat there I noticed I didn't see Bryn anywhere. I had figured he was keeping up with me, however, now it seemed he had moved off on his own. I cocked my revolver with my magic while keeping it in its holster. Some may call this being paranoid or trigger happy, but, when you have a slaving, torture loving, psychopath gryphon as your 'companion' you tend to be a bit on the worried side. More so when they have told you they are going to attack you when you get to the destination.

        I began walking again keeping my eye out for any movement now that I had a good view around me. I both welcomed the leaving of the rain and hated that the rain had stopped. Nopony was really around, as well I was walking in a direction, not even following a dirt trail. My only direction to go was North.

Fortunately for me thanks to all the rain it had been hard for anypony or anything to do much while I was passing through the few towns a ways back. Thus now in the open plains I was relatively safe unless Manticores had a really large hunting area or a band of nomadic raiders happened to see me. Or Bryn decided waiting until Fillydelphia was a bad idea and decided to swoop down out of the air now and attack me. Then again he wanted caps for my head which he wouldn't get if I didn't get to some place that would buy me from him.

        I cursed under my breath, I shouldn't be paranoid about Bryn yet. Logically he had no reason to attack me yet. He also had given me a verbal contract on not trying to kill me before we got to Fillydelphia. I popped in my ear bloom and turned on the radio, only for a short while hoping that maybe DJ Pon3 would throw me a bone and give me a situation report about what lay between here and Fillydelphia. Instead all I got to hear about was a rather intense battle between Red Eye forces and the Steel Rangers in Fillydelphia. The fight had cost  the Steel Rangers a bit of ground, apparently Red Eye knew well enough to pin down the Steel Rangers and take them out at long range. Another thought came into my mind as I listened to some more news around Manehattan, this would be a different type of urban combat than in that small town where I fought those raiders. Bryn had all the cards, his two biggest advantages being he knew the area and his wings.

        I turned off the ear bloom once the music resumed. No luck on gaining any valuable information. But, my mind was now thinking of how to deal with Bryn when we got to Fillydelphia. Short of getting a lucky shot off before Bryn had a chance to take off I couldn't deal with his ability to fly. However, there was three things I could do to turn the situation to my advantage. The first was simple, get indoors, it was a city so a lot of buildings would be connected. If the building I was hiding in didn't have any underground access or possibly above ground, I always would have the advantage of being indoors where there was a limited number of paths he could take. Disadvantage to the plan of going indoors was obvious to me, if I got trapped he could just wait until I passed out. He was far more used to physically straining himself so he would likely take it easy the day of getting into Fillydelphia so he could out wait me if needed, as well as run me down. The second advantage I had was the sewer and storm drainage systems in Fillydelphia, a city like that would need extensive ones with being on the banks of a major river. I could dive into one of those and so long as no major damage had been done to it or it being infested with threats, it would give me a whole hay of a lot of maneuvering room. Third, from what I could tell was I could probably rely on any Steel Rangers to attack on sight any Red Eye forces. So I could in theory run past a Steel Ranger outpost on hoof in a manner where they would see a gryphon dive by and shoot them down and not bombard me with lead.

        A few more hours past I had yet to see Bryn again. So I laid down after marking which way to head in the morning.

*                *                *

 I had taken to sleeping wherever I felt like, seeing as I was among rolling fields. The first night was the worst of them as the ground had been pretty soggy still so I ended up practically caked in mud. That hadn't been too much of an issue as the following day it decided to rain like mad again. I honestly was just surprised that I hadn't gotten sick. Either from the rain or the food.

        It had been three days since Bryn vanished on me. At this point I was fairly certain he had instead elected to just fly the rest of the way to Fillydelphia and wait for me to arrive then attack me as I entered the city. The past few days my emotions had been running high, anger at him leaving me out here to probably die a lost little mare in the vast empty plains. Or I was feeling sad that I had lost potentially the only company I would have this entire trip. Part of me had wanted to turn around and try to go back to Colt. I remembered that during the first day of travel Bryn had explained to me that we had landed in the middle of the badlands and rested there for the night, which meant he could fly from roughly Oakmare past Colt in a day. Apparently flight was very, very good at cutting down travel time. Assuming you were a strong flier with good weather. As I finished climbing a hill I looked down into the plains below me. The area was very thick in fog, which did little to ease my already frayed nerves. I had no other option but to go through this massive fog bank.

