Fallout Equestria: Black Dawn

by Dusk Breeze the Dashite

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Adventure, Crossover
Length: 12621

One pony sets off to find answers in the Equestrian Wasteland.

Set in the Fallout: Equestria universe, one pony seeks answers after a raid leaves his town destroyed and finds himself with an unlikely traveling companion. This drifter learns about compassion and finds a new reason to live in the brutal Equestrian Wasteland.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-04-07 20:30:46 UTC

Prologue

Prologue

        My story starts pretty much the same as anypony else’s.  War.  Death.  Destruction.  All of that.  I’m going to assume that you know all about how Equestria got this way considering you live here too and skip over that part.  Here’s the short version:

        Well for starters, I’m Crackshot (by name and title).  I’ll be honest, I don’t remember much about where I was born exactly.  My mother had been a traveling merchant who ran a caravan throughout a good part of the Equestrian wasteland.  I never knew my father.  Ma was dedicated to her work and knew that ponies relied on the supplies she brought with her, so she never once thought of putting business on hold until I was born.  According to her though, I was born somewhere between The Republic and Manehattan.

        Growing up with a caravan, I was constantly on the trail moving from one town to another.  We traveled with a lot of different ponies from different caravans.  We even traveled with a griffon for a while, but she was real quiet and kept to herself mostly.  Ma had a real talent for fixing all sorts of things, sometimes even with the strangest items that she just happened to have with her.  I learned a lot from her.

        But one day, when I was just a colt, the caravan was ambushed by raiders outside Ponyville.  There was so much confusion, so much noise.  Ma pushed me into a drain pipe and told me to stay put, no matter what.  That was the last I ever saw of my Ma…

        I cried for days, but eventually had to leave to find food.  I wandered out of Ponyville and was picked up by another caravan outside of a place called Hope.  It’s actually a bit cliché, isn’t it?   Being rescued at Hope.  Anyway, I told them what happened and that it wasn’t safe to pass through Ponyville anymore.  They offered me food and brought me along with them.

        Now being so young, not many of the ponies had much to say to me, but having learned from Ma, I quickly got a reputation as the go-to colt for repairs on the trail.  In exchange for my services, the leader of the caravan taught me how to hunt Radhogs.  Oooh, I can’t begin to explain the feeling the first time I shot a rifle.  It just felt right!  And that was with my mouth too, since my magic was still too weak to hold it steady.  I was just meant to hold a rifle, even got the cutie mark to prove it.  Crosshairs.

        After traveling with those nice folk for a few years, I was finally old enough to set out on my own.  I wandered all over, from New Appleloosa to the deserts far past Jackpot taking whatever work I could.  Oftentimes I’d hunt the local wildlife and sell the meat to make a living.  Believe it or not, I’ve remained a vegetarian.  Never did like what the meat does to me.

         As I got older, I got back out with the caravans, but this time I was contracted.  The Equestrian wasteland it a dangerous place after all, and ponies need protection.  Finally, I was getting paid to do what I lusted after for so long: killing raiders.  And I was damn good at my job.

        Eventually, my contract ran out and the caravan was obligated to cut me loose at the next town so I could join another.  That town just so happened to be Jackpot.  I got comfortable enough here that I decided to take a job in town.  Technically it was the same job, but with much less walking involved.  My mission stayed the same: protect ponies.

        Up until now life has been pretty mundane; nothing to write home about (assuming that I actually hada home).  I settled into my simple life here and made the best of it.  Little did I know that the Goddesses had something else in store…

Chapter 1: Confusion

Chapter 1: Confusion

        Brown.  Everyday from sunrise to sunset, brown as far as the eye could see.  As if having to stand watch up here wasn’t boring enough already.  Every goddess-damned thing under the blistering sun had been burned shades brown decades ago; from the almost-black stumps where trees once stood to the reddish-brown remains of old wagons that now lay scattered about, rusting.  Not even a single sign of trouble today to distract me from my monochromatic hell.  Why did Jackpot have to be in the middle of fucking nowhere?

        To call my little crow’s nest a proper guard post would be an exaggeration to say the least.  I spent eight hours a day atop a hastily cobbled together tower made from shipping pallets and old street signs.  Although they would never stand a chance against anything but birdshot, the dull sheen of the metal signs gave the tower the appearance of being sturdier than it really was.  From up here, I stand watch from mid-afternoon until dusk, under the modest shade provided by the small canopy stretched over the tower’s highest platform.

        I was one of several watchponies protecting Jackpot, a small town that rose up around the remains of a long-abandoned casino.  I was responsible for protecting the citizens from raiders and wildlife (and occasionally breaking up bar fights).  Guard duty was a thankless job, but it was not without its perks.  Extra water rations, a free rifle, and the chance to splatter some sadistic raider fuck’s head like a grapefruit?  I jumped at the chance.

        Unfortunately for me, being a guard pony was not all it’s cracked up to be.  Way out here, there was very little raider activity and only a few caravans passing through.  Being a unicorn, I had plenty of options for work in town, but I figured I’d rather put my talents to use by protecting ponies rather than pretending I gave a shit about “Practical Application of Magic to Agricultural Projects.”  As if the hundreds of years of magical radiation and taint poisoning the ground here could be washed away by a hoof-full of unicorns.

        I preferred using my magic in more practical ways.  It would be no exaggeration to say that I was the best markspony in Jackpot…hell maybe even this side of the Everfree Forest.  I had spent years modifying and tweaking my rifle as I sat up in my tower and can shoot the wings off of a bloatsprite at well over 200 paces.

        But I particularly enjoy shooting raiders.  I know it may sound downright evil that I get a kick out of killing anypony, but some ponies just deserve it.  I’ve seen all kinds of horrible, despicable things in the Equestrian Wasteland, but nothing to date has topped all the fucked up shit I’ve seen raiders do.  Sometimes, when the days are slow, I scan the horizon and pray to the Goddesses that I get the chance to rid the world of one of those sick bastards.

CRACK!

As if by some ironic twist of fate, I got my wish.  A bullet struck a support beam next to me, punching right through the wood.  When I finally located the shooter on the horizon my eyes went wide.  Raiders had never been a real problem in Jackpot before, but these didn’t look like raiders to me.  They were well armed and at least one of them almost managed to end me with precise sniper shot (not an easy feat for a crazed pony strung out on Buck and Dash).  No, these ponies were organized…and they were headed right for Jackpot.

        “Fffk!” was all I could manage with my mouth full.  Grabbing my rifle, I hurdled the railing and floated myself back to the ground, trying to save time.

CRACK!

        A second bullet passed through my hindleg and buried itself into the tower.  Now, maybe I’m not a clever pony, but levitating down seemed like a good idea at the time.  The burning pain broke my concentration and I dropped the rest of the way.  As I hit the ground, I heard something inside me crack.

        Looking down now, I could see the blood already matting my coat as the wound slowly oozed.  It took me a minute, but I managed to pull myself back onto my hooves and stumble back into town, shouting the whole way.

        “Raiders!  Get inside!  Raiders!”

I was sure that they weren’t really raiders, but they definitely came looking for trouble.  All that matters now is that I get back and warn the others, the other watchponies would could fend them off until I patched myself up.

        I fumbled with my saddlebags, trying find a bandage I could use to wrap my leg.  Having found one, I clumsily wrapped the wound.  I would have to make sure I paid closer attention the next time Stitch was patching me up in the clinic, Celestia forbid I would ever be truly on my own.

