Fallout Equestria: Tales of a Courier

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Emerald Brothers
Chapter 2: Luck
Chapter 3: Desert Rats
Chapter 4: Stitches
Chapter 5: Black Mountain Pass
Chapter 6: Remnant of the Past
Chapter 8: Redemption
Chapter 9: City of Iron
Introduction
Chapter 7: Dust, Feathers and Amateur Gunmen
Tales of a Courier: Reloaded RELEASED!

Chapter 1: The Emerald Brothers

“out of the fridge, into the fire”

Life was boring on the Apple Plains, from the dusty crop fields to the small dusty town. The only thing I could take solace in was the Apple Plains signature beer, “Golden Harp”. So there I sat, at the bar of the town’s local, The Paddock Pub, staring into the rich, black deliciousness before me.

“What’s got ya down Clover?” Taps, the blue earth pony stallion who tended the bar asked..

Oh right! That’s me, by the way. The name’s Clover (you could probably tell from the lucky four leafed clover upon my flank), just your average, run of the mill twenty year old earth pony, black mane, pale grey coat and emerald eyes. Nothing about me really stood out, well other than the fact I’ve got a reputation for being a lucky son of a bitch.

“Same old, same old. There’s just nothing to do since dad died and the NCR took the ranch. At least hey gave us some compensation. Even the shooting competitions Shamrock and I have are getting mundane.”

“When was the last time you had one?” asked Taps.

“Yesterday.” I sighed

“Who won?”

“Me.”

“As always….”

I suppose I was a better shot than Shamrock, but that was probably because I spent more time fixing up my rifle than he did. Good old Longshot, I had been using and customizing that rifle since dad gave it to me when I was fifteen. Why did he give me a rifle? I don’t know. I mean, who gives a colt a rifle? It’s just not logical but I loved him for it.

The door slammed open, followed by a stallion with a messy emerald mane and light orange coat.

“Shamrock, is that your idea of making a grand entrance?” I chuckled.

“Oh, in that case I won’t tell you what I just did.” he said with a smirk.

“What have you got yourself into this time?” He may have been the charismatic one but he certainly wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box, even if he did still retain the old Emerald Island accent.

“Oh, you know, just this, that, signing up at the new Apple Plains express courier office, the usual.”

“What courier office?” I asked as I turned around on my stool.

“Just opened today, we are the first people to be hired!

“Oh well that’s…we?” oh boy, here we go...

“Come on Clove, you always said you wanted to get out of this town.”

“Yeah but you could have asked first,” I said, “I just never expected to be a courier… when do we start?”

“Tomorrow, first thing in t’ morning.”

“Well then, a few more drinkies and then home methinks…”

“That’s the spirit!” Shamrock laughed, slapping me on the back. I don’t think he realizes it but I’m not as strong as him, just smarter and better at shooting… that made me feel so very smug. Marvelous!

So we spent the day drinking, playing darts, shooting pool, you know, pub stuff before heading back to the peeling, rust covered old cottage my family had lived in for the past 200 years.

My family came from a group of small islands off the coast of the newly annexed western territories of Equestria called the Emerald Isles, and when the megaspells hit, they survived in Stable 41 and after the Over…was it a mare…or a stallion… I forgot, anyway, once he/she/it found out that only one of the Emerald Islands had been hit, the Stable door opened and the islanders went about their lives and eventually, when Sunny Sands had set up the New Canterlot Republic islanders started to immigrate to the mainland, my family included.

And there we were 200 years later, my brother and recently deceased dad still held onto the old Emerald Isle accent. Me? I lost mine a while back after reading “How to Speak like an Equestrian! The Patriotic Guide to Speech”. Obviously a wartime propaganda book…

Home sweet home. Somehow through the haze that is too much Golden Harp, it seemed decent and is a memory I still cherish of the peaceful times.

“I’m goin to bed,” Shamrock said through his drunken stupor, “G’night Clove.”

“Night.” I said but there was too much to do before we set out. So I got to packing the things we may need, canteens, food, ammo and rifles. Perfect.

“My name’s Stamps,” said the skinny blue mare behind the desk in front of us. She was a short unicorn, just taller than a filly. “I suppose I’m your boss! Anyway, to business, chaps! Your first job is a big one and it’s going to take you all the way up to the Long Fifteen.”

She opened her desk and pulled out a tiny black and white poker chip. “This thing needs to get to the Lucky Bucky casino on the New Neighgas strip, the owner of said casino is paying through the nose to get this out there and we’re talking thousands of Bits, not those pieces of junk bottle caps!”

“How can something so small be so valuable…” Shamrock pondered. I had to admit, I was pretty stumped too.

“I dunno, but if it’s that valuable, you’d better keep it hidden and protected.” She said, seemingly mesmerized by it.

“Right…” I said. I was a bit creeped out about how she was reacting to it, “we’d best be off then” She gave Shamrock the chip.

“Have a safe trip!”

The Long Fifteen. The longest stretch of road around and Shamrock and I were traversing it, along with a very nice caravaner called Packs.

“So Packs, where you from?” Shamrock asked, plodding along next to him as I talked to his 2 headed cow, which seemed nice even though his other head had the IQ of a cactus.

“Ah’m from way back west, Sunny Sands to be exact. Yep, got me a contract with the Red Wagon caravan agency.”

“Oh really? Well Clover and I are from the Apple Plains, born and raised! Where you headed?”

“Ponave Outpost, the eastern most part of NCR held territory, got some papers and supplies for ‘em, didn’t bother reading them though di’nt seem right. And you?”

“The New Neighgas strip.”

“Never been there myself, heard it’s like an Oasis in the desert.”

I had expected that sort of banter between those two, but I was having a much better conversation with Oscar, the brahmin.

“Well, in my opinion, the NCR really are quite good, their main downfall is the fact that they are too ambitious.” said Oscar.

“How so?” I asked, bewildered by how much he knew.

“You see, they are getting greedy and expanding east too quickly. If you ask me, they will be stretched too finely and will run out of resources unless they start reallocating them to the places that they already hold, then in about five to ten years they would have the strength to carry on east.”

“That’s interesting, so what you’re telling me is that the NCR are trying to take the Ponave desert with insufficient resources?”

“Precisely!” Oscar said through a smile.

This was an interesting turn of events, from what Oscar has told me, the NCR are fighting something called Crusader’s Legion, mostly over a dam, and all this is happening just east of the New Neighgas strip. I was sure we’d be fine; I mean we weren’t heading that far east…

“So why are you headed to the Ponave?”

“Package delivery to a casino on the New Neighgas strip.” I said as I looked up at Shamrock and Packs, “So tell me, what’s it like back west?”

“Well, before the bombs dropped…”

“Wait, you were around before the bombs dropped?” I said, wide eyed.

“Yup, saw them rain down from the sky, got highly irradiated by them too but I was lucky, instead of dying, I grew an extra head and got a bit ugly. It’s a fair trade off if you ask us, isn’t it Bert?” he looked at his other head, but Bert was concentrated on a shiny spoon dangling from Pack’s barding, “of course sometimes it can be annoying…but we do live a lot longer than natural.”

“Oh shit. Clover, get up here!” called Shamrock as he interrupted out conversation. up ahead was a group of travelers under attack by a group of large lizard looking creatures. One of the travellers had already been bitten and was lying on the ground clutching their leg. I pulled out Longshot and aimed down the sight. There were six lizard things and I had eight bullets in my rifle. I liked those odds. Shamrock and I shot in unison and two lizards went down from holes in their heads.

Unfortunately that got the other’s attention. They started to run at us, their mouths were snapping as they ran.

“Uh oh.” Packs said as he dove behind us. ‘Uh oh’ was right. I fired again and dropped another. I pulled back the bolt on my rifle to loaded another bullet while Shamrock had taken out another leaving two still running. Now they were a bit too close. The damn thing jumped on me, knocking me down before I could fire.

“Get this thing off of me!” The only thing between me and the gaping jaws of the lizard was my rifle pushing against its reptillian hide, while I desperately tried to keep it from biting me. Luckily for me, Shamrock hadn’t missed his target and bucked the bastard off of me. It scrambled to it’s feet hissing at us before Shamrock shot it in the throat, blood flying as its head flew off.

“Ew.” I said as I got up. “That was nasty.”

We ran up to the travelers and Packs proceeded to wrap a healing bandage around the wounded mare’s leg, what ever the bandage was made of started to heal the leg. “Y’all gotta be careful out here. Most of the critters out here are dangerous. Always carry a firearm just in case the NCR patrols are too far away, never around when you need ‘em.” He said as he administered the bandage. The blood around the mare’s leg was making me queasy so I looked away. “Best git y’all up to Ponave Outpost lickity-split so we don’t git attacked again.”

The outpost wasn’t a very interesting place. There were two small buildings on the side of the road, a sniper perch, a lot of barbed wire, sandbags and some holding pens for brahmin. The only interesting thing around were the two large statues shaking hooves at the front of the outpost.

“What are they?” I asked myself, bewildered at their size.

“Well the one on the left is a desert ranger,” said a voice behind me, startling me. It was an earth pony wearing NCR military barding and helmet with a corkscrew strapped to the side. “And the one on the right is a NCR ranger and this marks the place they joined forces.” She clocked my look of surprise. “I’m Corporal Corks, sorry to just sneak up on you like that…”

“Uh…um…right, yes,” I said, shaking off my surprised stupor, “thanks Corporal. I’m Clover” I extended my hoof to the mare.

“That’s alright Clover,” she said as she shook my hoof with great enthusiasm, “least I can do for new comers, so where you headed? And more importantly, where did you get that rifle?”

“Well, me and my brother Shamrock…” I said, looking around for him, he was still chatting to Packs and the travelers, “…are delivering a package to the New Neighgas strip. My father gave me the rifle, and I’ve been customizing it for five years now,”

“Phew,” she said in admiration, scratching her purple mane, “well she’s a beaut, I’ll give you that…” Obviously a gun enthusiast.