        I climbed down the hill and as I entered the fog I absently clicked on my flashlight. After almost having a heart attack from the sudden brightness and the deep shadow forms in the fog I turned the flashlight off. Light plus fog was not a good idea. Then my mind wandered back to the shadow forms I had seen. Nothing had moved in the brief moment my light was on and cut through the fog, but, there had been a figure none the less. I drew out my revolver, it was still cocked from several days ago. With a deep breath I steeled myself for what was going to be probably a very nerve wracking experience on top of my already frayed nerves.

I slowly walked into the fog keeping my revolver in my mouth as I saw something darker ahead. Not the figure from before, but, a almost uniform dark shape. I crept closer thanking Celestia for the soft dirt and not mud. As I closed on the dark shape, color started to seep into its features. It was grass, not green and healthy but brown. I pulled my revolver out of my mouth with my magic and took a bite of it. It was fresh, well, kind of. It was the fresh of something that had managed to be grown after the war. I looked around me to realize I was standing next to a field of grass that I could eat. That ponies could eat and with the fog hide in. With that thought striking my mind I went back on full alert. I pulled out what empty food boxes I had and my knife. I wasn't going to let this pass by me, and so I used my knife to cut down as much grass as I could fit into the several empty boxes. Food was taken care of for now. May not have everything I need in it, but, hay it was better than nothing.

        I began to pick my way forward praying my internal compass would guide me in the right direction. As I crept through the field numerous times I thought I heard whispers or movement. I even saw what looked like a figure standing off in the distance just watching me. That sent a chill down my spine as I kept my eye on it until the fog obscured the dark form. Eventually I came across a fence. It was old and in disrepair and I saw no gate near me so I did my best to climb and squeeze through it quietly. On the other side sat a dirt road leading to my left and right. I wanted to take neither of them. In the time that it took me to climb the fog had lifted a bit more as it had been doing all morning.

I froze at what I saw. There was a giant tent in front of me, parked vehicles all about. All of them looked to be for transporting materials. I stood still as I took in what was all around me. As I did all I could hear was faint music, what would pass for cheerful in any other situation, now it was utterly horrifying. I saw what looked like a bloat sprite hovering in the air as I heard the music coming closer. I lined up my sights on the revolver. As it came closer I noticed it was metal not organic. I stared at it as it passed by ignoring my presence. With a quiet sigh around the handle of my gun I moved forward. Whatever they were they didn't care about me, and from the looks of them and this place hadn't cared for two hundred years.

        As I moved towards the tent I saw a sign advertising the place.

        “Come one, come all to a Pinkie Pie certified carnival! We set up shop out here for so all those folks who work so tirelessly away from any big city could still get some fun! As such we have begun setting up and will be done by next week. Tickets will be free to all who come as it is your work that makes us able to be fed. -Site Manager, Cat”

        I looked around and saw the skeletons of tents half way put up, but, abandoned when the bombs fell. Nopony wanted to be working on this when the end came, nopony had heart to finish putting it together when the world shattered. I let out a bit of a depressed sigh at that. Another robotic parasprite floated by and I listened to the carnival music spill out of it. Again it didn't notice my existence. Apparently they had been programmed to just patrol and play music. I looked around to see what few tents were up. Nothing had signs on them, but, as I moved around I saw that behind the central tent many buildings had been erected. Most of them booths for games, a few for food. I heard my stomach growl at the idea of actual food. My brain berated it for thinking there would be anything better than what we had been eating for the past few days beyond the grass we just harvested. At that moment my stomach decided to protest my brains treatment of it.

        I did my best to put my revolver away before what contents of my stomach came up. The foul smell and burning sensation left in my mouth and throat made me dry heave for a few minutes before I mustered control over my body again and moved towards the booths. I inspected each booth, most held what remained of toys for foals. At several points I thought I had found myself a rifle to only find it fired tiny metal balls. Something completely unfit as a weapon in the wasteland. Looking at them and even taking one apart I knew they were worthless to me and any other pony. After a while the booths were fully explored so I moved on to a series of identical structures built further back. As I neared them they seemed to be residential in nature. Even with as much as the fog had lifted it the whole place still had a bad vibe to it.