        “Styx!  Get the fuck out here!  I need help!” I hollered, dropping behind some barrels outside of one of the common houses.  Styx was a massive, black earth pony and the de facto leader of Jackpot’s guard ponies.  He used to be a raider himself until his own band of psychos left him for dead a few miles outside of town.  A caravan found him and brought him back here where he’s been helping keep us safe ever since.  Although I trusted him, Styx still didn’t change my policy on raiders one bit.

        Styx came bursting through the door wearing his battle-saddle as I finished securing the bandage.  “What the fuck is going on?! And shit, kid,” he spat, seeing me bloody and battered, “What happened to you?”

        “Raiders…or mercs…at least a dozen…well armed…they mean business.” I managed between deep breaths, my lungs burning as I coughed up just a little blood.  “Off to the south…they’ll be here any minute…round up the rest of the guard…get everypony out now!”

        “Are you alright?” he asked, knowing damn well that I wasn’t.

        “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” I insisted, trying to catch my breath, “Just get going.”

        It wasn’t until he set a pistol down next to me that I realized that I had dropped my rifle when I fell.  “Here.  You’ll have to hold out here until Stitch can have a look at you.”

        Now that the adrenaline began wearing off, my chest felt tight and was throbbing painfully.  I knew that I needed more serious medical attention (I couldn’t fix broken bones with potions alone), but until everyone was safe I had to hold off on staggering over to the clinic.  This wasn’t going to be easy, and the fight hadn’t even started yet.

BLAM! BLAM!

        Gunfire in the southern side of town meant that they were already here.  It wouldn’t be long now before they were breaking their way through the whole town.  Jackpot was capable of fending off the odd band of raiders or even the rare (but not unheard of) Hellhound, but at the end of the day, we didn’t have the supplies or sheer numbers to hold off against a dozen mercenaries.  If they didn’t make a stand now at the south gate, the town would be overrun in minutes.

CRACK! THUD.

        This time the sniper hit his mark proper and I heard the body of somepony hit the ground hard.  Why were they just killing us off?  What could they possibly gain by doing so?  And for that matter, just who the fuck were these ponies?!

        “Don’t let them get through!”  I could hear Styx off in the distance.  “Slow their advance, we have to get everypony out!”

        The townsponies galloped past me as I lay behind my modest cover.  “Where are we falling back to?  And why is everything so dark?” Nopony answered me.  I feel tired.  Maybe I should just lay down for a second.

        “…I don’t give a damn!  We carry out the contract to the letter.”  Somepony I’d never heard before was shouting from somewhere I couldn’t see.  “‘Mares and foals‘, that’s what she said she wanted.  Just kill anypony who resists.”

        My eyes were slipping closed as I lay here in a pool of my own blood.  I have so many questions, but I‘m so tired.  Sleep sounds good right now.  Sleep…

*** *** ***

        I awoke in total silence, Celestia’s white hot sun was bearing down on me.  I hadn’t moved from what I could tell.  Everything in my head was a blur and I barely managed to sit upright.  Looking down I was shocked.  My legs were completely stained a rusty brown by all the blood.  Brown.

        I was shaken, but still alive.  The bleeding had finally stopped, but I was still suffering.  I knew I wouldn’t last long out here in the sun; it was hard enough to breath already.  Unable to stand, I managed to crawl my way to the door of the common house.  It took all of my willpower and focus just to open the door with my magic.  It hadn’t even been locked.

        Inside the common house, everything was in disarray.  Shelves flipped over, beds pushed into every corner of the room, various personal items scattered about the floor.  I remembered all the commotion as ponies rushed to escape Jackpot.  Did they all make it out?  Am I the only one left?

Clang.

        I saw an empty can of carrots bounce out of the kitchen and across the floor.  I tensed up.  Turning over my shoulder, I noticed that the pistol Styx had left me was missing…and so were my saddlebags!  What the hell happened!?  Where was Styx?  The thought of being alone and unarmed after what had happened terrified me.  I froze right where I was.  Even if I was armed, I was in no condition to fight anypony.  If I was spotted, whatever they wanted to do to me was going to happen.

        I watched in horror as a brown earth pony with a graying-black mane stepped out of the kitchen and into the common room with me.  Seeing his face, I felt like I recognized him from somewhere.  Did he live here in Jackpot?  No, no he couldn’t have; if he did, he would have escaped been killed like the others.  Regardless, I knew he wasn’t a raider.  I opened my mouth to ask who he was, but nothing came out.  I was parched.

        I tried to get up and walk over to him, but my leg couldn’t handle the weight and gave out.  I hit the ground again in a fit of coughing.  My lungs screamed in pain as I coughed up blood.  The other pony suddenly turned to face me, magically bringing a shotgun to bear.

        He lowered the shotgun, more startled than threatened by my presence.  He cantered over to me and helped me up seeing that I could barely stand, let alone put up any kind of fight.  As he lifted me to my hooves, I noticed that he was wearing two pairs of saddlebags.

        “Damn, son!  Ya startled me!” he began, “Ah thought everyone in Jackpot either got out or got killed days ago.”

        “Those…*cough*…those look like my saddlebags.” I barely managed to spit out.

        “Oh!  I suppose they are, huh?  Sorry ‘bout that,” he said, levitating my bags to the floor next to me, “No hard feelings?  I’m sorry to say that I mistook ya for dead.”

        “Close…,” even in my terrible state I managed a chuckle, “Who…who are you?”

        “Folks call me Easy Pickin’s.  Ah’m a prospector.  Ah usually go from town to town sellin’ whatever Ah c’n find.”  he explained, floating a canteen out of his bag, “Ah got word that Jackpot had been razed and figured Ah might be able to find myself some new inventory.”

        “A prospector, huh? Ever come to Jackpot to trade?”

        “Ah wander in from time to time.  Why?” he asked, passing me the canteen.

        “I knew that I’d seen you before…but I couldn’t place it…”  I took the canteen and drank from it greedily before finally asking, “And you said ‘got word’?  How long ago was that?”

        “Oh, Ah reckon that was about two days ago, friend.  Dunno when exactly word first got out”

        I was shocked.  I had been unconscious for at least two days?  No wonder he thought I was dead.  This just made my head hurt even more.

        “Do you know what happened here?” I asked, hoping that he’d at least heard a rumor that could help me remember.

        “Ah can’t say that Ah do,” he started, “Sorry.  Hell, Ah thought maybe ya’ll would know seeing as you were here.”

        “Everything is a blur.  Somepony shot me, that much I know.  All I remember after that is shouting and more gunshots.  Then I passed out…”  That was really all I could remember.  “Any chance you know a good doctor?”  I asked out of blunt necessity, coughing again.

        “Ah can’t say that Ah do off hoof.  Ah do have something that ought to help ya though.” he began, “Ya’ll can have it, but Ah’m not certain if healing potions are meant to fix broken bones.”

        “I’ll take my chances.  I think I just cracked a few ribs.”  In reality, I had no idea whether or not my ribs had just cracked or broken, but I needed the pain to stop.  If I wasn’t dead by now from a punctured lung, then they must be close enough to mend properly, right?  “Please, can I have it?”

        “Well, sure.  Ya’ll need it more than anypony, Ah suppose.”  He floated the vial to my lips and I drank it down without a second thought.

        Almost instantly I could feel the magic coursing through my body as the pain dulled and my bones began to mend.  I could finally breathe easy.  I felt a warmth as the hole in my leg sealed itself, too.  Now if I could just get a bath and something to eat, I might even feel up to setting out right now and finding out just what the hell happened.  I guess I can’t have everything I want, right?

        “Oh, before Ah forget, Ah took this from ya too.” Easy Pickin’s levitated Styx’s pistol out of his bags.  “Ah guess ya’ll are gonna need it.”