“Thanks,” I said, just as Shamrock walked up.

“Well, Clover, aren’t you gonna introduce me to your new girlfriend?”

Say what?! I almost fell over with surprise and slight embarrassment.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I said, collecting my thoughts, “Shamrock, this is Corporal Corks, she was just telling me about the statues,”

“Pleased t’ meet you,” he said, shaking her hoof.

“That’s an interesting accent you’ve got there. Whoops, my shift just started, see you around cutie!” she laughed before galloping off to the first building,

“She was cute” Shamrock nickered, grinning at me before I kicked him. Hard. “Alright, alright! Anyway, we best get moving, try t’ close some distance between us and the strip”

The desert was vast and dry. Mountains formed a large spine through the middle of it and New Neighgas was miles away on the other side…this is going to be fun.

We were walking again, feeling the heat from the day being replaced by the cool night, the blue skies replaced with that of thousands of stars and the bright moon casting long shadows of cacti. We were about two kilometers away from Ponave Outpost and Shamrock was still teasing me about Cpl. Corks.

“No sense walking in the dark, eh?” said Shamrock, finally breaking from the teasing as he sat down beside a rock and rummaged through his bag, “dinner?” He pulled out a can of beans, a pot and two bowls. I got to work getting a fire started. I was in luck; there was a dried up tree a few meters from camp that provided ample fire wood and with a quick flick of a match the fire was lit. Within minutes, we were chomping down on our beans.

“Is it me or are the stars brighter out here?” Sham said, beans clinging to his mouth.

“You’re delirious.” I said, looking up. I didn’t notice anything different, “You’d better get some sleep”

“Fine, but I’m telling you, something’s different around here.” he said while unrolling his bedroll, “we gotta hit the trail early tomorrow to get anywhere near civilization, you’d best get some shut eye too”. It wasn’t until then that I noticed that I was exhausted. Walking the Long Fifteen and then some really takes it out of you. At least tomorrow we should be at Lipton.

I snuggled down into my bedroll, “g’night Shamrock” I yawned before burying my face in the roll but Shamrock was already asleep, on a beautiful night like this, what could go wrong?

Shouting. Talk about your rude awakenings. To add to it, I couldn’t move or see. Shit.

“What’s going on?!” I tasted copper. That was bad. From what I gathered, I was bound, blindfolded and bleeding.

Judging by the sounds I was hearing, someone was getting the shit kicked out of them. “Shamrock?” I called out.

“Hey boss,” a deep voice said not too far from me. “Sleeping beauty here’s finally waking up.”
I knew I was a strapping young stallion but that’s pushing it.

“Who’s there?” I asked.

“Well, no need to keep secrets,” said another younger voice before my blindfold was lifted. I was right: I’m tied to a rock. How novel. Before me, also tied to a rock, was the twitching, groaning body of Shamrock, his light orange coat torn in patches and blood tricking down his coat obscuring his three leaf clover cutie mark.

“What the fuck are you doing?!” I shouted, I didn’t think my eyes could get any wider.

“Give me the chip” a well-dressed Stallion spat.

“Fine…check…the crevice…between your flanks.” Shamrock said before chuckling, blood spurting from his mouth with each movement. The Stallion moved towards him taking his cigarette out of his mouth.

“Wrong answer.” he said as he plunged the end of the cigarette into Shamrocks face. The scent of singed flesh filled the crisp night air. I couldn’t watch. With each scream from Shamrock, I cringed a little more.

“Last chance, Greenie,” he said as he stepped away. Shamrock looked at me with one eye closed. It was blue and swollen. Blood was pouring from his nose, mouth and head.

“Don’t tell them…a fucken thing!” he said before coughing up an unnatural amount of blood.

“I warned you kid.” fancy pants said as he reached into his coat.

“No.” I whispered.

“But did you listen?” as he pulled out a gun.

“Oh goddesses please, no” I said.

“No.” he said as he turned and pulled the trigger,

“NOOOO!” I shouted. Shamrocks body jolted, his head slamming back to smack against the rock, blood splashing on the ground in front of him while the rock behind him was painted crimson. Blood streaked down his ropes and body.

“YOU MONSTER!” I yelled, squirming to get free, “I’LL KILL YOU!”

“With what, kid? Those?” he pointed at one of his henchmen who was dressed in leathers, in fact all of them were, except Mr. Fancy Pants before me. Leathers over there had our rifles. I looked at the dark brown pony.

“How much is this bastard paying you to do this?”

“Enough to feed all of us for a very long time.” he said, in the voice I heard earlier.

“Now, you’re going to tell me where that chip is.” Fancy Pants said as he stepped closer, carefully avoiding Shamrock’s puddle of blood.

“Who the hell are you?” I spat, looking into his dark blue eyes.

“Where are my manners?” Fancy Pants said, “My name’s Double Down and you were just about to tell me where that chip of yours is.” This guy was full of himself, from his slicked back black mane to his well-maintained pale yellow coat and his black and white checkered suit. Hell, even his cutie mark screamed obnoxiousness. Two cards face up.

“You killed my brother, stole our stuff and now you’re playing nice? FUCK YOU!” I said as I head-butted him. It was at times like this I wish I was a unicorn. I would have impaled the fucker.

“Fucking cretin,” he was holding his nose. I hoped it was broken, “That’s it, no more Mr. Nice Guy!” He pulled out his knife. Bollocks.

“Tell me.” He shouted as he brought his knife down on my right foreleg, pushing it deep inside the muscle and twisting the blade.

“ARGH! Mother fucker!” I screamed as loud as I could.

He pulled out the knife just as one of his cronies found the chip on Shamrock. “Found it.” The mohawked bastard said in a high looney voice. If I wasn’t tied up and in immense pain, I would have laughed.

“Ah, so small…” Double Down began as he looked at the chip,

“Kinda like your dick then,” I laughed.

“Yeah, keep laughing kid,” he said as he turned to me and raised the barrel of his pistol, “you must be the lucky one around here, with your four leafed weed. But I gotta tell you…” he pointed the gun at my head, “your luck just ran out”

*BANG*

Footnote: Welcome to the desert, we’ve got fun and games.
New traits:
“Wild Wild Wasteland”: The desert wastes can get a bit wacky if you look in the right places
“Trigger Discipline”: You shoot 20% slower but are 20% more accurate.

Special thanks to Demetrius and everyone else who helped out to make this jumble of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in to a halfway decent story. And Kkat for the inspiration.

MORE special thanks to Kal for the revisions.

Chapter 2: Luck

“Aint that a kick in the head?”

“I’m telling you Ace, after surviving a gunshot to the head I’d be surprised if he wakes up anytime this month,” somepony said nearby. “Just go about your business and I’ll notify you of any changes.” Who was he talking to?

“Fine doc, but if he wakes up I want to be first to know.” Question asked and answered. This pony was a mare. Was she talking about me? Why would she be interested in me? What was going on? Maybe if I got up and looked around I might find out where I am. Sounded like a plan.

“Uuuuugh,” I moaned as I tried to get up before a sharp pain in my head sent me straight back down.

“Easy now,” the older pony said. “Don’t try and get up too fast.” Now he tells me. “Try and open your eyes.” Well there was a thought. It felt like my eyelids were made of lead but I managed to get them open. Well, mostly at least.

The room I was in had two hospital beds, lots of fancy medical equipment and a few medical boxes on the walls along with some posters featuring a yellow mare with light pink hair. My vision was too blurry to make out the writing.

“Good. I’m doctor Cloud.” The pony said as I looked at him. He seemed like a nice old unicorn with a big grey moustache, white coat and a balding mane. His appearance was somewhat soothing if blurry. I guess that was why he chose it.

“Welcome to Goodsands.” He levitated a syringe to my head, “this may be uncomfortable but bear with me.” He wasn’t lying but whatever was in that syringe lessened the throbbing in my head. But with that, my foreleg started to hurt. Was that pain there before?

“What…” I started, just barely getting up, “…what happened?”

“Memory loss, eh? Well I guess that’s a side effect from a bullet to the brain. Can you remember your name?”

“Clover,” I said as I moved to the side of the bed, “so I got shot in the head? Then why does my foreleg hurt.” I raised my right foreleg and was shocked to see a five centimeter scar. “How did that happen?”

“According to Ace and Dusty, they brought you in here, some fancy fella knifed your foreleg then shot you in the head.”

…Fancy fellow...

“Double Down!” I spluttered, memories came flooding back; the rock, the ropes, the knife, the fancy suit, Sham- SHAMROCK! “Wheres my brother?! Is he ok?!” I shouted and my head confirmed that was a bad idea. Ouch.

“The orange guy?” he asked before he looked down. “I’m sorry to say that he was dead when he got here. We buried him 4 days ago, we couldn’t wait any longer for you to wake up”

“F…Four…Four days ago?” Tears started to form in my eyes. “How long have I been out?”

“About a week and a half.”

“A week and a half? Shit.” I looked down to see I was wearing a white hospital gown. “Shamrock’s been dead for that long?”

“I’m afraid so. Now, there’s no sense staying in bed any longer, I’m sure you want to see your brother but first I have to do a once over. Make sure you’re still in one piece.”

I slipped down from the side of the bed, rubbing the tears from my eyes and putting all four hooves on the ground. Pain arcing through my head and foreleg.

“Now, that pain should go away on its own in just a few days.” He must’ve noticed my face scrunching up in agony.

He strolled over to a mirror. “Now, I had to go rooting around in your head to pull all the bits of lead out, hollow-point bullets can get messy, and I take pride in my needle work but you’d better tell me what you think.” He waved me over. I could do this, just had to put one hoof in front of the other…

*SLAM*

Then I was face first on the floor. Great.