        I approached the nearest building and tried its door, to my surprise I found it unlocked and opened quietly. I popped my head in to see what was within. I was greeted with a rather spartan room. There was a bed of sorts, I think that was half way pulled out, a lot of alcohol related glasses sitting on every available surface. And there was a single skeleton laying on the floor. It was an earth pony and in its jaws sat a pistol. For a moment I marveled at how they had managed as an earth pony to get a gun in their mouth and pull the trigger of it. I then mentally slapped myself, and then also did so with my magic.

‘This had been some pony, don't marvel at how they died!’ I chastised myself.

I grabbed the pistol and checked it over. I couldn't find a slide on it and noticed a cylinder release button. I hit it and with silent motion the cylinder popped out and ejected the one round that had been loaded. It was a five point fifty six millimeter round. I looked it over with a bit more reverence and loaded it. I liked This Gun even though I had not a clue what it was other than a pistol that took rather decent sized rifle rounds and held five shots. It still surprised me that it was a revolver and not a pistol. It was heavy too, I stared down at the earth pony before me and sent a prayer for him up to Celestia.

        I then proceeded to ransack his house. In the end all I really found of use was some more ammo for that gun and a lot of caps from all of the bottles of alcohol as well as the bottles of themselves. Money, water, ammo, and a damn nice pistol. I was happier than I had been for the past few days. Which was not saying much. I felt a smile creep across my face as I strapped on another holster for the five point five six pistol. Today I had finally found something worth my time, I had the cover of fog protecting me from eyes above, and badly needed supplies. I took my time to catalog all of my supplies. I was reasonably stocked on medical supplies, nothing impressive, but, I could hold someone together. Ammo was very well under control, if anything I had too much ammo. Water was a bit low, but, if it rained again I would be set. Food was... not good. I had the grass and a few more days worth of rationed out prewar foodstuffs. I would need to check this whole place over for any food so I wasn't barely not starving when I got to Fillydelphia. I slide everything back into my bags and shrugged them back on.

        I opened the door to see one of those robotic parasprites floating in my face. Dead silent. Theses fucking things could be silent as hell when they wanted to be. I eyed it as its wings quietly buzzed. I heard a quiet noise come from it as something within moved behind the grill that covered the majority of its front. The silence between me and the machine crept on for a few minutes before a pop and music flowed out of it once more as it flew back to where I had seen them patrolling before. I let out a breath that I had been holding and steadied myself as I felt the effects of having held my breath for so long. One more thing for me to hate in this Celestia damned wasteland, robotic parasprites. I moved off and began a methodical search through each of the remaining houses. A few were locked, most were empty of anything beyond trash and caps.

        I found it funny, in the past bits were money, now they were practically worthless. On the other hoof bottle caps something mass produced and just tossed away without a care were worth a great deal. This of course meant I targeted ever single trash receptacle I saw. Now I could imagine in the past seeing a pony toss bits to the side and dive into a trash can to dig out caps would be nothing short of crazy. Now, well now it was a matter of that is how things were. As I moved from house to house, pick locks when needed I always saw a, I think they are called spritebot, watching me. Always with the silent observing. Part of me wanted to shoot the damn things, but, I had seen some sort of slot that had caked on carbon. From what I knew that meant magical energy weapons. I didn't want to face down a hoard of head sized laser spewing flying robots.

        After a few hours of looting the houses and coming across no more dead bodies I had restocked my food supplies a bit, now so long as I didn't hit any road bumps along the way I was good for a day into Fillydelphia if I didn't ration anything out. I was still going to ration things out which from a conversation with Ruby would give me enough food to last me to the town of Gutterville or Friendship City. I trotted up to the managers office having a employee badge on me that hopefully would get the spritebots to ignore me from now on. If it didn't well, to hell with it maybe having the badge of a Ministry of Moral site manager would be worth something. Checking the door I found it unsurprisingly locked. I had used up my last bobby pin opening another door, while it had worked I dropped it in my excitement and the already strained metal broke. I frowned, all the bobby pin was used for was to press the right parts in the lock to make it think a key of the right shape was in it, the screwdriver was just for turning it. So... my thoughts trailed off as the pieces of the spell fell into place. I didn't need tools to open locks anymore, though the lack of visual feedback in the form of the bobby pin would make this harder. With a deep breath I focused and began using my magic to try to pick the door. I didn't have to rush myself, my magic had been used sparingly for the past few days and there was no threat or need to be in quickly.