        I wanted to just let him keep it in return for the potion, but he had a point.  The wasteland was a dangerous place, especially without a weapon.  I had wanted to give him something, but I literally had lost everything.  Even my shack across from the common house had been burned to the ground.

        “Please, if there is anything I could ever do to repay you…” I started.

        “Well, seeing as Jackpot was a bust for me, Ah’ll be headed on to the next town now.  Ah wouldn’t mind a second gun and an ear to gnaw on ‘til Ah get there.”

        “Absolutely!  I still can’t thank you enough.”  As the thought came to me, I quickly added, “Do you think anypony will know about Jackpot where we’re headed?”

        “Well Ah know one thing for sure, ain’t nopony round here that seems to know.  Now it’s getting dark so Ah‘ll give ya a while to rest now, but Ah wanna get going tomorrow.  Walking everywhere takes and awful long time, you know.”

        “Oh, trust me, I have more than a little experience walking all over this Luna forsaken hellhole.”

        With that, I trotted over to one of the beds that were still mostly intact and laid down.  I managed to find a single fresh apple from the greenhouse (maybe that whole “Magic Crops” thingdid have potential) laying on the ground in the common and happily ate it.  “Well,” I thought to myself as I drifted off to sleep, “Tomorrow can’t possibly be any worse...”

Chapter 2: Desert Skies

Chapter 2: Desert Skies

        “Come on, now,”  a gruff voice said as I laid face down on the bed, “Sun’s almost up!  We’d better git a move on if we wanna get to the Hub by tonight.”

        I rolled off the edge of the bed onto my hooves.  From what I could tell, the healing potion did a damn good job and I woke feeling almost normal!  Not bad after being mistaken for a sun-baked corpse just a few hours earlier.

        “Ya might wanna take a look around the town before we go.”  Easy suggested, “Ah only hit a few buildings and ya never know what kinda treasure ya c’n find prospectin’!  Ah need to pack up a few things first so Ah‘ll give ya a holler when Ah‘m all set.”

        I nodded and decided to take the buck’s advice.  Trotting over to the door, I swung it open and let in the cool, dry air of the morning desert as Celestia’s glorious sun began to crest on the horizon, painting the sky beautiful hues of orange and yellow.  I’d heard rumors that some places in the Equestrian wasteland were bathed in darkness under the heavy cover of thick clouds.  My whole life I’d cursed the sun for the blistering heat, but now, after my experience, I stood in awe of the breathtaking sunrise.  I couldn’t imagine a life in such darkness.

        Stepping outside, I immediately noticed the smoldering pile across the street that I once called home.  I knew that anything I had ever owned was gone.  I would have to start anew.  All I had left was the knife and canteen in my saddlebags and the pistol Styx had given me.  Styx…

        I walked slowly down the main street of Jackpot, silently taking in the destruction.  The raiders had either stolen or razed almost everything in the town.  There was nothing of value left.  Making my way to the south gate, I saw the bodies of ponies I once knew lying there…dead…rotting.  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel sorry for them, but I knew that this was just life in the wastes.  Everypony dies eventually and it was rarely a peaceful death.

        I did notice that Styx was not amongst the dead here.  Did he escape?  It wasn’t like him to run from a fight, but he was a raider.  Maybe he figured that Jackpot wasn’t worth dying for.  For his sake, he’d better hope that isn’t the case.

        I decided that there was nothing left out here and headed back to the common house.  Easy Pickin’s was waiting for me with a gift when I returned.

        “Here ya go,”  he said, floating a wide-brimmed cowpony hat over to me, “Ya’ll are gonna be needin’ that once the sun starts baking ya.“  He gingerly placed the hat on my head.  “Ah had something else ‘round here somewhere…ah here we go.”  The buck floated a set of light barding over to me.  “Ah know it’s hot, but Ah figured you c’n use a little something in the way of armor.”

        I was speechless.  This stallion who had just met me hours ago, not only saved my life, but now was giving me gear free of charge.  I was humbled by his generosity knowing that I probably wouldn’t have done the same…

        “Easy…I…thank you.”  I said humbly, “You have no idea how grateful I am for this.  I owe you so much already…”

        “Aw, shucks,” he said waving his hoof at me, “It’s the least Ah c’n do for a soul in need.  Now Ah hope ya didn’t plan on skipping out on me…”

        “Never!  Where did you say we’re headed again?”

        “The Hub.  It’s the meeting place for all the caravans nowadays.  Centrally located.  Not too far from anywhere in particular.  Nice little town what sprung up ’round it.  We should make it there by tonight iffin’ we leave now.  Are ya sure there ain‘t nothing left ya need to do here?”

        “I’m sure.  Everything in Jackpot is dead or burned to cinders.  Let‘s just go...”

*** *** ***

BLAM! BLAM!

        A little wisp of smoke rose from the end of the pistol as the Bloatsprite burst into a red mist in front of me.  After all the trauma and excitement I went through a few days ago, I was a little surprised when I found my adrenaline pumping.  Popping these vermin was a totally different game when I was in range too!

        “Damn, son!”  Easy Pickin’s began from over my shoulder, “I ain’t never seen anypony shoot like that!  Are ya sure those ain‘t some kinda magical bullets?”  I looked at the oozing, crimson mess that was soaking into the sand mere yards away.  As if by some sick twist of fate, my shots had totally eviscerated the creature.  I was a little shocked myself at the raw power the hollow point rounds that had been loaded into Styx’s pistol.

        “Not magic.  Just Earth Pony ingenuity.”  I explained.  “Still, I’ve never seen factory rounds do that to anything!  Styx must’ve hoof-loaded these himself.  He was a mean old bastard when it came to fighting.”

        I holstered my weapon and floated my canteen out.  Looking away from the gruesome paste, I took a long, cool sip under the heat of the noonday sun and walked back into the shade of a billboard on the side of the road.  We had been walking for a few hours now and the sun was beginning to take its toll.  Having been raised in a caravan, I knew that it’d be smarter to make camp now in the shade and start up again at sunset.  It took a little persuasion to convince Easy that doing so would be in out best interest.  We wouldn’t make it to The Hub until late in the night, but we wouldn’t be quite as exhausted.

        Now I’ll admit, I felt a bit exposed just sitting on the side of the road and having a Bloatsprite sneak up on us like that caught me off guard.  I fired without thinking.  Now anypony, or anything, in the area knew where we were.  That being said, until a few days ago I’d never seen more than one or two raiders stumbling around out here so I figured we were probably safe for now.  I would still make sure to keep my eyes open.

        As the sun burned hot above us, Easy told me about his experiences in the Equestrian wasteland and what had changed during the years I had spent in Jackpot.  As it turns out, those rumors I’d heard about grey skies and darkness…they were true.  I vaguely remember my childhood and traveling with my Ma through the northern wastes and it was very dark if my memory is correct.  I’d never thought about why it was so overcast…it never really mattered to me.  Ma…

        Um, anyway, he said that when the balefire bombs went off, the Pegasi sealed off the sky to protect what cities they had left.  Ever since, they’ve stayed above the clouds, living in secrecy.  I had my doubts as to just how they would manage to do so.  How could they grow food if there was no soil?

        “So you’re telling me that an entire race of ponies has managed to live above the clouds for over 200 years?  Where did you hear that?”  I shot him an odd look, showing the doubt in my mind.

        “Ah heard it from a Pegasus, o’ course!”  Now a claim like that was about as unbelievable as they come.

        “Where…”  I began.