“Let’s try that again.” Said Cloud as he helped me up.

“Thanks,” I mumbled. I was finally able to walk two feet. I looked into the mirror. Same emerald eyes, pale grey coat and black mane… and a two centimeter scar just above my left ear. “Well, nothings out of place.” I stared at the scar, “Please tell me that will go away.”

“Afraid not kid. By the time you were brought in here and I pulled the bullet out it was too late to be able to get rid of the scar. It will heal up just fine, but will always be visible”

“Damn.” Wait, why were we talking about this and not Shamrock? “Enough, take me to my brother!” The tears in my eyes were reappearing,

“Fine but you aren’t going out in a hospital gown. I’m fairly certain I’ve got something you can wear…” He said as he disappeared into his bedroom.

A few moments later he reappeared with a folded up blue barding with a yellow stripe along the collar and down the front, “My old stable jumpsuit. I grew up in stable 43 before Mr. House turned it into a hotel. I can’t say I’ll miss these old rags.”

Old rags? They seemed good as new! Albeit a little bit dusty but much better than that gown, that’s for sure. It was starting to get a bit breezy…

“Before you go,” he said, while rummaging through a crate, “here is a box of painkillers in pill form, there’s about fifteen in there so more than enough to hold you together till the pain goes. But be careful, they can get addictive, so no more than two a day, got it?” I nodded, “Good. Oh! And another thing, here.” He levitated something that looked like a tube with a computer on it, “hold out your foreleg.”

“Wait, what is that?” I backed up, “looks weird.”

“This here is a Stabletech Pipbuck, state of the art earth pony ingenuity. I’ve no use for it nowadays. I mostly just potter around my home, maybe go to the saloon once in a while. Nothing that requires the Pipbuck’s features. Now, hold out your foreleg.” I complied. This thingamajig intrigued me.

The Pipbuck closed around my left foreleg.

“Well now, I think it’s registered you. Try bringing up the EFS.”

“EFS?”

“Eyes-Forward Sparkle.”

“Um…ok…how do I- oh there it is. What is that doc?” There was a bar at the edge of my vision.

“That bar is a compass and if you look at me.” I turned to face him. “See that white tick? That means that I’m not hostile, if its red, it means I am hostile. Easy, hmm?”

“Quite…wait, hold on a sec, what is that?” I noticed another bar to my right.

“Hm? Oh, you must mean your heads up display! The HUD will tell you your current weapon’s condition and ammo. I heard it’s a Stabletech West design, but I can’t be sure.”

“How useful, now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a grave to see.”

“It’s just up the hill behind the saloon. If you decide to head back out into the desert, which I really don’t recommend, then come back here before you leave.”

I opened the door and closed it behind me.

“Well, look whose decided to join the realm of the living,” a familiar voice said from beside me. It came from a young mare, around the same age as me, maybe older. She was a pale beige unicorn with a brown coloured mane. “Name’s Ace.” That would explain the ace of spades on her flank, wait, Ace?

“You were one of the ones who brought me here weren’t you?”

“Yup, Dusty and I were out chasing away geckos from our water supplies when we heard shouting. We go to check it out and there’s an orange pony with his brains blown out.” I looked at her angrily. She faltered on her words, “Uh…um…sorry. So we cut you two down and carried you to Doc Cloud’s but your friend had already passed on. Again, sorry.”

“He was more than a friend…” I said

“Oh, you didn’t strike me as that kind of pony.” That kind of pony?

“Well I’m not that kind of pony. He was my brother.”

“Damn, I’m really sorry.” She looked like she meant it.

“Save it. Where’s he buried?”

She walked out in front of me as I shuffled along, trying to hold down both my sorrow and the urge to smack the mare in the face. That urge must be brought on from the frustration from the pain in my foreleg. We walked in silence up the hill to the Goodsands Cemetery.

In front of me was a freshly filled grave. The stone had “Here lies… loving…” carved in it.

“Why are these parts blank?” I asked.

“Well we didn’t know his name or who he was important to.”

“His name was Shamrock and he was a loving brother and son.”

“Noted.”

We stood there for a few moments before she left me alone with the grave.

“I’ll be in the Saloon. When you’re done here, meet me there.” she said.

I just stood looking at the grave as she left.

Two relatives in the space of a month and I was apparently the lucky one now I was lucky to be the last remaining pony in my family.

“It shouldn’t have ended like this Shamrock. We were supposed to open a business together, grow old then die.” Tears fell onto the warm dry dirt below me. “Now I just wish I could’ve buried you next to dad back in the Apple Plains.”

I stood there sobbing and reminiscing for hours before looking up at the low mountains past the dry desert in front of me as the sun slowly set behind me.

“As Celestia is my witness, Double Down is going to pay for what he did, make no mistake.” I growled. “Goodbye Shamrock. I’m gonna miss you…” I started walking down the hill towards the saloon.

I intended to drink myself to oblivion.

The saloon was almost empty. except for the bartender, Ace, a pony sitting in one of the booths and a green pony being aggressive at the bartender. His barding had NCRCF written on the back.

“If you don’t give me Rings, I’m gonna get my friends and we will burn this place to the ground!” He was waving his hoof at the bartender before storming past me and out the door.

“What’s his problem?” I muttered as I sat at the bar. “Got any Golden Harp?”

“Nope,” the bartender said, not looking up from the glass he was cleaning.

“Fine, give me the strongest whiskey you have then.” He gladly complied.

“He’s one of them Blammo Bunch,” said Ace, sitting beside me.

“Blammo Bunch?” I said, raising my eyebrow, “Sounds silly to me.”

“Yeah well that’s what we all thought.”

“Where did they come from?”

“They’re convicts, sent here by the NCR to work on the new train lines. Big breakout in the correctional facility just south of here. Turns out, giving a bunch of convicts explosives to clear rocks isn’t such a great idea. Now, between the Blammo Bunch, Hyenas, Rattlers and a bunch of other bandit groups it aint safe to travel the highways anymore.”

“Who are the Hyenas and Rattlers?”

“A few years back they were the big bandit gangs in this area but since the NCR arrived and stared clearing the area they’re just petty raiders. Not like the ones you find in the Old Neighgas ruins or the ruins of Mustang. Those raiders aren’t even ponies, they’re monsters. No morals what so ever. They kill, maim, rape and desecrate for fun whereas The Hyenas and Rattlers will probably just mug you an’ maybe kill you.”

“So they both kill random people?”

“Yup, but the ruin’s raiders will torture you and after you’re dead they’ll cut you up, fuck what’s left and decorate their home with parts of you.”

“Charming.” I took sip of whiskey. “So what do the Blammo Bunch want with this Rings fellow?”

“Oh, Rings? The Blammo Bunch apparenlty attacked his caravan and he fled here lookin’ to hide. Honestly, I hope he just sneaks off during the night and takes then with him…”

“Why haven’t you tried helping him?” I turned to her.

“We don’t want to get caught up in that sort of thing.” The bartender said.

“But if they get their hands on him, they’ll tear him to bits! I don’t care if you help me or not, I’m helping him!” I slammed my hoof on the table followed by a small ‘yipe’ as I held my scarred foreleg.

“Not like that you can’t. At least not alone.” Ace patted me on the back, “I’m in. Those Blammo Bunch bastards won’t know what hit em.”

“Who else might help?”

“Dusty might.” I remembered I hadn’t met Dusty yet. “First things first, we need to find out if you’re in fighting condition! Meet me round back.” And with that she hopped off her stool and trotted out the back door.

“Listen kid.” The bartender said, finally looking up, “If you fight them, you’d better take them all out, otherwise they’ll just get their friends and we’re all screwed.”

“I intend to.” I gulped down the rest of my whiskey and left.

“First of all, do you have any weapons training?” said Ace with her odd pump action shotgun levitated beside her.

“yeah…well I was a pretty good shot.” I didn’t know if I still was, considering my brain had a hole in it.

“We’re about to find out then.” She floated a small rifle to me. “That there is a Varmint rifle. Not very powerful but it gets the job done.” It didn’t look powerful at all…

“Right,” she said as I took it from her, “Try take out that sarsaparilla bottle over there,” she pointed her nose at a fence with 8 bottles on top.

I aimed down the sights. This weapon was a lot lighter than my hunting rifle, Longshot, I could barely feel the butt of it against my shoulder or the grip between my teeth. I didn’t like it. I pulled the trigger and a bottle exploded into smithereens.

“Hooee, nice shot. Now try the rest.” I complied with a grin.

I smashed them bottle by bottle with pretty good accuracy. By the time we finished the moon was starting to crest over the eastern mountains, making the glass shards glimmer against the dirt.

“You’ve got nowhere to stay, do you?” Ace asked as we walked back into the saloon. She seemed concerned.

“Nope.”

“I’m sure Cloud will let you stay another night, given the circumstances.” I hoped so, after all that target practice I was down to fourteen pain pills and still had a splitting headache.

*SSSSS*

“YAAAAAAARGH!” Shamrock screamed. I could see Double Down extinguishing his cigarette on Shamrock face. I could see me, tied up to the rock beside him. I was staring at them from a hill. I tried running to Shamrock. I had to save him but with each hoof fall the further away they seemed.

My brother and Double Down were laughing while the leather clad ponies’ heads grew larger around me, tinted with red and laughing hysterically as I kept running. They started swirling as Double Down walked away. Swirling, swirling, faster and faster before Double Down raised his gun to my brother.

“AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!” His eyes turned red as he opened his mouth revealing sharp teeth and a forked tongue jutting out with each laugh as he pulled the trigger.

“NOOO!” I shouted as I shot up. I was in Doctor Cloud’s ward again covered in cold sweat and gasping for air; my covers lay tangled around my hind legs. I was shivering, tears streaming down my face.