        With a soft click the door unlocked and I pulled the door open. I did it, after having to relearn the sounds of the lock as I pressed the right and wrong parts of the tumblers. Inside the managers office there were plans for the carnival. Much of the place was to be automated and as such three buildings were to be built. One was a permanent administration building for the region, one was to be for maintenance and storage of the robots. The last was to be some sort of... Well I couldn't tell what exactly it was supposed to be. There were what looked like containment cells as well as some sort of long range communication device. What I found more surprising was how it was planned to be powered, not by coal, but, a combination of solar and geothermal. Apparently there had been ways to power the nation beyond coal. I guessed it hadn't become that affordable by the end of the war considering this outpost for the M.o.M. was probably a third of the way built before the bombs fell. As I turned to begin addressing the other things in the room I was greeted with another pop of static as a spritebot floated away again out of the open door of the office.

        “If you want to keep an eye on me do it from afar so it is less creepy!” I shouted after the retreating spritebot, “honestly it is bad enough having a pony hovering over my shoulder!”

        I bucked the door closed then went back to the remainder of the office. What remained were a few metal orbs that I knew as memory orbs as well as a safe and terminal. The terminal was not easy to get into, I must have backed out at least eight times before getting the password. More out of frustration than difficulty did it take so many times. Once in I saw a daily log of progress all signed by Cat. From what I saw on the terminal these logs were forwarded to the Fillydelphia branch of the Ministry of Moral, which made sense as it was the closest. A few personal notes about punishments for things going missing or blatant violations of the law. In the end nothing terribly interesting. I took a crack at the safe with my magic, compared to the door it was easy and I had it open in no time. Within it there was a small collection of notes. I pulled out the two century old notes and set them on the desk by the terminal and continued to examine the safe. The last thing within the safe was a single memory orb, I cradled it in my magic, having learned to not directly focus on the things when moving them. I set this on the desk as well, then as one I drew the blinds of the office and locked the door. I had time, I had safety, I was going to check out what was in all of this stuff. I moved back into a corner where even if someone looked in the windows or even got through the door they wouldn't see me. Then I reached out with my magic and focused on the orb itself.

ooooooOOOOOOOoooooo

        It was evening, the pony I was riding was a unicorn mare like myself. I felt warm and happy, the familiar effects of alcohol saying hello. The lights were spectacular, the buildings tall as I walked with a large group of other ponies. A buck by me shouted something about a pub crawl, everypony in the group including myself shouted it in return as we entered a building. Said building was a bar or I guess more accurately a pub, considering how my host was feeling at the time this was not the first of the night. Everypony was happy and plastered singing songs, more than likely butchering said songs quite badly. As everypony sat down at a large table their drinks showed up, guessed somepony had called ahead or this was a well known thing with rules. The taste of the drink was nowhere near as enjoyable as whiskey, but, not like I could will this mare to drink something with a better taste.

        Then everyone lifted up their mugs at the table staring at my host.

        “To Carnival Cat! The best darn project manager we could wish for!” Called one buck and everyone bumped their mugs together and we drank.

        So this was a celebration of this mare, the mare who was manager of the carnival being built in the middle of nowhere. I inwardly smiled, since well couldn't actually smile in a memory though Cat was doing a fair share of it for me. I listened to everypony talking, sharing information about various public events. A number where planning on going to see a concert of some sort, another group was working on planning a fireworks display to celebrate the anniversary of Fillydelphia's founding in a few weeks. Oh what I would have given for being able to read Cat's mind at the moment. With every conversation she was listening in, casting a spell on her drunk employees. I remembered the dual purpose of the Ministry of Moral. It was to both keep spirits up in the nation and to act as a counter spy agency. Which explained why Cat was keeping the spirits flowing and monitoring every conversation even while carrying one on.

        Eventually the group began to break up, in twos or threes heading home until just one other employee of Cat's was at the table with her. He looked up at her after finishing his drink.

        “Guess we should head home too Cat, the pegasi are planning a snowstorm to start in a few hours.” Stated the buck as he got up.