        “Ah met ‘im in a bar up north o’ here, in a little town outside Ponyville.  Wouldn‘t have believed it if Ah didn’t see it for muhself.”  I was shocked at first, but then my mind started putting pieces together.

        “But I thought you said they all lived in secrecy up above the clouds.  What would a Pegasus be doing down here?”

        “Strangest thing, that.  When Ah asked ‘im, he told me that the Pegasi who didn’t follow ‘chain o’ command’ or don’t stay above the clouds are branded as outcasts.  Literally!  Boy showed me the mark they done burned in his hide where ‘is cutie mark shoulda been.  Said that ponies with that mark are the only kinda Pegasi a wastelander c‘n trust.”

        This was amazing!  I had no idea that there were still honest-to-Goddesses Pegasi left.  I couldn’t help but wonder why they didn’t just come back to the ground.  I had so many questions!  After all, this still didn’t explain just how they’d managed it, but Easy Pickin’s had told me all he knew.

        I pondered the Pegasus race for the rest of the day as we sat under the shade of the billboard and wondered if I’d ever get to see one myself.  It wasn’t long before the shadow of the sigh grew long and the sky was painted deep shades of blue and purple as the sun hung low in the sky.  The desert was starting to cool off, making this the perfect time to start moving again.  It wasn’t long before we were walking again, this time under Luna’s beautiful star-painted night sky.

*** *** ***

        Finally, lights!  After making most of the trek under the moonlit sky, we had finally reached our destination: The Hub.  I had heard stories about this place from caravanners and traveling merchants who passed through Jackpot.  According to them, The Hub sprung up at the crossroads of several intersecting caravan routes, several of which reached north past the Everfree forest.  This town was essentially the gateway between two very different worlds: the Southern region of Equestria and the much darker Northern region.  The only thing I could remember of that region is what happened to us in Ponyville.  Ma…

        We finally reached the edge of town just after midnight and made our way to “Downtown,” where Easy stopped outside a saloon and offered to buy me a drink to celebrate the end of our little journey.  Even having kept my promise, I still felt indebted to Easy Pickin’s.  He saved my life.

        “So what now?  Where do we go from here?” I asked my newfound friend.

        “Now?  Well, now Ah plan on pickin’ up a few supplies.  After that Ah’ll be on my way to a mercenary camp up north o’ here where Ah‘m overdue for a visit.”  He replied, “Ya’ll held up your end of the bargain.  Whatcha do now ain’t up to me.”

        “So that’s it, huh?  Well, I haven’t been to another town in a few years.  I guess I could see if anyone here knows about what happened to Jackpot.”  I thought aloud, “And by the way, Mercs?  Seriously?”

        “Gotta make my caps somehow, and they’re nice enough folks.”  Easy stood his ground.  “Ain’t like these mercs to go around razin’ towns for caps alone.  Anyway, you take care, son.  Ah’m heading out tomorrow, but Ah think Ah’ll be seein’ ya again someday.  Wasteland ain‘t as big as it seems.”  The buck gave me a warm smile, then turned and trotted out of the saloon into the darkness, leaving me to finish my apple whiskey alone at the bar.

        I pushed the last of my caps across the bar as the bartender gave me my room key.  I didn’t know how long I would be staying here, but I needed someplace to sleep for now and I couldn’t beat the price.  Unfortunately, my temporary home had relieved me of 250 caps, all the money that I had managed to dig out of the ashes of my shack.  Now I was alone in an unfamiliar place with no money.  Wonderful.

        I floated the key into the old lock on my door, turned it and swung the door open.  I was surprised by the overall cleanliness or a back room bunk in a downtown saloon.  A worn, but comfortable bed was pushed against the wall opposite the door.  The entire room was lit by a small lantern placed on a folding table in the middle, accompanied by two metal chairs.  I closed the door, floated my saddlebags onto the back of a chair and flopped down on the bed, letting out a weary sigh as I slipped into a blissful and much needed sleep.

When I awoke, it was to the sound of somepony rustling through my saddlebags as Celestia’s light just began to shine through the bars on my window.  Quietly, I grabbed Styx’s pistol in my mouth and quickly sat up to aim at the intruder.  As I did, however, all I saw was the flash a little blood red tail as the perpetrator bolted out the door (which was supposed to be locked).  Jumping up, I chased after the thief into the nigh empty bar.

        Immediately, I shot the bartender a quizzical look.  He rolled his eyes and motioned to a table on the other end of the bar.  Sure enough, there was the same red tail hanging out.  What kind of foalish pony tries to rob you and then hides under a table to avoid getting caught?  I grabbed the tail with my magic and pulled the pony out from under the table with surprisingly little effort.  Oh!  That’s what kind of pony does something that foolish.  I dropped the pistol back into the holster attached to my barding so I could talk to the little, sandy-coated filly that was floating in front of me.

        “You want to explain to me what you were trying to do?”  I asked in a gentle, but firm tone.

        “Um…I don’t know what you’re talkin’ bout?”  she said, pulling back a little and offering up a nervous grin.

        “Come on kid, at least put a little effort into it.”  I set the blank-flanked foal down on the table so that she and I could see eye-to-eye.  “What were you doing in my room?”

        “Take that little rat outside!” the bartender called out, “Damn kids are always sneaking in and harassing the patrons!”

        “I’m sorry Mister.  I was just looking to get some food.”  The little filly looked at me and sighed.

        “What about your mother?  How do you think she’d feel if she knew you were stealing from other ponies like this?”

        She looked down and closed her eyes.  As a single tear ran off her muzzle, I knew that I had just made an awful mistake.  What was I thinking?  Why else would a little foal in a town like this resort to burglary just to get a meal?  I knew all to well how she felt.

        “Oh.  Um…I’m Crackshot.  What’s your name?”  I asked as kindly as I could.  She didn’t answer.  The filly was shaking and seemed like she was about to break down into sobs any second.

        “Hey, I’m not mad. I promise!  Look, I could use a little help while I’m here in town.  Maybe we could help each other out?”

        “Wha…what?,” she sniffed. Her soft, green eyes welled with tears as she looked up at me.  Either she was truly all alone in this hellish wasteland, or she was an incredibly good actress playing me for a rube.  Regardless, I still wanted to help her.  Its been a while since I’d done a good deed.

        “I’m new here and don’t have anypony to help me anymore either. I’d be happy to get you some food if you can show me around a bit.”  I made sure to sound as sympathetic as I possibly could.   In reality, I didn’t even have the caps to buy food, but I would be willing to part with some of my belongings to feed this poor foal. “Do you think you can do that?”

        “Um…Ok,” she said, wiping her tears.  “What do I have to do?”

        “Well I was hoping to trade for some supplies and maybe talk to a few ponies here in town.  Do you know anywhere I can do that?”

        “Uh…well we could try Mr. Darkwater’s store.  He has all sorts of stuff.”

        “That sounds perfect.  And you can take me there?”  I asked.

        “Sure, I know everywhere in the Hub!” She beamed proudly.  Thank the Goddesses I was able to turn this around.  “Oh, and since you asked, my name’s Dawn.”  She jumped down off of the table, and started over to the door.

        “Nice to meet you Dawn.” I said smiling.  “Just let me grab my bags and we can get going.”

Sometimes its strange how your day unfolds.  Less than an hour ago I was being robbed and now I’ve turned around and made friends with the thief.  I really wasn’t mad at poor Dawn, knowing what she must have gone through.  I know it doesn’t make what she was doing alright, but I understand why she was doing it.  Come to think of it…

        “Hey Dawn?”  I asked as the little filly as she trotted along in front of me, “How did you manage to get into my room?  The door was locked.