“Nightmares?” I jumped, looking at the door way, Cloud stood there with a tray with 2 coffees levitated beside him. He carried it to me. “No need to worry, you almost slept a full nine hours. That’s better than most people with injuries like yours.” That wasn’t sleep. That was hell.

I fell back onto the bed and wiped my face with the covers I had untangled. “What time is it?”

“Five A.M.”

Five A.M.? That would mean I went to bed at eight P.M. That couldn’t have been right. I looked out the window to see the sun starting to poke over the low mountains to the east. Its warm rays were starting to flood over the desert, banashing the shadows.

“You want to talk about it?” Cloud asked, handing me a cup and settling in a chair beside my bed.

“No.” I said.

“You sure?”

“I’m sure”

“Alright, you’ll come out of your shell went you’re ready.” He backed off. “Now, what worries me is that you’re trying to start a fight with the Blammo Bunch. With a head injury such as yours I wouldn’t recommend it.”

I looked at him with a dark stare. “They are harming innocents.” I growled. My eyes went wide. Where the hell did that come from? That wasn’t like me at all! I mean sure, people who harm the innocent should be brought to justice but when did I get so dark about it?

“Well I see that.” Cloud said. He seemed to have backed up a little in his chair. “But you don’t stand a chance against them. There’s about six other ponies in Corn Cob’s little group and one of you.”

“Ace is going to help me,” I said. I looked back at the ceiling, “she said Dusty might, wherever he is.”

“Well if you’re doing it to protect that caravaner, I suppose I could give you some extra medical supplies just in case. It won’t be much but I’d rather you lot not die.”

“That easily?” There had to be a catch.

“You don’t seem like the type I could talk out of doing something, so I’m not even going to try.”

Maybe it would be that easy…

“I’ve got work to do.” I got up and ignored the dull throb of my head and foreleg. “Where’s this Dusty fellow’s house?”

“It’s the shack at the end of the road.” I put on my new stable barding and slung my new underpowered rifle over my side. Something struck me as odd, why wasn't Cloud stopping me? It was five A.M. for Luna’s sake. Something was up.

“Won’t Dusty be asleep?” I asked as I head to the door. Cloud looked at me and chuckled.

“No.”

“Early riser?”

“You could say that.” He looked out the window, “you’ll find out when you meet him.”

The shack Dusty supposedly lived in was small and made of rusty tin sheets. I raised my hoof to knock on the door. Before I could, it swung open and before me stood a robot about half a pony taller than me. His blue metal finish was coated with trail dust. The screen in the middle of his body showed a grinning cowbuck with a cigarette held nonchalantly from the side of his mouth.

“Howdy partner! It’s been a while! And may I say, you look as fine as a fiddle!”

I stared at him, slack jawed. I suppose Cloud was right, he was an early riser. Probably been awake since before the war.

“I…uh…” I mumbled, still in shock,

“Well don’t just stand there! C’mon in! Make yourself at home.” He said, moving to the side, his large shoulder…blocks (?) bumping into the doorway. “Can I get you anything? Food? Water? Oil?”

“Um…thanks but no thanks.” I wondered if this was a good idea. The inside of his shack was a lot nicer than the outside, that’s for sure. Other than the machine parts, Ministry of Wartime Technology posters and Robronco posters, it was rather cozy. I introduced myself and got to explaining my plan to help Rings but before I could finish he raised his tri-claw-hand-thingy, cutting me off. His voice went from a happy-go-lucky cowbuck to a serious steely voice.

“Bandits, eh? Count me in. Nothing better than a good old fashioned bandit hunt.” That was easier than expected.

“So that makes three of us. Four if I can get rings to help.” who I still hadn’t met now that I think about it,

“Even with those chances, I think we can pull it off.”

“Alright, meet me and Ace at the saloon in one hour, Dusty.” I said as I walked out the door into the fresh morning air. The sun was now hanging over the mountains, bathing the desert in its warm glow.

“Celestia, you’ve really outdone yourself today.” I said after breathing in the nice fresh air. The landscape created by the sun coming up over the mountains was marvelous. I wish Shamrock... I looked down as I caught myself before I went further. “There’s a time to grieve, but now is not it.” I stomped down from Dusty’s porch and made my way to the saloon.

The bartender was more than happy to tell me where Rings was hiding out. Even at six am he was wide eyed and bushy tailed. I had forty-five minutes before I was to meet Dusty, plenty of time to get Rings to come out of his hidey hole.

Apparently, he was hiding out in the old electrical substation just behind the town. The place looked dreary. The windows were dusty, the concrete was cracked and the electrical conduits were rusty and dilapidated. It was clear that this station had not been used in a very long time.

I knocked on the door and was met with a 9 mm pistol pointed between my eyes.

“Who are you? Did the Blammos send you?!” the pony on the other side of the door said.

“No, as a matter of fact I’m here to help you with your predicament.” I was shaking. I certainly didn’t like having a gun to my head, that’s for sure. Especially not after I saw it was suspended in a levitation field, “Please put the gun away?” I asked, sheepishly.

He poked his head around the gap of the door and looked me up and down before letting me in. “You weren’t followed were you?” as he scanned the the area outside the door.

“Nope.”

He turned back to me, “You don’t look like a Blammo, that’s for sure… who are you and why are you helping me?”

“I’m Clover.” I said. Why was I helping? Good question. Was it because he was an innocent person? I felt like it was my duty to help. I don’t know but I figured I’d go with that. “I’m helping because I don’t let anyone push around the innocent.”

“Well isn’t that noble.” He smiled, “Don’t get that much around here these days. Say, I haven’t seen you around town before. When did you get here? And how did you get those gruesome scars?”

Forward much? “Apparently I’ve been around here for over a week, but I’ve been out cold for most of it.”

“Uh huh. And what about those sca-” my angry gaze cut him off. “All right then…” he backed up a bit, “so how do you plan on helping me?”

“Simple. We’re going to get rid of them.”

“How?” his smile dissipating.

“We’ve got guns. We’ve got ammo. I’m sure we can persuade them to leave.”

“Oh… well that’s all well and good but there’s only two of us. Two against six aren’t very good odds.”

“Neither is surviving a bullet to the brain but I managed to. Besides, there are four of us.”

“Four?” He looked quizzical.

“Me, you, Ace and Dusty.”

“Well Ace I’ve got no problems with but I haven’t met Dusty and you don’t look like someone who can fight. No offence.”

“Gee, thanks.” I nickered. “Trust me, Dusty is more than capable and I’m a good shot with a rifle. No matter how small or under powered…” I stated glaring at my varmint rifle.

He seemed to be thinking about it. “No. I’m not letting other ponies get killed because of me. I mean, we if we get hurt?!”

“Doc Cloud is donating some supplies to the cause.”

“In that case…” He said, thinking again, “Maybe.”

“Maybe? Why maybe?” My turn to be quizzical.

“Have you got a plan?”

“Well...no. But I’m smart, I’ll think of something.”

“…I don’t like it but fine, now I can’t be held responsible if anyone dies, ok?” Seemed like an odd thing to worry about but ok.

“Good. I’ll come get you when we’re ready.” And with that I left. The door was locked behind me.

By about midday, we were as prepared as we could be to take the fight to the Blammos. According to Rings, they were camped out just south of Goodsands.

“What’s the deal with the robot?” Rings asked as we walked down the road,

“Dusty? Your guess is as good as mine but he doesn’t seem to be a threat to us.” I glanced over my shoulder. Ace and Dusty were conversing about something or other, I didn’t really care. Plus trying to listen in was making my head hurt. “Besides, he was more than happy to help us,” I said. Dusty was nice but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something.

“If you say so… their camp’s just around those rocks.”

The rocky outcrop ahead of us was ideal. Big with plenty of cover.

“Right, Dusty, Ace, stay here, Rings and I are going to recon the area up ahead.” Recon? Why would I say that? No time to think about that now.

Rings and I climbed the rocks and went prone, I got out the binoculars Cloud had given me for this very task. I scanned the immediate area and spotted bed rolls around a camp fire along with a group of ponies huddled over what seemed to be a map. My E.F.S indicated they were not hostile. Yet.

“I count six,” I said while handing Rings the binoculars,

“That sounds right. There weren’t a lot that attacked me. Yep that’s them.” He handed the binoculars back.

“What’s NCRCF?” I spied the one making the threats the other day,

“New Canterlot Republic Correctional Facility. It’s the prison set up to keep those convicts working on the railroads in line. That was, of course, until they broke out.”

“Charming, right I’ve got a plan.”

I slid back down the rock and joined Ace and Dusty.

“Right, we’ve got six enemies about twenty five meters behind these rocks with cover on the left and right flanks. First, Dusty, what kind of armaments, if any, do you have?” A barrel slid out from his claw thingy. His screen went from a happy cowbuck to an even happier cowbuck, grinning manically. “That answers that then. Ace?” she whipped the shotgun from beside her, “interesting shotgun.” I hadn’t seen that kind before.

“This here is a trench gun.” She said, admiring it. “Customized it myself. Can carry 8 slugs at a time. This is a pump action, buckshot shooting, slug munching son of a bitch. And I love it.”

“Fair enough. Right, here’s the plan…”

Everyone was in position. Good thing Doc gave me this Pipbuck. It could even record voice and that combined with Dusty being a robot was going to prove very useful. He was still behind the rocks. Rings had stayed with him and Ace was on the left flank. She was stealthier than I thought. I mean, she was hiding behind a cactus! Me, I was behind a rock on the right flank. Now to start this shindig.

“Corn Cob!” my voice shouted from Dusty’s speakers. That got his attention. I went prone and lined up a shot. “What happens if we give you Rings?”

“That’s simple. We take him and let Goodsands be.” Cob called back.

“Why do you want him?”

“Because he knows too much about our plans...”

“And if we don’t hand him over for you to kill?”