        “Yeah we should,” I felt her give a deep sigh of exhaustion, “I am glad everyone enjoyed themselves tonight, they are all great ponies.”

        The buck helped Cat into a fancy and heavy winter coat before putting his own on. “So any ideas on what Pinky is going to be having our department do next? Or is she going to just surprise you like everypony else tomorrow at the meeting?”

        “Well, I haven't heard anything more than I am to meet her tomorrow, nopony knows what is going on.” She said as they left the bar.

        As if on cue a light snow had started to fall as the two walked down the sidewalk. It didn't take long for the snow to start to stick to everything as they walked. Carriages and self drawn carriages alike parked on the sides of the streets slowly turning white. As the snow started to come down faster the pace of the two picked up. In a few minutes it had turned into practically a blizzard as I felt Cat using her magic like I had to keep the snow off of her and her friend.

        “We are going to go to the hub, we will just sleep in my office, better than freezing to death out here or getting buried!” Cat shouted back to her friend.

        “No kidding, right behind ya Cat.” With that they broke out into a gallop.

        Not long after Cat's shield collapsed as she tore open the front doors of the massive barn like structure and dove in. As soon as they had both crossed the threshold and closed the door behind them warmth began to flood back to them. Then they noticed the two night guards standing at distance with guns drawn. Cat made no effort to stand up as they approached.

        “Ma'am we are going to have to detain you and your friend while we confirm who you are. If you understand please remain on the floor.” One of the two night guard ordered.

        Cat nodded and in the corner of her vision I could see her friend do the same.

        “Just a wild night boys, take your time we just want to get warm while you work.” Cat replied.

*        *        *

        Well, that was a more innocent memory than I thought it would be. Considering it was a memory orb that was in the possession of a M.o.M. employee in a safe in a M.o.M. facility. I also now had a decent grasp of the layout of Fillydelphia, even if the place was worse than Seamane, I would at least have a idea of which way to go over all.

I looked around the room and nothing had changed, mercifully. I heard a loud growl and froze, ah crap did a manticore smell me as a fresh meal? Then I felt the pain in my stomach of having not eaten. Right, that memory had lasted a few hours, time that passes in memory equal to time passed in reality. I wondered how long a memory orbs memory could be, would be an effective trap, knowing exactly how long a unicorn was disabled would let you catch them if you wanted to. I pulled out some of the prewar food I had found and dug into it. To hell with rations tonight I wanted to eat well.

I opened the blinds on the door to be greeted with a spritebot again. The sheer surprise of it made me jump in the air and drop my food as I came crashing down on my flank a few feet back. Goddesses if I felt like it was safe I would shoot the fucking thing.

        “Excuse me,” came a metallic voice from the other side of the door. I froze, besides DJ Pon3 I hadn't heard any ponies voice with my own ears in days. “Would you mind if we had a quick chat?”

        I stared dumbfounded at the floating piece of metal. “I can hear you from here, talk to me through the door.”

        “Alright, I understand your reservations about taking to a spritebot, but, I wanted to lend a hand if I could to you.” Said the spritebot.

        “Right, and how are you going to do that? You have no hands, hay you are just a robot.” I replied as I wrapped my magic around both revolvers.

        “No, I am someone of flesh and bone, I just can control these things, by the way call me Watcher.” Watcher said.

        Fitting name with how much staring he did, “sounds right for a voyeur like yourself.”

        I swear the spritebot flinched at me saying that to it, then it hung there for a few quiet seconds.

        “I was trying to figure out if I could approach you. As you probably already know the wasteland isn't very safe. Now I am going to do what I can to help you get somewhere safe.” I nodded, maybe this Watcher knew of some settlement nearby that I could slip by for more supplies, hay, maybe even a faster ride to Manehattan. Boats maybe?

        “Since you are at a hub for the M.o.M. You should be able to access and reprogram one of these spritebots to guide you to Manehattan, specifically Friendship City. From there you are on your own though.”

        “Thanks, that... simplifies things a great deal. But, question, why are you helping me? I know in the wasteland random acts of generosity and kindness don't happen, there is always a price.” I wasn’t certain his motives, and it wasn’t a good idea to go blindly into something like this.