        “Well it wasn’t a very good lock then, was it?” the filly retorted, smiling playfully.  “Same way I got into the saloon in the first place.”  She pulled a bobby pin out of her mane with her teeth.  “Its just something you learn out here.”

        Smart kid.  However handy, I never really learned how to do that.  I was learning a lot from Dawn already, both about the Hub and the life of a foal in the Equestria wasteland.  She was talented, smart, and mature for her age.  No doubt her skills stemmed from necessity after the loss of her mother.  It hurt me to think about what she must be going through.  Even today, I still miss my Ma deeply.

        “This is it!” she exclaimed “’Darkwater’s General Store’”  As I started for the door, I noticed that she didn’t follow me.

        “Aren’t you coming in?”

        “Well…Mr. Darkwater doesn’t like foals in his store.  Especially when they’re not with their parents…”

        “I’m sure he’d allow you in if you’re with me.  Besides, I promised you I’d help you out.  I’m not just going to leave you outside.”

        Dawn was hesitant, sticking very close to me as we walked into the building that was Darkwater’s.  Even under the dimly lit strings of lights I could see the entire store quite well.  There were shelves and tables piled with books, cooking utensils, canned food, and various scrap.  Several rifles and shotguns were hanging on the back wall along with various styles of barding.  Behind the counter stood a dark gray earth pony.

        “Hey!  What did I tell you about coming in here, kid?  I’ve got half a mind to report you after your last visit!” he spat angrily at Dawn, who only pushed closer into me.  “And who the hell are you?”

        “You treat all of your customers this way?” I shot back.  Obviously Dawn wasn’t telling me the whole story about Darkwater’s “issue” with foals, but I doubt that this sweet little filly could have done anything that was beyond forgiveness.  “I need information and supplies.  Con you offer me either one?”

        “Not so long as you’re with that little thief!”

        “I was gonna pay!  Honest!” Dawn exclaimed.

        “Alright, everypony just calm down!” I really hope this foal doesn’t get me into serious trouble here.  “Dawn, what did you do?”

        “Well…you see…”

        “She stole two cans of peaches right off the table last time she was in here!” Darkwater answered for her.  I gave the filly stern look, which made her squirm.

        “Look, I’d be happy to pay you for whatever she stole.  Regardless I still need information and some gear.”

        I didn’t have much to trade with the way it was, but if I wanted to get anything out of Darkwater I would need to pay off Dawn’s debt.  Again, it doesn’t justify it, but I know that she only stole out of necessity.  We agreed that my knife, one of the few possessions I had left, was payment enough to cover the cans that she owed him for with enough left over for another.  I was about to float the can down to Dawn, but thought better of it and put it into my bags instead.  I didn’t want her to just run off before we had the chance to talk some more.

        “Tell me, what do you know about Jackpot?  Heard any rumors about what happened there?”  I asked the much more cooperative shopkeeper.

        “That’s that town off to the south, right?  All I heard is that something sent everypony running outta there real quick.  As far as what it was?  Well, you’re guess is as good as mine.” I simply nodded.  Realizing that I was now out of money and bargaining chips, a thought came to me.

        “I don’t suppose you have any work that needs to be done, do you?”

Chapter 3: Scars

Chapter 3: Scars

“Absolutely not!”

        “But I…” the filly protested.

        “Dawn, look, I like you and I’m sure that you think you can handle yourself out there, but there is no way in Hell that I am taking you with me.  From what Darkwater told me, this clinic sounds like the ideal habitat for raiders.  Its out of the way, abandoned, and no doubt built around a mountain of chems.  Not to mention I’m sure that they’ve probably “re-purposed” any medical equipment into some kind of sick maiming device.  I am not taking you in there!”

        “Well then where am I supposed to go,” she said, and then almost in a whisper, “back to the streets?”

        The filly seemed to have become rather attached to me in the few hours we’d known each other, which struck me as a bit suspicious.  Then again, it seemed that I was the only pony who ever showed her any compassion in this town.  I can only imagine that she feels the same way I did when I lost Ma, and if it hadn’t been for the caravan taking me in I probably wouldn’t have lasted very long on my own.  Looking at her now, I could see the uncertainty and fear inside her.  I had showed her kindness and, in doing so, given her hope.  Who was I to destroy something so precious?

        “Alright, here’s what I want you to do: Take my key, go back to my room at the saloon and stay there until I get back.  If things work out, I should be back by tonight.”  Ha, pretty big ‘if’, when does anything ever go according to plan?  “I promise that I’ll come back for you.  Ok?”

        She stared at me for a long moment before finally silently nodding her head.  I turned to get the key from my bag, but couldn’t seem to find it.  Whipping around, I saw Dawn slowly trotting off toward the saloon with the key in her mouth.  Celestia help me, I sure hope I know what I’m getting into with her.

        Now that Dawn was taken care of, I had to get down to business.  Darkwater told me that there was an old Ministry of Peace clinic about an hour’s trot to the west of the Hub that was supposed to have a fully stocked pharmacy.  He told me that the town could certainly use the supplies and with a fresh shipment he could afford to not only pay me handsomely, but also offer me a discount in the future.  I had taken enough contracts in my life to know that I needed some security on this one, just in case the place turned out to be empty.  Twenty-five caps, to be paid upon return, seemed like a paltry sum, but it was at least incentive to go check the place out.

*** *** ***

        With the low-hanging skyline of the Hub poking faintly up from the horizon behind me, I moved cautiously between the rusty wagons on the road sprawled before the buttery-yellow building that towered before me.  Part of the roof had collapsed and the entire building was caked with dirt blown in from the wave of a distant balefire bomb, but the three pink butterflies on the sign over the main entrance made it easily recognizable as a MoP institution.

        I stopped and checked the load on my pistol and made sure that all of my magazines were loaded with the little ammunition that I had left.  It wouldn’t really help me in a prolonged gunfight, but it still packed one hell of a punch and worked for dispatching raiders in close quarters.  I would have to make use of Darkwater’s discount (assuming that this place isn’t empty) and pick up a decent rifle.  I was a damn good shot, but then again so was anypony when your target is just on the other side of the room.  I wanted a long range problem solver; a gun that gave me an advantage.

        When I made it to the door I stood perfectly still, trying to listen for any movement on the other side.  When I was sure that there was nopony standing on the other side, I slowly inched the door ajar.  Peering in, the room was rather dim.  It wasn’t until I was already inside, however, that the smell hit me.  Blood.  Feces.  Death.  My fears had been confirmed the instant that wave of foul odor hit my muzzle.  This was a raider hideout.

        I wanted to run back outside, but the door refused to open.  Under closer inspection, I noticed a thin wire running along the base of the door.  Shit.  Now I was locked in with the most fucked up ponies the wasteland had to offer.  To make it worse, they probably already knew I was here.  I turned and started to float my pistol out of it’s holster.  With the glow from my horn illuminating the dark lobby I froze up.  I was face to face with a burly, orange earth pony.  A blow from the side knocked me off my hooves and left me gasping for breath.  Two more ponies closed in on me, stomping until my body went limp.  The world went black.

        I could feel the floor sliding beneath me.  When I finally dared to open my eyes, I realized that I was being dragged by two of the raiders that had ambushed me.  Something wasn’t right.  Why didn’t they just kill me?  Unless, they have some other sick plan for me!  To them I was a toy!  A punching bag that bleeds!