“We roll up into Goodsands and burn it down until we find him.”

“In that case…” Dusty rounded the corner and opened fire. He hit two Blammos while the rest ducked into cover. He continued firing. Ace started peppering them with buckshot. I still had Cob in my sights.

Time slowed around me as I realized I was about to kill a pony. A living, breathing pony. Was I ready to do this? Spill the blood of another?

“You can do this.” A voice inside my head said, “Just pull the trigger…”

I couldn’t do it!

“Of course you can,” The voice continued, “It may be spilling blood but it’s spilling blood in the name of justice. Do you think Double Down had this problem when he shot your-”

Cob fell to the ground and blood started to pool around him. Ace had hit him before I could.

Two more went down as Ace caught the rest from behind. How did she get back there? The two who had been hit in Dusty’s volley had bled out and there was just one left. A dark blue pony. He seemed to be fidgeting with something from behind cover. It was a grenade. “Fuck.” I thought to myself.

The world stopped around me as a targeting icon overlaid the bandit with the explanatory test “Welcome to S.A.T.S, please choose a target.” I aimed for his hind leg, hoping we could take him as a prisoner.

The shot hit home with surprising accuracy. That S.A.T.S thing really helped! He faltered and looked in my direction. Ace shot at him. Some of the buckshot hit the grenade which exploded in his mouth causing his head to blow open in my direction.

Ace, Dusty and Rings walked up to the blood spattered area in which Cob had taken cover.
Rings winced, Dusty’s screen turned into a disappointed cowbuck whike Ace started rummaging through their stuff. I continued to lie where I was. I had just seen a pony’s head explode and could think of nothing else until I noticed Ace had started to approach.

“You ok?” I stayed still. She looked concerned. She knelt down next to me and prodded my shoulder. I looked up at her.

“Th...That pony’s head...” I said. I couldn’t collect my thoughts.

“Never seen someone die before. I see.” She said as she patted my shoulder. “These were bad ponies. They had it coming.” She helped me onto my hoofs, either she was forgetful or had the decency not to mention seeing my brother shot.

“I couldn’t pull the trigger. I couldn’t kill another pony.” I said as I stared at her. She didn’t look angry or disappointed as I had expected. She looked sympathetic.

“We all freeze up from time to time. There’s no shame in it.”

“How did you manage it? To kill them without hesitation?”

“This ain't my first kill, Clove. I spent a few months as a caravan guard. But I can still remember my first. Raider outside of Mustang. His little gang decided to attack the caravan I was guarding. Took his head clean off. I was sick for a few days after that... but it got easier with time.” She said as she bent over one of the bodies. She started rummaging through his pockets.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Scavenging.” she said as she pulled out a stick of dynamite.

“But you’re taking from the dead!”

“Listen, Clover, you’re new to the wastelands. It’s survival of the fittest out here. You take what you can get,” Rings said, putting his hoof on my shoulder. “You’d better get used to it.”

Better get used to it... I walked away, “Where you going?” Ace called.

“I need a drink.”

There were four empty whiskey glasses in front of me by the time Ace and Rings arrived at the saloon, their saddle packs somewhat heavier. They spotted me at the far end of the bar.

“What’s wrong Clove?” Ace said as she sat down beside me, putting her hoof around me.

“I saw some ponies die today.”

“But we saved almost three times that many. If you hadn’t had the balls to at least try to stand up to them we would all be dead.”

“But they were ponies like you and me.”

“Those weren’t ponies, they were monsters.”

“Maybe.” I sighed. “I need another drink.”

“Yeehaw, now you’re talking!” She whinnied. I could tell she did that to cheer me up.

“Besides, kid,” Rings said as he trotted up behind us, “I can start heading home now.”

I liked Rings. He was a nice pony. Even if he was a bit suspicious and on edge but overall he was nice.

“See you guys around,” he said as he went to the door.

“You leaving us?” Ace asked.

“Yup. Gotta head home to my wife and kids. They’ll be worried sick. If you ever go to New Neighgas, be sure to visit Eastside and look me up.” We bid our farewells and he left giving us a smile over his shoulder as he walked out of the door with his pack.

Two more whiskeys appeared before me. Over the next few hours, more and more piled up and by the end of the day I was laughing. For the first time in about two weeks, I was laughing.

“Thanks Ace. I really needed a drinking buddy after today.”

“Aw shucks, it was nothing,” she said as she swayed from side to side. “You go back to Doc Cloud’s. I’ll get these.”

I looked at the clock. We had been drinking all day. I was going to have a hell of a hangover if I didn’t get any water. I left the saloon and went back to Cloud’s. He gave me a bottle of water and I fell fast asleep.

Either I was too drained or too drunk but I slept like a log. No dreams or nightmares to torment my rest. For once, this desert had had mercy on me. I had only been there, well consciously, for 4 days and so far I’d been stabbed, shot and traumatized. I had a feeling that that was just the beginning.

“Morning.” Cloud said as he put on his glasses. “Let’s have a look at your head.” He came closer and started scanning it with his horn. “Looks ok to me. No sign of infection or any deterioration.” That was oddly comforting to know.

I rolled over and got out of bed. “What do you plan on doing now? I mean, you’ve helped the town and a complete stranger from probable doom and in doing so you’ve earned quite a reputation around here.”

What am I going to do now? I hadn’t thought of that. I mean, sure, I was going to take down Double Down but from Goodsands I had no idea which way to go. Double Down seemed like the gambler type so I assume he’s going to New Neighgas.

“I dunno Doc. My brother was killed and I have no idea where the guy who killed him went.” I died a little inside at those words.

“He probably went south. The north is a dangerous place these days. Been some odd individuals showing up there. Not to mention the influx of Hellhounds.”

“Hellhounds?”

“Mutated Diamond Dogs.” I had read about Diamond Dogs before. They mostly lived underground searching for precious gems. I wonder what the irradiate ones were like.

“Trust me, you don’t want to fight them. They’ll try to kill you as soon as they see you and by golly, they WILL kill you.” Sounded bad. So that’s north scratched off my list of places to go. “Well almost all of them will kill you. There are some that have decent intelligence and aren't hostile but the ones up north are.”

“Your best bet is to head south to Lipton. If I was Mr. Double Down, I would have headed there.”

“Lipton?” I asked.

“Closest form of civilization between here and the Black Mountain pass. Other than that Ponave Outpost, of course. It’s small but sustainable. They make great ice tea to boot.”

“I guess I’ll be heading south then.”

“Not before breakfast you ain’t.” I could have gone for some food come to think of it…
He led me into his kitchen and started poking around his fridge. He pulled out two old looking boxes, “Pinkie’s Pies”. He opened them and put the contents in front of me. It was a small pie that looked quite scrumptious.

“Pinkie’s Pies, eh? Never heard of them before,” I said.

“You’re from out west right?” I nodded. “That’s probably why.”

“What do you mean?” I said between bites. These pies were delicious.

“You only get the freshest foods out west. In the desert we either grow for ourselves or scrounge from the world before.”

“What do you…are you telling me that these pies are 200 years old?” I had stopped chewing completely.

“Don’t worry kid, these pies are full of enough preservatives to last till the apocalypse. Well, a natural apocalypse at least.” Good enough for me and yummy to boot.

“So I guess you’ll be heading out once you’re done?” I nodded again, “Well in that case, you’d better know what you’re facing.

“To the east, just after Hoofer Dam it’s a war zone. Every other day there’s a skirmish between the NCR and Crusader’s Legion.” I remembered Oscar telling me about that.

“There’s bandits throughout the desert, not as bad as before the NCR rolled up but they’re still looking for easy targets so watch yourself.”

He took our plates to the sink and sat back down, “Another thing, avoid the ruins of Mustang at all costs. It was one of the only places around here that really got hit by the megaspells. Most of that place is hot with radiation and anywhere that isn’t is full of raiders, not to mention the things that inhabit the irradiated zones.”

“Things?” That didn't sound good.

“No-one knows what they are. Can’t get a good look at them ‘cause by the time you see one, you’re moments away from frying in the radiation.”

“Keep my eyes open and avoid Mustang, got it. Anything else?”

“Yup. Watch who you’re aiming at while you’re out there. Not everypony is a bandit. Occasionally you might see a trade caravan or a NCR patrol. You don’t shoot them and everything is fine.”

“Alright…”

“And another thing. You won’t get far in the desert alone. It’s always better to travel with others. Make yourself less of a target.”

“Alright then, I’ll be getting my stuff together and I’ll get out of your mane.” I said as I went back into the room that I was staying in.

“What stuff?” Cloud called back. Good point. I had nothing but the jumpsuit Cloud had given me and the rifle Ace had donated. I had nothing. “Here,” he placed a saddle bag with a little clover on it on me.

“What’s in there?” It felt slightly heavy.

“Just enough to get you to Lipton.” he said. He handed me a water flask, “food, my binoculars, some healing bandages, a couple of health potions, a sleeping bag, a pack of matches, some caps and water.”

“Where do I put the brass horse shoes?” I nickered

“You could use some of those,” he chuckled. “I guess this is goodbye then.” We were standing at Cloud’s front door.

“Not forever Doc, my brother is here. You know, other than the Apple Plains, I don’t think I would bury him anywhere else.” Tears were starting to form in eyes. I forced them down and raised my hoof, “Doc, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.”

He shook my hoof and said, “Kid, from what Half Pint tells me,” he was the bartender apparently, “you’ve saved us from getting burned to the ground. We should be thanking you.”

I smiled, “See you around Cloud.” I turned to the door and walked out into the desert sun. I was definitely going to need this water…

I was going to miss that moustached unicorn. He was nice enough to let me stay in his ward for a couple of days. Even if he was old and rambled on a bit...

“You hittin’ the trail?” Ace said from across the road.

“I guess I am. Revenge and whatnot.”

