Ain't no rest for nopony

"And now we're here!" Pinkie finished in her usual cheery voice, after having explained everything that had happened since she arrived.

"So.. You hugged them into submission?" Asked Dash.

"Yup!"

"Wow. That's.. I don't think there's a word for it." I said. I knew Pinkie was random, but this was pushing it.

"Random?" Dash tried.

"That'll have to do."

Wait what. Pinkie's level 10? How the hell...

"Pinkie, how can you already be at level 10??"

She simply replied with a shrug.

"Ugh, doesn't matter. Well, are you ready to get going, Pinkie?" I asked.

"Ooo, where are we going?"

"We need to find the rest of the girls, Pinkie. If you're here, and I'm here, then they're probably on Pandora too." Dash replied.

"Okey dokey loki!"

We traveled back through Arid Hills. The bandits were keeping the party going, so the only threat was Skags, and no dens were in out path. After a few minutes of walking we were back at the entrance.

Wait.. Dash can fly and I can drive. But what about Pinkie, and later, the rest of the girls? This is going to be real slow and dangerous on foot and hoof.. Well, it wouldn't surprise me if Pinkie could somehow drive, but I still doubt it..

As I was thinking, someone called me on the ECHO. I quickly accepted.

"Yeah?"

"Hey, this is Scooter! I heard about you and the pony, and seeing as I had some time on my hands, I made a small modification to the runners! Sending you the schematic now. And don't worry, the Catch-A-Ride will automatically detect it. I'll be seeing you in New Haven, alright?"

"Dude, Scooter, this is perfect timing. I appreciate it. And you can count on me visiting soon!"

We talked a little more, and said our goodbyes. I then ran over to the Catch-A-Ride and activated it.

There it was, the modified runner. It was a simple change, the 2 seating spaces had been expanded a little, allowing creatures like ponies to sit in it. There was another change, though. One not visible. The runner had been modified to link with the driver and gunner's ECHO devices, allowing them to aim, drive and shoot with simple thoughts.

"Seems like everything is going your way today!"

Indeed.

"You seem so much more comfortable compared to when I first contacted you, too."

Well, you can't really do any harm in here.

"Maybe not. Well, your next stop is the Circle Of Death! I wish you good luck."

I decided that I could trust him. He was the reason we found Pinkie, and he had yet to deceive me.

We went south, back to the fork from earlier, and proceeded west. For some reason, the Skags had gone back into their dens. Even the sentries.

"Weird.." I thought out loud.

Despite this, we stopped and headed into the cave which contained the Circle Of Death. Rade Zayben, the owner, stared at Dash and Pinkie as we approached.

"Hey, we'd like to do a round." I said.

"We? You bringing your pets?"

"Hey! We're not pets!" Dash said angrily.

"Oh, It's you! News spread surprisingly quick on this planet. Please, be my guests!"

After checking our weapons, we went in. Pinkie had a shotgun, which she carried and fired from her mouth.

The gate closed behind us. But instead of Skags coming from the small containment areas, they simply opened to reveal empty insides.

"That can't be good."

Before I could think of a reason, Skags began streaming en masse from the open containment areas, and quickly surrounded us. The 3 of us were back to back, guns aimed at the Skags. They had yet to attack, but a few of them were showing signs of aggression.

"Why aren't we shooting yet?" Asked Dash.

"Because, we have no chance of killing this many Skags. Perhaps by not shooting, they wont attack.."

As if to prove me wrong, some of the Skags began moving towards us. Slowly.

"I don't think it's working, Casper." Said Pinkie.

"I can see that. I got nothing. This is bad."

"Wait, I have an idea! I can use my action skill!" Pinkie said.

"That might work. Depends on what it is."

"Well, where do you think I got the party supplies?" She asked as she summoned her party cannon out of seemingly thin air.

You've gotta be fucking kidding.

"Alright. Do it."

Then all hell broke loose. Pinkie fired the party cannon and took out a chunk of Skags in the general direction it was aimed. Dash took to the air, and I ran for the newly opened hole in the circle. It was a death sentence to be surrounded. After firing a few more volleys from the party cannon and having it disappear just as fast as it appeared, Pinkie switched back to her shotgun and began firing. Dash tried and failed to lure some of the Skags away, and had decided to just shoot everything that wasn't me or Pinkie. As I took aim with my rifle, a pink and yellow blur zoomed into the arena.

"STOOOOP!"

Everyone stopped. The Skag that had nearly bitten off one of Pinkie's legs had stopped inches away and was now starring intently at the yellow Pegasus.

In soviet Pandora, pony finds you. Not that I'm complaining!

"Fluttershy! How'd you find us?" Asked Dash, who was now hovering by Fluttershy.

"Well.. I wasn't far away, and heard a very familiar sound. So I went to investigate.."

"Oh, lemme guess! the familiar sound you heard was the party cannon?" Pinkie asked.

"Yes. It did sound like that."

The Skags that had been knocked out by the party cannon were now waking up again. They did nothing, but join the rest of the Skags in staring at Fluttershy.

"Now, will you please leave my friends alone?" She asked the Skags. Most of them complied, and those who didn't, quickly fled when they received The Stare.

Only now, after the sea of Skags had left, did Fluttershy notice me.

"Oh, who's that?" She asked.

"That's Casper. Don't worry, he's cool. Saved me from being eaten a few hours ago.."

"Oh my.."

Seems like he helped me again..

"Hi Fluttershy, nice to meet you." I said. I made sure not to rush over there. She was already showing signs of extreme anxiety.

"Uhm.. Hi.." She said, barely loud enough for me to hear. This was going to take some time.

"Oh don't worry, she'll get over it."

Alright, where to next?

"That's a good question. I don't know."

How could you know about Pinkie and Fluttershy, but not the rest?

"Call it lucky. You already know the important locations. Use that knowledge."

Ugh, fine.