        We passed through a doorway into a large atrium, lit only by the sunlight that pierced through the holes in the ceiling.  I heard a sharp voice of a mare barking commands out before cutting off suddenly.  The two raiders let go of my barding, letting my head fall limply on the ground.  Ouch.  The mare that I heard was standing over me.  She was milky white and taller and much more muscular than the average mare with sticks of cinnamon adorning her flank.  Her bloody red mane was streaked with black and cut short to her head, save for a lock that hung over her face.  The voice she spoke in now was softer than I had just heard, almost...sensual.

        “Oooh, you brought me a new plaything?  He’s a cute one, too.  I hope you didn’t rough him up too bad.”  Now I was terrified and...well...a little turned on.  I would be lying if I said that she was unattractive, even for a raider.  She looked well groomed, unlike all other raiders I had ever seen.  I was conflicted.  My mind was horrified by all the awful things the being a “plaything” could entail, but my body was more concerned with primal urges.

        “Stand up!” I instinctively obeyed, forcing myself onto my hooves.  She put her forehooves on my shoulders and pushed my back up against the wall, inspecting me.  Despite where I was and what was likely to happen, my body wouldn’t let up.  Unfortunately, she noticed.  My spine tingled as she pushed her warm body up against mine.

        “Ooh, are you excited too?  This should be interesting.”  My eyes widened.  Well, they haven’t disemboweled me yet so I guess it could be worse, right?  Still, I don’t think she would really be all that interested in my pleasure.

        “Slasher!  Take him to the pen for now.  But be gentle.”

“Yes, Mistress.” the orange earth pony groaned.

She made me squirm with the most aggressive bedroom eyes I could ever imagine.  Still pressing against me, she whispered in my ear, “I want you to be well rested for later.  Its been a while since I had a little fun.”

        With that, she let me back down onto all fours and allowed her muscle to “escort” me to my pen.  The room was very dark and dirty, but surprisingly not disgusting.  I couldn’t ignore the smell of this place when I came in, but this room led me to believe that I was getting extra special treatment.  I heard the iron door lock behind me as I was left alone in the dark.  Or so I thought.

        “Ha, Spice must be in heat!”  The voice sounded gruff and annoyed, but I could tell he was teasing me.  Whoever it was, I couldn’t see them through the blackness and I was too weak to even try using my magic to light the room.  “Well I hope you know what you got yourself into, kid.  Spice is a demanding little cunt, but if she likes you she might just let you live.  You fuck up though...”  His voice trailed off.  It was strange, I had no idea who or even where this pony was, but he still seemed familiar.  I lay down next to the door, trying to rest up for Spice’s “playtime” later.  I could really use a healing potion right now.

        “So...you seem to know a little about her.  What’s this bitch all about?  She doesn’t strike me as your typical raider.”  I asked, hoping for some idea of just how unpleasant my future might be.

        “That’s because she’s not.  Spice wouldn’t know a goddess-damned thing about running a gang of raiders.  She fucked me over and let my boys take control of the place.  They have a deal worked out where they carry on business as usual and all she does all damn day is lounge around, fucking any new meat she can get her hooves on.  Bitch is crazy.”

        “Wait, she said ‘It's been a while’ since she had fun.  Does that mean that you weren’t...”

        “Ha!  That’s a good one!  Tough ol’ bastard like me?  Nah.  Little bitch is just keeping me as her trophy.  A reminder that she’s in charge now and I’m just her bitch.  I bet she’s feeling pretty smug right about now, the little twat.”

        “A trophy?” I asked.

        “Yeah, Spice used to be my bitch back when I was in control.  After she took over though....”

        “Whoa, hold on!  You’re a raider?”

        “Once.  Until she and the boys decided it was time to retire me.  I’d tried to put it behind me, started a peaceful life...at least until shit turned ugly.  After that I thought that maybe I could just come back and surprise them all.  Take what was mine.  Looks like I was wrong.”

        “So you aren’t a raider anymore?”

        “Not for a long time.”  He stopped talking for a while after that.

        “You said that you tried to start a new life.  Mind if I ask where?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.  Hell, it wasn’t like we had anywhere to be.

        “There used to be a little town about a day’s walk south of here.  Used to be...but not anymore.”

        “Hold on! You aren’t talking about Jackpot, are you?”  I had a feeling that this was about to get interesting,

        “Yeah, that’s it.  Why?  You hear about what went down?”

        “Not exactly.  But you’re about to fill me in on the details.”  This couldn’t possibly be right.  I stood up and managed to muster up enough strength for an illumination spell.  On the other side of a set of iron bars that bisected the room sat a familiar black stallion.  “And maybe while you’re at it you can tell me why you ran off to join back up with your gang instead of trying to save Jackpot!  They trusted you to keep them safe, Styx!”  I was burning inside with every emotion.  From rage, to relief, to just utter disappointment.  Maybe I could at least get some answers though.

        “Oh for fucks sake!  Crackshot!?  Is that you?”

        “You’re damn right it is!  Now tell me why you ran away and left your town to burn!”

        “The town was fucked whether I stayed or not!  What good would it have done if I died there too?” he retorted.

        “I can even justify that, but why would you come back here!?  I thought you left that life behind you?  You even just said that you wanted a peaceful life!”  I was so confused.  I had always trusted Styx even though he had been a raider, but this didn’t look good for him.

        “What else was I going to do!?  Everything I had was destroyed, everypony I knew was either killed or taken away in chains!  Where was I going to go?”

        “Wait, slow down.  What do you mean ‘taken away in chains’?  Raiders don’t usually take prisoners like that, right?”  Maybe I’d at least get something out of this ordeal.  Styx had betrayed Jackpot, but he may be the only one that knows what happened there.

        “Yeah, for some reason they were rounding up the mares and foals and locking ‘em up.  Any stallions that stuck around...”  I didn’t wait for him to finish.  Besides, I knew firsthoof what happened to anyone who resisted.

        “I...I remember somepony shouting about a contract.  ‘Mares and foals.’  Does that mean that they could still be alive?”

        “I dunno kid, but they were definitely taking prisoners.  Could be some kind of slavers I guess.”  I sighed heavily, trying to take in this new information.  All I could think about was finding those responsible for that raid.  Assuming that I made it out of here, that is.  “Anyway, none of that really matters so long as you’re stuck in here.”

        “Any bright ideas on how to get out of here then?”

        “Staying alive would be a good start.”  Styx answered flatly.

        “You don’t say!?  And how do you suggest I continue doing that?”  He sneered back at me.

        “Spice wants to ‘play’ with you.  Just do whatever she wants you to and she’ll probably keep you.  She won’t let you out of this cell though until she’s done with you for good.  We can work it out later, but for now you better rest up for your little playdate.”  So that was it then?  Whore myself out for the time being until we could form an escape plan?  Well, to be completely honest, it was probably the only thing that I could do seeing as her goons stripped me of all my gear (including the bobby pins I borrowed from Dawn).  Even if I managed to get out of this cell, I still wouldn’t stand a chance against a whole building full of armed raiders.  “And by the way,” Styx began again, “Lose the attitude or I’ll buck your fucking teeth out.”

        “Sorry.”  I had forgotten for a moment who I was talking to and although he was separated from me by the iron bars, he probably could plow right through them if he was really pissed.  Besides, I may need his help to get out of here.

        I managed to trip over a...well I suppose you could call it a bed.  It was a crude mattress made out of stained cardboard and rags.  I curled up on top of the dirty pile and tried to just rest until they came for me.  Styx did the same on his side of the cell.  For now I just needed to rest.  I was still sore from their little ambush when I came in and I would bet that what Spice had in store for me may leave a couple bruises.