“Well you aren’t going out there alone! You’re going to need a friend out there. I’ll come with you.”

“Are you sure? I mean from what Cloud tells me, it’s hell out there.”

“Listen, Clove. I saw what that fancy fella did to you. I’m not going to let that fly. Plus, from what’s happened over the past couple of days, I reckon you’re going to need all the help you can get.” That’s true. My head might not hurt as much but inside I was dying, from watching my brother die and seeing a pony’s head explode. This was going to be a difficult trip. “And I’ve been out there before, you know.”

“Alright.”

“Great, let’s go!”

“Don’t you have to get anything for the trip? Who knows how long it’s going to be.”

“I packed this morning. I knew you would buckle. You know what’s weird? I went to say goodbye to Dusty but he wasn’t there. It’s like he skipped town or something...”

That was weird come to think of it...

We started towards what remained of the road. Our first few steps on the journey of a lifetime. With the unknown at the helm and fate covering us, I think we’ll make it...

… probably…

Footnote: LEVEL UP!
New perk: “Focus” Level 1. That bullet in the head seems to have stimulated your brain in such a way that time slows down a fraction while you focus down the sights of a rifle.

Special thanks to Demetrius and everyone else who helped out to make this jumble of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in to a halfway decent story.

MORE special thanks to Kal for the revisions.

Chapter 3: Desert Rats

Chapter 3: Desert Rats
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

I was on the road again. After about two weeks of unconsiousness followed by trauma and injury I was recovering and travelling again. A pony once said:

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality and, instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.”

By what I’ve heard and what my imagination has conjured up, the desert wastes must be hell. I just hope that out there, in that dry, merciless and deadly place, we will come across oases of calm and friendly companions. Places like Goodsands that maybe, just maybe, offer sanctuary from the sun-scorched lands.

We had already passed the sun-dried carcasses of the Blammos. I found it hard to look at them. Of course, the birds and flies picking at their flesh will take care of them before long.

“Um…why don’t we head this way instead of that way?” Ace said, sheepishly pointing away from the road.

“Why would we want to do a thing like tha-...” The world went dark around me. All I could see was Shamrock and the rock he was tied to against a starry backdrop. The real world flooded back into vision. I was on my side, quivering.

“Dammit, I knew it was a bad idea to come this way…” Ace was looking down the road.

Just a few meters from the road stood two large boulders. The boulders my brother and I had been tied to. I stared into the eastern mountains, unable to control my shaking. This was the place Shamrock died. The place I should have died.

I got up, still shaking, and started walking up to the boulders.

“That probably aint such a good idea, Clover,” Ace called out from the road. I knew she was right but I couldn’t control myself. I felt like I was being pushed into this.

I reached the boulders. Both had a dark brownish coat on them. One worse than the other. It was blood. I stared at them for a few seconds before falling to the ground. Remember when I said “There’s a time to grieve”? This was probably it. I started weeping uncontrollably.

“There, there.” Ace said as she wrapped her forelegs around me and I immediately flung myself into her embrace and cried deeply into her brown-leather barding.

“I just can’t believe he’s gone!” I managed to say between sobs. I had been holding this in for quite some time with liquor and determination. Finally seeing the place Shamrock died broke the dam. It felt like I was drowning in my own despair, unable to break the surface and get a gasp of sweet air. If it wasn’t for Ace, I could have curled up and died right there.

“That’s it, let it all out,” Ace said as she patted my back. It was comforting to have someone to lean on in times like these.

There were a few minutes of intense waterworks before I managed to peel myself away from her. She looked at me and smiled.

“Feeling any better?”

“A bit.” I sniffed, “I’m just sorry you had to see that…”

“Not at all.” She put her hoofs on my shoulders, “I remember when my dad died a few years back. I wish I had someone to cry on back then but all I had was a pillow. It took months to find peace with it. Hopefully, with the right support, you should be functioning properly soon enough.” She may not have been the most charismatic but what she said made me feel like I might just get through this.

“Thanks.” I dried my eyes and looked into her large brown eyes. Somehow, my expression went from thankful to grim, “But I won’t find peace until Double Down is brought to justice.” I shocked myself with this. What was I becoming? She stared at me for a few seconds before I turned, looked at the boulders for one last time and started to walk down the road. She quickly caught up and looked at me cautiously before looking down the road ahead.

Another hour passed, according to my Pipbuck, and not a word was spoken. The tension was so thick around us that I felt even the warm sun wouldn’t penetrate through it.

Occasionally I would see Ace look at me out of the corner of her eye and she would open her mouth but then close it; my stare stayed on the horizon ahead. She didn’t say a word. The tension was starting to gnaw at me. I couldn’t bring myself to look anywhere else but the road ahead in case I would explode in a fit of tears or start bashing skulls.

Before long the tension was starting to eat me alive. I had to do something. ‘Take a risk for Pete’s sake, ya sad act,’ the voice in my head told me. Well here goes…

I stopped. Ace looked back at me. “Listen… I uh...” I started. She gave me a sympathetic look, a look that said ‘please, carry on.’ “I’m sorry… for what happened back there… I don’t know what came over me…”

“Clover, I remember being in your shoes. The sadness I felt gave birth to feelings of resentment and that led me down a dark path. One littered with booze and drugs. I know how you feel. I can only hope that look you gave me was born from determination and not hate.”

Determination or hate… I didn’t know which one I was feeling. Hate for Double Down or a determination to right the wrongs of this Goddess-forsaken place.

She looked at me seriously. “Just promise me you won’t let those feelings get the better of you.”

“I promise,” I said. It would be tough, but I would try to keep that promise. I just had to be strong.

“Besides, you we’re starting to freak me out with that whole ‘I’m gonna stare down this path till my eyes bleed’ thing you got going on. You, mister, have a deadly thousand yard stare,” she laughed and we kept moving.

“So where are you from anyway?” She asked, now that the tension had dissipated.

“The Apple Plains; down the Long Fifteen highway. Apparently the plains were named after some pre-war Ministry Mare. I don’t remember the name; just that it had Apple somewhere in it. What about you?”

“I’m from a small town to the northeast called Bitter Roots, I left after my father died. I was one of the guards in his caravan but for the last year I’ve been a bit of a guard for hire. It was just before I found you and Shammy tied up that I settled in Goodsands.”

“Don’t call him Shammy,” I said as I frowned at her. I then added “Please.” With a small smile.

“Sorry. Tell me about your family - If that isn’t a touchy subject that is.”

“I suppose telling you could pass the time. My father was great. He always found things for me and Shamrock to do. He was a funny stallion too. Always cracking jokes and making a general fool of himself for a few laughs. He died a few weeks back…” I smiled at the ground as I remembered the good times we had with dad. I looked back up and continued,

“Shamrock and I are twins, If you’d believe it. Not identical as you can tell, but still twins. We had slightly different interests. He was more interested in working the fields with dad than I was. I was more interested in books and playing around with my rifle. I must’ve read all the books in town. There weren’t many, that’s for sure. Almost none of them useful.

“Anyway, Shamrock was great. Dad’s personality had rubbed off on him a bit. Probably why he was such a good talker. He was always getting into trouble and I was always the one to get him out of it.” It was nice to talk about Shamrock even after today’s hysterics. I still felt sad as I talked though.

“What about your Ma?” Ace asked, “Mine went east about 10 years ago after she accidentally killed one of the town’s ponies. No one ever forgave her for that… I still miss her…” She looked sad but perked right back up after I started talking again.

“I never knew my mum. She died from a complication a few days after my brother and I were born. Apparently she had a heart problem. It wasn’t hereditary, thank Celestia. My brother and I are…were as average as average could get.”

“Oh well. C’est la vie, right?” She smiled

“I suppose.”

We continued to talk and get to know each other for the hour before we saw something troubling. Some bandits were hanging out by the side of the road near some old shacks.

“Ace, I don’t think they want to be friends…” I said.

“Neither do I. let’s just pass by them and hope they don’t want to pick a fight.”

We started to walk past. One of them, a cream coloured pony, stood up and started whistling at Ace. “Hey babe, why not bring that sweet flank over here and learn what it’s like to be a real mare!” That was… pleasant…

We ignored him. ‘Just keep walking’ I thought to myself.

“Hey, bitch, I’m talking to you! Why not ditch that runt and come hang out with a real stallion!”

That guy was seriously starting to piss me off. It didn’t seem to faze Ace. She just kept walking with her head held high.

"I’m talking to you!” he said as he closed the distance and grabbed Ace and pulled her to the ground. Was he following us? He was now standing over Ace, muttering something to her. By the face Ace made, it was not a string of sweet nothings. That’s it. Game on. ‘Oh goody! Play time!’ the voice in my head said. That was troubling.

He was starting to move over her flank as I bucked him in the chin. I felt a crunch as my hind leg connected with his jaw. Blood and teeth flew from his mouth..

“Sho aw a itch!” He said as his jaw flopped uselessly. It’s go time.

I immediately brought my hooves down on his face in a blind fury. Stomping on it until it was flat. “No one does that to my friends!” I said between stomps. His bandit comrades stopped in their tracks. I immediately fell on my haunches after I realized what I had done.

“He kiwed da boss!” One said in shock.

“GET‘IM!” Another shouted as they charged at us.

Ace’s shotgun echoed over the afternoon desert as 2 of the 4 bandits fell with multiple pellet wounds. The other 2 looked at us, then to each other, then back at us and immediately turned and ran. Ace levitated my varmint rifle and took shots at the bandits.

They both fell like sacks of potatoes.

“Holy Celestia, that was close. Thanks for that. He had his knife to my throat…” Ace said as she walked up next to me. I was breathing heavily while staring at my bloody hooves. Fixed in place. I had just killed a pony.

“Oh Goddess, what have I done?” I whispered as Ace walked up to me and stared at the body.

“What was all that about?” She asked.