        “Just try to make some friends along the way to whatever goal you have out here. And find a virtue to follow.”

        “Make friends? Nothing more? I will give it a shot, seem to be okay at making them.” Honestly the only 'friendship' so far that had been bad for me was the one between me and Bryn. “As for a virtue, that is probably going to be harder.”

        “And that is why it is the price of me helping you. Alright then, I will download the password to your pipbuck and you will be able to reprogram the spritebots.”

        I lifted up my leg to let the bot see my 'pipbuck' clearly.

        “That isn't a pipbuck is it?” Watcher asked, and I inferred a tone of frustration or disappointment from the robot.

        “Nope, better tell me it.”

        “It is-” and with a pop of static the spritebot floated away.

        I felt my eye twitch.,“Of course. Well lets go to that maintenance building then.” With that I unlocked the door after pulling the other memory orbs into my bags and headed out to the one fully constructed building left to inspect.

        The building was not that impressive, then again why would it have to be. It was a barn, but, instead of housing livestock in it, instead it housed the sleeping bodies of machines. I danced around the various broken parts and robots as I headed for a terminal in the back. Still nothing paid me mind and Watcher hadn't returned to finish the password. When I reached the terminal I saw it was in perfect condition and the only one in the whole building. Turning it on I began to hack it, this was easy compared to the managers computer. It turned out to be K@rn1v@lK@t in an attempt to make it harder for someone to easily figure it out.

Upon opening it I was presented with three options, notes, messages, and maintenance. I had time so I checked the notes first, and I was glad I did. Upon reading the notes I was glad I had started with them. With in the notes was instructions on how to program a spritebot as well as the individual parts and how they worked.

        Looking around I saw a good number of unactivated or half broken spritebots laying around ripe for reprogramming and salvaging. I grabbed one unactivated spritebot and plugged it into the receptacle on the counter and popped into maintenance and began to rewrite it. I set it to follow me and noticed the E.F.S. programming within it. Oh this was going to be so useful, not just the spritebot being my borrowed sight but, the E.F.S. was so simple in these I could apply it to myself. One hoof closer to a true pipbuck I thought to myself as I finished reprogramming the spritebot that would serve as my guide and companion.

        When it was done I pulled some energy cells from storage and tossed them in my bags before I began the work of salvaging. First came the levitation talismans which I affixed to my bags, I had calculated out that I could now probably carry about a hundred pounds more stuff in them without issue. Suffice to say it I had a fair bit less room in my bags now. Next came the E.F.S., after probing the spell matrix for a little bit with my tools that I had picked up I figured out how to affix it to myself. It unfortunately did not have a S.A.T.S. system within it or much storage, but, it did have the auto mapping functions, tagging, and everything else I could want from E.F.S. As I finished my frenzied work to hack together a companion, a better set of saddlebags, and 'pipbuck' I turned to see a silent spritebot floating there.

        “Hi Watcher, been there long?” I asked as I finished my finest wasteland engineering.

        “Long enough, you have a knack for making things. Reminds me of a old friend when she would get in touch with her creative side. Would work for days ignoring everything to get the project done. Well okay two friends, but, the point is that is a pretty slick bit of work you did there.”

        “Thanks, question is, can you hop into the spritebot I have with me?”

        “Well, thanks to what reprogramming you did the safety measures that normally would kick me out won't and the ones that let people at M.o.M. hubs in for as long as they want are now blocked. So I should be able to check in on you at any time.”

        I nodded, if he was a friend I could sleep well as he watched over me. Something about all this said he was a friend. Hay, he had a lot of chances to turn me to ashes and didn't. That is about as good of a friend as you could get without talking a lot.

        I chuckled interrupting something Watcher had been saying, “I am sorry, I just realized my poor manners. I am Moonlight of Saint Clover.” I gave a small bow to Watcher.

        “Ah... yes, Moonlight, I am glad I could help you, I was asking if you would mind telling me how you happened to get out here in the middle of nowhere.” Watcher asked.

        I nodded, then I heard a pop of static and the spritebot left the room. I stood there frowning at the convenience of both times Watcher had to leave.

        “Ah, here we go, marking your spritebot on my terminal, go ahead Moonlight.”

        I turned to face my spritebot and smiled, my programming had worked properly.