        My hazy sleep was broken suddenly by the sound of screeching metal.  Slasher, flanked by another, unfamiliar pony, stormed into my half of the cell and bound my forehooves with heavy chains.  Now at their mercy, they forced my muzzle into a shallow bin of oddly colored powder and held it there for a moment.  I was forced to inhale the powder and, upon doing so, felt immediately...strange.  I felt a powerful surge run through my body and...well...an uncontrollable throbbing in my loins.

        “Oh yeah, I’d say he’s ready.” Slasher laughed as he pulled me back up on all four hooves.  I sneezed, blowing the powder in his face.  “Ugh, dirty little fuck!  You’re damn lucky the Mistress wants you for a little flank-spank, but I won’t forget about this.”

        They brought me to a large door at the end of the hallway and forced me up against it.  With nowhere to go except through, they unshackled me.  I could feel sweat running down my neck now, not from fear though.  I was rather...um...excited.  And no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, it just wouldn’t go away.  Slasher threw me through the door and into the room, slamming and locking the it behind me.  Whoa!

        This room was enormous and lavishly decorated with two symmetrical staircases leading up to a second level.  Whatever this place had been, nothing about it was even close to raider-like now.  Hell, remembering the stench when I first came in I wasn’t even sure that I was in the same building anymore.  There were red velvet curtains that covered most of the bare concrete walls and rugs and plush cushions scattered about the floor.  An impressive light sculpture of a mare and a stallion in flagrante delicto that hung over a large, heart-shaped bed dominated the room, bathing everything in the soft, sensual warmth of its glow.  On the far side of the room, I could see Spice bathing at the edge of the balcony.  She turned to look at me before smiling and slipping out of the tub into a bathrobe.

        “I hope you’re as excited as I am for this,” she cooed, “It's been months since I had the chance to enjoy myself like this.”  Spice slowly made her way down the staircase, her eyes seductively locked on me.  “You don’t have to be nervous, sweetie.  I don’t bite...hard.”

Maybe...maybe this wouldn’t be that bad after all.  Spice was definitely not a raider, what with her cleanliness and seductive (as opposed to sadistic) nature.  Her choice in interior decorating, while a bit lewd, didn’t involve any type of gore and was generally welcoming.  Hell, she seemed more like a horny schoolfilly than any kind of threat.  I suppose everypony has their kinks and that this was just her way of enjoying what the wasteland had left to offer.

“So...what’s your angle exactly?  You’re no raider.  What do you want?”  I asked trying to break the tension as I decided whether or not I was going to resent or enjoy this experience.  I was sure that it was going to happen whether I wanted it or not, so I figured that the least I could do was put a little effort into it.  For my own sake, of course.  To...convince her to...um...  Oh who the Hell am I kidding?  At this point I was actually sore from the passion burning in my loins!  Whatever that powder was, it must be a damn powerful aphrodisiac.

“Believe me, I never wanted to be Styx’s little whore.  He made me his bitch, so I did the same to him.  As for myself, all I really want is to just have a little ‘fun’ now that I have my run of the place.  Slasher and his boys decided to stick around and watch over the place after working out a little agreement.”  She winked and slowly moved towards myself and the bed.  “I still let them do as they please and they keep me safe.  It wasn’t particularly enjoyable, but it was only once and has since paid for itself.”  Spice sat at the edge of the large, inviting bed and stared longingly at me.  “Now I want to be able to enjoy myself again.  On my own terms.”

“Well then why not just ask?  Why the cell and the drugs?”

“Slasher and his boys answer to me, but they’re still raiders.  They govern themselves for the most part and deal with intruders.  You seemed like a fine specimen and I didn’t want them to hurt you.  I had them lock you up to keep them away from you until we got the chance to talk like this.  I figured that you would at least entertain the notion of a little flank-spank in exchange for being able to just walk out of here.  Win-win, right?”

“I...suppose so?  And the drugs?”

“Powdered unicorn horn acts as a powerful aphrodisiac when inhaled.  I figured that you would be too nervous to perform otherwise.”  She giggled, looking down between my hind legs.  “I suppose we won’t have to worry about that now though.”

I trotted over to the bed and climbed on.  Spice smiled at me gently as she laid me on my back.  The mare positioned herself over me and laid on top of my stomach.  Her fur was still damp, but warm pressing against my body.  I really didn’t need any coaxing at this point, but there was something I had to know before this happened.

“I want you to tell me about what happened with Styx.  The whole story.”

“Shhh.  I promise that there will be a time for that later.  Let’s just enjoy ourselves for now.”  This was happening right now, I was tired of waiting.  We could talk things over later, but for now she was right.  We both wanted this.

*** *** ***

For the first time in a long time I woke up happy and satisfied.  I was still in a terrible place and had a lot of difficult tasks before me, but I could take solace in the earthly pleasure that this mare gave me.  Spice had turned out to be much sweeter than she lead on, just the unfortunate victim of more raider brutality.  True, she had an unusual way of coping with it, but I wasn’t complaining.  I rolled over to face the mare laying next to me.  I hate to spoil this blissful moment, but I had questions that needed to be answered.

“Spice...?”  I whispered, “I think it’s time we talk.”

“Mmmh,” she playfully nibbled on my ear, “I did promise you answers, didn’t I?”

“Sorry to kill the mood, but I have things I need to do.  Now let’s start with Styx.  How’d you manage to get him out of the way?”

Spice sighed heavily and rolled off the edge of the bed.  “I always hated him for the things he did to me.  I eventually managed to used the gang’s jealousy to organize a coup to overthrow him.  It took a lot of...’favors’ to convince them to help me.  But that’s in the past now.  Slasher’s boys and I have a deal worked out: they keep me safe as long as Slasher gets to stay in control of the gang.  I have some power over them, but I try not to push my luck.”

“Alright.  So now what happens to me?”

“Well, I suppose you’re free to leave.  I wish you’d stay and play some more,” she winked, “but I’m not going to stop you.  I’ll tell Slasher to give you back your possessions and let you go.  You were kinda roped into this in the first place, so I guess I shouldn’t expect anything more.”

I moved to the edge of the bed and kissed her softly.  “Last night was wonderful.  Much better than I ever could’ve expected going in to a raider camp.  But I’m afraid that I have a job to finish, and a life to get back to.  I suppose you wouldn’t entertain the notion of letting Styx go free with me?”

“I...No.  There’s absolutely no way that I could let that monster loose again.  Not after the things I’ve seen him do.”  A single tear rolled down her cheek.  “He’s an animal, and deserves worse than I can ever dish out.  He stays here and rots.”

“That’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.  And you’re sure that you’re safe here with these raiders?  I could take you back with me to town.  To a place where you’ll be safer.”

“That’s very kind of you to offer, but no.  I doubt that there’s anywhere ‘safer’ than surrounded by raiders.  Nopony in their right mind would ever try to fuck with them.”

“Then I guess this is goodbye.  Oh!  Before I go, the whole reason I came here was to gather medical supplies for a nearby town.  I don’t suppose that Slasher would be willing to part with any of those chems?”

“Not a chance.  Slasher loves two things: his drugs and his knives.  In that order.  And there’s no way in Hell that he’d ever consider parting with some of them.  Not even by my request.”  She moved in closer and gently ran her hoof along my mane.  “It’s a shame you have to go so soon...  Come on, I’ll see you out.”

        Spice unlocked the bedroom door and led me into the hallway.  Slasher was standing directly in our path, flanked by two of his goons.  Something wasn’t right.  Thanks to their agreement Spice was technically in command, but in a raider hierarchy its always the strongest, craziest fuck that the others all obey.  Who’s to say that Slasher isn’t fed up with being her underling and decided to just take her out of the equation?