“I…I-I-I don’t…know…” Tears were forming in my eyes again.

“Listen, Clove.” She put her hoof under my chin and looked into my eyes. “You can’t let this break you. The wastes are full of scum like that and they need to be brought down. You could have saved the lives of a lot of ponies for what you did.” I raised my hooves for her to see.

“Look at this. The blood of another is on my hooves!” I whispered. The tears were trickling down my face. Ace proceeded to pour some water from her canteen onto my hooves. Those hooves could never be washed clean.

“Come on, up ya get,” She said as she pulled me up.

I stared at the battered remains of the former bandit boss. “If you knew what he was about to do, you would have been proud of what you did. It was not going to be pretty.” If only that were true. She looked at the corpse. “He was a monster. He deserved more than what you gave him,” she gave him a kick, “much more.”

She rolled the bandit’s body over to reveal a knife duct taped to his foreleg. It was huge and surprisingly clean. Must’ve robbed a pretty well stocked caravan. She ripped it off and read the engraving.

‘Silent Reaper’ followed by a crescent moon that glowed faintly. It was beautiful.

“This here is a bowie knife,” she started, trying to change the subject, “they’re pretty rare around these parts. I wander how he got his hands on one. Actually come to think if it, I did hear that a caravan was hit around these parts. Must’ve come from there…” Ace said as she admired it. Her eyes immediately flashed open as she saw the crescent moon, “and enchanted by the look of it!”

“Enchanted? What are you on about?” I sniffed. She handed it to me.

“See that glow? It means there’s an enchantment. Your first day out in the desert and you have already found yourself an enchanted weapon…”

“Found myself… no, I can’t keep it. It’s yours! We took it from the dead. I just can’t do it…”

“Did Rings not teach you anything?” She looked a bit disappointed now, “you’ve got to take what you need out here in the desert wastes. Taking from the dead is like scavenging, sometimes you need to do it whether you like it or not.” I stared at the knife, “and that is a damn good find for your first scavenge.”

“If you put it that way… go see what you can ta… scavenge from the ones up the road while I check these two.” She trotted up the road to the ponies whose brains were now hollow while I bent down in front of the two Ace had peppered. “It’s just scavenging, it’s just scavenging, it’s just scavenging.” I told myself.

I probably wouldn’t get over taking from the dead for a while but thinking of it as scavenging made it a easier. Killing on the other hand…

From lucky corpse number one I collected ten rounds that my Pipbuck had marked as .357 caliber bullets, how it did that was beyond me so I just put it down to magic and rolled with it. I also pulled out a healing bandage and a pack of cigarettes.

From corpse number two I managed to pull out a tin of corn, some beans and some more .357 rounds. I picked up the guns those two were carrying and put them in front of me as I looked at Mr. Boss Pony’s corpse. I went into his pockets with my eyes closed. In his pockets was a note, some bottle caps and a healing potion. I read the note.

“Hey boss, this here bowie knife is for you. I found it in some poor sap’s wares. He isn’t too anxious to keep it now that his brains are in his pockets ha ha ha. From Scraps”

That would explain where he got it from. Ace came trotting back with a bag in her telekinetic field. Obviously those two were carrying the others’ stuff. I was more interested in the bottle caps I had procured and why he was carrying them. And the fact that Cloud had given me a small stack of them.

“Found some caps eh? Nice.” Ace said as she put the bag down beside her.

“Yeah. What’s got me stumped is why he was carrying them and why Cloud gave me some.”

“Oh that’s easy. Caps are currency out here.” Say what now? “Yup, dad told me that after the megaspells hit, people started using bottle caps for money seeing as almost all of the facilities for making bottle caps had been destroyed. Would’ve been hard to create counterfeits, that’s for sure.”

“You don’t use NCR Bits out here?” I asked.

“Well some people do but not many. Caps are the general form of currency.”

“How quaint.” I put them in my saddle bag. My Pipbuck immediately changed my amount caps from 60 to 80. “So what did you get?”

“Just a baseball bat and a .357 magnum, some healing bandages, some ammo, some food, a grenade and some bobby pins.”

“Bobby pins?” I asked.

“For lock-picking”

“Lock-picking?”

“Not all the doors in the wastelands are unlocked you know. I guess I’ll teach you how to do it someday. I see you’ve got some magnums.”

“Yeah but they aren’t in good condition, I was planning on pulling them apart and seeing what I can salvage from them but I guess we’ve got to keep moving.” I said.

“And there goes me thinking you had no wasteland skills other than shooting straight.” Ace laughed. I gave her a stern look before chuckling myself. Something about others laughing made me happy. Probably rubbed off from Dad. It made me forget what I had done for a moment. I looked back at my first kill before we started back down the road.

The sun had started setting and we were about two miles from Goodsands and about one and a quarter miles from Lipton. I suggested we stop in an old rest stop up the road and continue in the morning. To our delight, it was empty and had been for a while.

I was looking down the road of a ruined city. Wind was whistling through the streets and over dust covered bones. The sky was pitch black and the buildings were a dark grey. I could hear the sound of chains. I looked around. There was nothing there. I was starting to panic but I couldn’t move. My legs were fused to the pavement.

On the road ahead of me the silhouette of a pony had appeared. It came closer, dragging its chains behind it. It was starting to come into focus. It was Shamrock. The top left half of his head was missing and blood streaked down his face over his ears, mouth, nose and eyes. He stopped a few meters from me.

“WHY ARE YOU TORMENTING ME?!” I shouted, trying to get free.

He raised his foreleg, chains dangling behind it and stood like that for a few seconds before his jaw opened beyond natural limitations. He screamed a deafening, otherworldly scream.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!” I was back in the rest stop, thrashing around, kicking and screaming while Ace held my shoulders trying to steady me. I opened my eyes to see her looking at me with fear in her eyes.

I started crying and put my hoofs to my eyes. I was shaking uncontollably. This was the worst terror yet. Ace pulled my sleeping bag over me before lying next to me and hugging me, trying to calm me down. It wasn’t working very well. I was still a tormented shaking ball of tortured pony. She squeezed tighter. Somehow, from the pressure of her forelegs around me, I started to calm down from wailing like a small filly to sobbing but I still couldn’t stop shaking.

“Any better?” She whispered.

“I think so.” I said through sobs. I don’t think I could get through this alone. I was dying inside and the only thing keeping me from falling into the abyss was the support of Ace, who just a few days ago I had never even met before. I just hoped this wouldn’t come around to bite me in the arse. She had seen me crying like a traumatized loony and she hadn’t said anything about it. Either she was extremely nice or there’s something afoot. I chose the former and stuck with it.

She gave me a squeeze before going back to her sleeping bag.

“Goodnight, try to get some sleep. After what you’ve been through you’re going to need all the sleep you can get,” she whispered before disappearing into her sleeping bag.

What was I becoming? I had only been out in the desert wastelands for a few days and it had taken so much from me. My brother, it was taking my innocence and now it would appear my sanity.

‘Dammit, I’m stronger than this!’ I thought to myself ‘I will outlive this insanity even if it kills me.’ I surprised myself with that last part. ‘That’s it. I’m definitely insane…’

“You have no idea” That the voice came from inside my head did not bode well…

Not well at all…

I awoke from a mercifully dreamless slumber to find myself in pitch blackness. I felt like I was in a small cocoon. It was warm and cozy. Until I felt the overwhelming need to relieve myself.

I kicked and shoved inside the cocoon trying to find my way out. I managed to poke my head out of the thing and took a gasp of air. I was deep inside my sleeping bag which had been placed in a dark room with the door ajar. I walked out to find Ace fixing up a meal with the tinned corn and some of the meat my Pipbuck had deemed ‘brahmin meat’. It smelled yummy.

“Good morning. Or noon according to my watch.” She looked at a pocket watch set in front of her, “sleep well?”

I raised my eyebrow at her. She got the point. “I meant after that little crisis…”

“I slept ok I suppose. How did I end up in there?” The door I had come out of had ‘Staff Only’ written above it. The writing was faded but still legible. It was a small office.

“Well this morning when I woke up you still looked exhausted so I pulled you into that room and wrapped you up. I’ve been checking up on you every hour, on the hour, since.”

I suppose this reason is tolerable. I then remembered that I desperately needed to whizz.

“Where’s the restroom. Or what passes for a restroom?” She pointed to a small room on the other side of the lobby we were in which was small but had what I needed. A toilet.

I closed the door and relieved myself blissfully. I flushed…well tried to flush the toilet before turning to the sink. I turned the handle on the tap and was met with a gentle clicking from my Pipbuck.

‘That’s new’ I thought to myself. It must be my Geiger counter which means the water I was washing my hoofs with was irradiated. Not very irradiated but still irradiated. I didn’t think my flesh is going to melt off my bones from this. I continued to give my face a quick scrub and checked my scar. The pain had lessened but was still present, just not to a degree that I needed the pills, of which there were about ten left/. Still, I had held on to them, sure that I would need them in the future.

Then the world flashed around me and the water turned red. I gasped as I fell backwards and scrambled to the wall. The world flashed again and the water went back to normal. I slowly crept up to the sink and looked at it before regarding my reflection in the cracked mirror.

“What’s happening to me?” I whispered.

“Are you OK in there?” Ace called.

‘No´ I thought to myself. “I’m fine,” I called back.

I left the restroom to see Ace smiling as I entered the lobby area.

“Lunch?” She asked, holding out the pot with her magic.

“I’m not really hungry.” I walked past into the room I had been snoozing in. It was a lot more depressing in the light than it was in the dark. The walls were cracked and grey while the light fixtures had fallen off the ceiling. There was a desk with a dark terminal on top of it so I walked over to it and pressed the power button, my curiosity getting the better of me.

The machine spluttered and it’s screen came to life. Please enter password was displayed across the dusty screen.