        “Well first back to the managers office, there is a bed in there and I intend on sleeping in it tonight. Before that I will fill you in on my life as it were.” I finished.

        I explained everything that had happened to me up to this point over the next few hours, the whole time testing out the E.F.S., seeing objectives and markers lighting up in my vision. I had made another trip back to maintenance when I realized I could affix a screen and a few data storage bits to my pipbuck zero and promptly did so, all the while telling the events of the past three weeks. I tapped through the buttons seeing what information was on it. Sadly nothing much, pretty much only the info that I had dictated to Watcher while wearing it. I looked at the time display in my vision. As I did drank some more water, all this talking was making my mouth dry out.

        “Hey Watcher, I am going to turn in now. Feel free to stick around.” I turned to the bot again like I had many times in the past few hours. “And I have to say, I made another friend today, you.”

        “I feel can say the same to you, Moonlight. Rest well, don't worry the spritebots around here will protect the carnival and you.”

         I gave a simple nod and laid down on the bed. It didn't take long for the tendrils of sleep to wrap me within their sweet embrace.

*                *                *

        I heard the laughter of fillies and colts as the sound of hooves rushed past me. I turned and watched them go. I turned back to my date, White Rose, my marefriend giving her a peck on the cheek as the two of us pull our coats on a bit tighter to keep out the cold of fall. We walked to a cotton candy stand and I paid for our treats. We continued to walk around watching various acts even trying my hoof at winning us some prizes. I was a horrible shot with the pellet gun, pretty good with the baseballs, and surprisingly beat a strongcolt at a hoof wrestling contest. I wasn't certain if I actually beat him or he was going easy on me for my sake of impressing Rose. Either way we got a big stuffed fluffy pink pony, Rose absolutely loved it. We wandered into a tent to see a play starting up, Carnival Cat vs Ponyville. We both fought to keep from singing with the songs, they were very infectious. At the climax of the play six fillies rushed the stage with strange jewelery then there was a blinding rainbow light and a cackle. With that the play was over.

        We walked around more enjoying the sights and sounds. Something caught my attention, something pink and yellow. I raised my eyebrow and guided us over to it. There we found a mare identical to one of the six who had been in the play, but, with no necklace. She faced us with a timid smile.

        “Hi, I am sorry for interrupting this, but, I wanted let you know something. No matter how alone you are, even when you haven't seen your friends in a long time, your friends are always with you.” She dug a hoof at the ground, “trust me Moonlight, I know how it is to be separated from your friends for a long time, just remember they are always your friend no matter what happens.”

        I nodded, “thank you Fluttershy.”

*                *                *

         I woke up blinking as I saw cool blue symbols of E.F.S. form in my vision. That was a oddly coherent dream I thought to myself as I shook my head. Next I grabbed my water and some food for a hearty breakfast. Honestly I hoped I would come across some geckos or radhogs soon so that way I could have some meat. I felt some part of me cry out at the idea of eating meat. I squashed it with logic of I needed nutrients and most food that I could find now was rather lacking in said nutrients. That and I only killed what I needed to feed myself. That seemed to quiet the voice of decent.

        “Hey watcher you there?” I asked before taking a swig of water. There was no response, I took a guess and figured he was doing whatever else he did with his time. Watching I guessed with the name he gave. I chewed on my food as I thought of what a cutie mark depicting the special skill of watching would look like. An eye maybe? That would be rather creepy, maybe a magnifying glass. No, of course it would be binoculars. I sat there eating quietly musing to myself what Watcher must do with his time and what he looked like. Maybe he was actually DJ Pon3, didn't want ponies knowing they were one in the same. It would explain some of the information the DJ got for his broadcasts if he used the spritebots as a way to get information.

        I stood up and walked out of the office, the fog had rolled in heavy again. I decided to sack the maintenance building again, this time for all the energy weapons that lay unused. I rigged them together and give myself a dial to allow myself to choose how they fired. Though after rigging it up I realized I would burn through anything short of a spark battery in just a few shots with the blast. I also realized that anything caught in the path of the beams probably wouldn't be so hot afterwards, well it would be ash or slag. I made a sling from what materials I could find and put my makeshift laser rifle on my back and trotted out. It was time to get going. On cue my E.F.S. marked the direction and my spritebot pointed me to the right direction.