        “Step aside Slasher, he’s leaving.” Spice commanded.

        “Maybe you forgot, but I get to do whatever the fuck I want with trespassers after you’re done with them!  Now its my turn to have my own ‘fun’ with that dirty little shit.”  Slasher nodded to his boys and they pinned my back against the wall.  “And trust me, my turn won’t be nearly as much fun for you as her’s was.”

        “Slasher!  You answer to me!  Now let go of him!”  Spice hissed.  Slasher turned and bucked “boss” in the side.  Hard.  She collapsed, gasping for breath as I struggled to break free from the raiders’ hold.  Shit, why did I have to be right?  Another raider coup.  Things were about to get bloody.

        “I answer to nopony you cunt!  I’m tired of you locking yourself up in your room and lounging around all day pretending like you own the fucking place!  I’m taking back my house, and you’ve overstayed your welcome.”  Slasher turned his attention to me now.  “Change of plans boys.  Throw the bitch in Styx’s cell, let him take care of her.”  The raiders let me down, only to be pinned back by Slasher’s hoof instead.  “I told you that you’d pay, you dirty fuck!”  He pulled back his other hoof to strike me square in the face.

        Luckily, Slasher was cocky decided to deal with Spice personally. While I’m sure the rest of his gang were behind him in spirit, only two of them came along for the ride, something that would prove to be a fatal error.  I had been eyeing up Slasher while he had been barking orders and saw a golden opportunity.  Before he was able to land his punch, I saw his face change in expression from anger to confusion to fear.  The glow of my horn distracted him just long enough for me to grab hold of the knife attached to his barding.  Blood sprayed across the two of us as I sunk the blade deep into his throat, leaving a fearful, lifeless expression on his face forever.

        Having heard his gurgling and seeing the walls of the narrow corridor painted with blood, I immediately lost the element of surprise with the other two.  However, I did still have the distinct advantage of telekinesis over the two bumbling earth ponies.  They dropped Spice’s limp body and turned their attention to me.  One charged with another knife, but the other drew a revolver.  I went after him first, thrusting the knife deep into his chest before turning my attention to the closer threat.

        This one was fast and closed the distance before I had a chance to strike.  He slashed at me wildly, cutting across the top of my muzzle.  In my shock, I broke concentration and dropped Slasher’s knife.  Now defenseless, I needed to strike back hard and fast.  Before he could come back up for a second strike, I stepped forward and headbutted him.  Now I was nowhere near as strong as an earth pony of his size, but my horn was good for more than just magic.  I was showered in gore once again as I pulled my horn out of his eye.  The hulking brute fell to the ground writhing in agony before I promptly crushed in his skull with my hooves.

        Although we were safe for the moment, we were still trapped in a raider base and killing their boss was a damn good way to stir up the hive.  Having killed them quietly would at least give me a little time before the others got suspicious.  Wiping the blood off of my face, I made my way over to Spice and helped her back up.

        “We need to move, now!  Are you alright to walk?”  Spice groaned and gritted her teeth, but nodded.  I took the revolver from the corpse of the one raider.  Four rounds left.  “Alright this will do for now.  Where are they keeping my gear?”

        “They...they probably threw it in with the rest of the hoard.”  Spice coughed, then immediately winced.  “Its in the pharmacy...that’s where Slasher always kept the drugs.”  I was worried that Slasher had broke something inside her.  My face would probably scar, but I would be fine with a simple bandage.  She needed medical attention.  At least I may still be able to get ahold of some medicine for Darkwater after all.  “You’re going to have to...fight your way there though.”

        “I have an idea.  You’re not going to like it, but I think it's our best bet.  But you have to trust me.”  Spice was horrified by my plan, but I managed to convince her.  I just pray to the Goddesses that this wouldn’t backfire on me.I pulled the knife out of the pistol-wielding pony and tossed it through the bars of Styx’s door.  The struggle outside had gotten his attention and now I had his full attention.

        “Haha!  Jailbreak!” the mountain of a stallion laughed, “Damnit, Crackshot, I didn’t know you had that kind of fight in you.  Now come on and bust me out!”

        “Listen up.  I’ll let you out to get revenge on your boys, but if you try to touch Spice I won’t hesitate to drop your ass.  You’ll have the element of surprise on your side and I’ll be there to help you out, but I need you to help me fight my way to the pharmacy.  After we’re done I don’t care where you go or what you do,” I floated the revolver up to eye level and pointed it at him through the bars, “But if you try to run or take a swing at either of us, I will kill you.  Understand?”

        “I guess I shouldn’t expect any kind of special treatment from you.”  Styx sneered, “Fine, now unlock the door and let’s go bust some heads!”  I took the keys from Slasher and carefully unlocked the door.  Styx stepped outside and glared at Spice.

        “Don’t worry about her.”  I said, keeping the revolver trained on his head.  “She’s not the one you want to fight.  She was just the coordinator.  Go get the bastards who beat your ass and left you for dead.”  Styx briefly trained his glare on me before turning and casually cantering down the hallway towards the atrium.  I turned back to Spice, who was struggling to keep up.  “Here, let me help.” I said, leaning her against my side for support, “We need to get you to a doctor after this.”

        I was worried about Spice.  I know it was strange that I felt compassion and even a bit of attachment to the mare who I thought was a sociopathic murderer only hours ago, but things changed last night.  Spice’s true form came out and I saw that deep down she was scarred and fearful as anypony would be after spending years among the raiders.  She never wanted this life.  I was determined to help give her a better one.  After what she had been subjected to here, she deserved it.

        She and I limped together down the hallway after Styx.  The room was more gory than usual with several raiders brutally slashed and stomped to a paste beneath the hooves of their enraged former colleague.  None of them, I noticed, had a weapon and one particularly large pony had been stripped of his barding.  Styx was a clever pony, looting whatever he could use off of the fallen.  He could take whatever he wanted from them for all I care.  As long as I got my gear and the chems out of the pharmacy I was a happy pony.

        Spice showed me the way as we moved deeper in the wake of Styx’s carnage.  I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from deeper inside the building.  I had noticed an empty holster or two on some of the corpses that littered the halls so who was shooting was really anypony’s guess.  The shots only grew louder as we got closer to the pharmacy.  And then...everything was quiet.  There was no more shouting, no more shooting.  Just an eerie silence.  The fighting was over.

        Styx had already bucked the pharmacy door open and wasted no time in jamming a syringe full of Rage into his forehoof.  He burst back out of the room in a fury and proceeded to take it out on the raiders, savagely beating them with his bare hooves as they bled, waiting for the darkness to take them.  I took the opportunity to grab my gear and as much medicine as I could fit into my saddlebags.  Not knowing if Styx would decide to turn his rage on us next, Spice and I quickly hobbled to back to the atrium and made for the door.

        My mind raced as we made our escape.  I thought of Spice and where I could find her a doctor in The Hub.  I thought of Dawn and how she had faired in my absence, alone and for much longer than I had told her.  I thought about Darkwater and the contract that had led me here.  But most of all, I thought about the pony who I thought I had known, the one who I once respected and trusted: Styx.

        Looking back over my shoulder, I saw the last raider’s head literally explode under the fearsome might of the savage’s hooves, his black coat sticky with blood and gore.  He snorted and bucked wildly, revelling in the bloodbath of his former brothers.  There was nothing I could say that would even reach him in his state of blind fury.  Styx wasn’t the pony I knew back in Jackpot, not anymore.  He was back to his savage way of life.  And that terrified me.