        The day was a blur, most of the time I was watching my feet as I followed my E.F.S. marker. The fog had stayed again and there was nothing I could do but walk the way it said to and hope I would hear anything that my E.F.S. didn't see. Finally the fog broke as I was met with a river. To the south west there lay a bridge, still standing, nothing built on or under it. All I saw was a lone gecko on it. I pulled out my knife and walked. The gecko didn't stand a chance, I took my time cutting it apart, skinning it as well. What meat I had I would cook in a few hours, the skin I would do what I could to make it into more leather for repairs. That is when I saw him, standing on the other end of the bridge, Bryn. He looked far worse for wear than I had thought he would be. His left wing was heavily bandaged and washed crimson. I quietly approached him having stored my weapons, praying if Watcher showed up he would keep quiet.

        He was the first to say anything as I stopped ten feet away from him.

        “Moonlight, looks like we made it.” I blinked at him as I saw in the distance great dark clouds pouring from the ruins, illuminated from below by lights, fires, and radiation.

        “It seems we have,” I turned my focus back to him. “Now what?”

        “You patch me up, we stay in town for a day, we leave afterwards. I escort you to the edge of town and let you go on your merry way to Tenpony, or wherever you feel like going.”

        “Alright, lets get you patched up then.”

        I walked the rest of the distance up to him and pulled out my medical supplies and went to work on him. He had seen some rough fights, his weapons and armor had a lot of wear showing on them. I could have easily knocked him out right then and there. I should have done it, knocked him out, put a knife into the back of his skull.

        'Be kind' came a voice in my mind, I replied back with 'I know'.

        “Bryn, some of this is beyond what I can fix,” I said, I hated that my limited skill couldn't fix his wing. Though really that was to my benefit if he was lying.

        “Well so long as we make it to Fillydelphia in one piece we should be just fine. Even if I lost a leg.” I looked at him and blinked. “Cybernetic replacement parts. Mostly for earth ponies but the doc there is pretty good.”

        I nodded, cybernetics, the art of fusing flesh and machine into a working being. Part of me wanted to see it in action, part of me was horribly terrified by the notion. Would one even be truly a pony at a certain point of parts being replaced by machine? Maybe they could just keep the brain and bind the soul to the body. Or would the mind be enough. I shook my head, those questions had no place here, not in the wasteland where the world was simple, don't die.

        “Alright, you should be good to go,” I said as I pulled away a syringe of med-x that I had just given him.

        “Good, I want to get in the main gate before night fall.” He turned and took a few steps then stopped, “that gecko you have on you?”

        “Yeah, was planning on cooking it when I got the chance.” I said as I stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

        “I think you are the only pony in the entire wasteland who gets the idea of meat who is sane.” He took a look at me. “Well, okay, maybe not sane, but, not the insane that is raiders.”

        I giggled, and then burst out laughing. “You are a riot Bryn.”

        “Sure am, when we get to the gate let me do the talking, they know me, and I know the system.” I gave him a nod.

        With that we trotted into the suburbs of Fillydelphia towards the billowing clouds of smoke, the massive wall that had been erected around the heart of the city, and the disturbingly large balloons in the shape of Pinkie Pie's head. All the while my spritebot kept quietly following, watching us as we walked into a different type of hell. I was confident that I could handle what was coming, whatever lay before us would be a cakewalk with a member of Red Eye's forces keeping them off of us, and my E.F.S. keeping everything else visible no matter how well it tried to hide. I gave the spritebot a look, if Watcher was there, what did he think of me for doing this. I hoped he understood or at least would talk to me afterwards. One thing he had made clear was his hate for Red Eye and his cause. But, if he was there he knew my rational. I had told him everything, and... honestly I felt I needed to see this, I needed to know how evil this bastard was. I also didn't have a choice but to go right into the heart of his operation, the Alpha and Omega Hotel.

Footnote: Level Up!

Perk Added: Persistent Manner; You have learned to stay frosty and wait for the right time to strike. This allows you to score more critical enemies when they are reloading or otherwise preoccupied.

Quest Perk Added: Spritebot Senses: Detect enemies at a very far range, and enemies that are cloaked can also be targeted in S.A.T.S.. These bonuses only apply when a Spritebot is your companion.