*Bleep*

My Pipbuck lit up with a whole new display of random symbols and letters. Amongst them were some five letter words. ‘Well what have we here?’ I thought to myself as I clicked the first word. Sized. 1/5. Entry denied, 3 attempts remaining. I really didn’t know what I was doing. I scrolled through the words and picked another at random. Licks. 4/5 .Entry denied, 2 attempts remaining.

‘I suppose those numbers mean that’s how many letters there are and how many match.’ I thought to myself. I kept scrolling until I hit an odd combo that my Pipbuck claimed to be a word. (’];.//.;[pl). I selected it and was rewarded with the text, Dud removed. The word force had been turned into 5 dots.

“I see” I muttered as I kept scrolling. I found another odd combo but instead of giving me the dud removal message it came up with Allowance replenished. The small green blocks at the top of the screen had gone from 2 to 4 again. “Oh ho. That is interesting…”

I clicked links. 5/5. Entry accepted, access granted. The terminal screen flickered and before sat a new screen. Welcome Tire Iron. Last login 200 years, 2 months and 29 days ago. Had no one else even tried to open this terminal since the war? There were four entries before me, two were labeled ERROR 101: CORRUPT DATA but the others were still accessible. I opened the one labeled Posh much?

“A tour chariot all the way from Fillydelphia pulled in today, I think their heading to Mustang. The poor guys pulling the damn thing desperately needed a rest. We gave them some water and some food while they had their break but after five minutes the damn posh assholes they were pulling were getting impatient. They almost forced the poor guys into their harnesses as if they were slaves. It really grinds my gears you know?”

Well that was useful. The next file I had available was an audio recording that my Pipbuck immediately downloaded and I decided to save it for later.

“Well look at our little hacker. I took a look at that terminal this morning but it was a bit too complex for my magic so I powered it down and left it.” My Pipbuck’s spell matrix was more than a match for this terminal apparently.

“Check this out, the desk is locked and it looks like an easy one. Lemme show you how to pick a lock.”

I stepped aside. “Oh no you don’t.” Ace dragged me back and handed me a screw driver and bobby pin. “Right, put the bobby pin in here.” I placed it into the key hole, “can you feel the tumblers?” I nodded after I let go. I didn’t want to break it by nodding with the damn thing in my teeth. “OK, now place the end of the screwdriver in this part.” I placed the end of the screwdriver under the bobby pin.

“Alright, now twist it softly until it stops by itself…” I twisted it and the lock stopped about halfway to horizontal. “OK, now move the bobby pin a bit to the right and twist again.” It stopped again but it didn’t get as far as it did last time. “Move it to the left and try again.” I complied and the lock clicked open. “Great job, you managed to open it without breaking a pin!”

“I suppose that’s a good thing?” I said as I stuck my head into the drawer. She nodded. There wasn’t much inside. There was some office equipment, some old world money and a magazine. Duck and Cover! Equestria’s Most Explosive Magazine! I plucked out the magazine and opened the cover. It had been remarkably preserved. The only damage I could see was a few rips and some coffee stains from when the magazine had been used as a coaster.

“Grenade special! See page 15 for the exclusive interview with Equestrian Army Grenadier Sgt. Pineapple Punch.” I flipped to page 15. “Many think that throwing a grenade with your mouth is the only way to throw a grenade. This is a bad idea. I have seen more soldiers lose their heads from grenade mishaps than from zebra sharpshooters.” I immediately remembered how the blue pony had his head blown to pieces from his grenade.

“A much better way to throw Equestrian Apple grenades, high explosive or otherwise, is with your hoofs. You see, Apple grenades are very easy to hold and throw because of their shapes and weight. So just remember soldiers, if you find you’re in range for a good grenade throw, use your hoofs. Much less chance of becoming a brainless corpse.” If only that blue pony had read this. He might have only lost his foreleg.

“Interesting read?” Ace asked.

“I suppose. You might like to have a gander at it.” She took the magazine and began reading it. I walked over to my sleeping bag that I had left bundled up in a heap, rolled it up and tied it to the top of my saddlebag.

I walked back into the lobby and took a bowl of the stew Ace had made. It wasn’t bad but it was no ‘Pinkies Pie’s pie. I gobbled it down and looked out of the window. The sun was right over the Ponave. I could see the heat waves dancing on the horizon. We still had two full canteens left between us but I desperately hoped Lipton has a water talisman.

‘Well of course they do, silly. They make tea! What do they make it out of, irradiated water?’ I thought to myself as Ace emerged from the office and put the magazine in my saddlebag before packing up her cooking equipment.

“Ready to hit the road?” She called as she put on her saddlebags. Did I want to go from this cozy little rest stop into the heat of the sun scorched Ponave?

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I nickered before collecting my goods.

“We should be at Lipton before sundown if we don’t run into anymore ponies in need of a good whooping,” she said as we left. I was immediately pummeled by heat and the guilt of what I had done. Celestia really wasn’t making this easy on us…

I took this opportunity to listen to the audio recording I had downloaded, considering I had found out that my Pipbuck had a small device that fit into my ear.

“This is Tire Iron and this is my last entry on this terminal. Remember how I talked about those Fillydelphians and how I didn’t like them? Well I don’t have to worry about them anymore. Mainly because Mustang just went up in a big green mushroom cloud.

“Those damn striped bastards actually did it. They launched against us. There’s mushroom clouds dotted about the horizon. There’s one over Black Mountain pass. One over Snowy Peaks. They’re probably trying to hit the Ponave communication and research facilities.

“What really was amazing was the laser show emanating from the Las Neighgas
and Iron City directions. I guess the army had some sort of counter-megaspell system set up out there. Shot those megaspells right out of the sky. I counted four…no, five megaspell clouds. Not many if you ask me. But then again there isn’t much out here.

“I saw our megaspells flying through the air in retaliation a few minutes ago but what’s strange is that none of them came from the Hurricane valley silos. My guess is that the damn dust storms out there are messing with their comms.

“Those damn dust storms. I swear to Celestia they aren’t natural. It must be some sort of secret Ministry experiment. People call me a crazy conspirator but I tell you, something’s up out there and I intend to find out what…”

“Listening to the radio?” Ace said just as the recording ended.

“Hm? No, just a recording from the terminal in the office. What do you mean radio?”

“Ponave radio! It’s the only form of entertainment out there. Here…” She walked up to me and fiddled with my Pipbuck. There was a burst of static over my earbloom. I took it off and set my Pipbuck to broadcast.

“Good afternoon Ponave! This is your resident radio guru Mr. Ponave, broadcasting to you five by five from my station in Iron City! Got some sweet tunes coming your way but first some news!

“A courier that was shot in the head near Goodsands has reportedly made a complete recovery. Now that is a courier service you can count on!

“In other news the war still rages near the Dam as another skirmish resulted in stalemate. Casualties are still being counted.

“That’s it for now. Here’s some Flank Sonata telling us above the love you find only once in a blue moon.”

That courier had been me but I had no clue how he had found out. I was going to ask Ace but she was listening intently to the song. I joined in.

Love. I’d never really thought about it to be honest. There weren’t any mares out in the Apple Plains around my age and the mares that were present were old and married.

I guess the ranch was the only love I ever had and I’m just not attracted to males. I looked at Ace. She was pretty but I didn’t think getting involved in a relationship was really a good idea at that point in time. Hell, in my mental state I didn’t think I could have a relationship with anyone. Best I’d put those thoughts behind me until I’m a bit more stable.

“I love this song.” Ace said with her eyes closed. She seemed to speed up at the climax of the song. Weirdo…

“Oi! Come back here!” I shouted as I ran to keep up. She was fast.

“Catch me if you can!” She yelled back. How we got from listening to a nice little song to
chasing each other across the desert is beyond me. I chased her down the road before finally catching up. My scarred forearm was giving me hell so I popped a pain pill.

“What was that about?” I asked between pants.

“I dunno… that song just makes me feel great. Oh shit, I forgot about your leg, are you OK?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I said as I looked down the road. The pain pill was having its desired effect.

“Y’know, we won’t always have painkillers. I think you should save them for major pains, like if you feel your head is splitting open. Your head takes priority over your legs.”

I guess that was true but I could barely feel my head hurting anymore.

I looked at my Pipbuck. So this thing was also a jukebox eh? What else does it do I wondered? I clicked on stats. The outline of a green pony with wavy hair appeared. He looked happy. There were percentages next to its forelegs, hindlegs, head and torso.

‘Oh I get it! This represents me!’ I thought to myself. My hindlegs, torso and left foreleg all had 100%. My head was at 85% and my arm was at 95%. That sounded about right.

“That thing has more features than you could shake a stick at,” Ace said as she looked at the Pipbuck. I intended to find all of them.

“Tell me your secrets!” I said as I poked and prodded at the buttons and wheels. This seemed to amuse Ace. I accidentally opened my EFS. There were a few red blips but they ended up just being some critters in a small irradiated watering hole. No immediate threat. I gave up after I brought up the map for the 3rd time. We were less than a mile out of Lipton and the sun was still high above us.

Then we saw smoke.

We ran up a hill as I pulled out my binoculars. There was a lot of smoke bellowing out of Lipton. We couldn’t see exactly where the source was but it wasn’t good.

“Bandits?” I asked

“More than likely,” said a familiar voice from behind Ace and I. We both turned to see two NCR troopers trotting up to us, “My guess would be Blammos from all the smoke. How’s it hanging, cutie?” It was Corporal Corks. It would be hard to mistake such an odd trooper. Her long dark purple mane was tied back behind her head and she still had the corkscrew strapped to her helmet.

“Hello corporal,” I said extending my hoof.

“Been a while,” she shook my hoof, “where’s your brother?”

I dropped her hoof, turned to Lipton and looked through my binoculars as Ace cringed.

“He’s dead,” I said in a cold voice without dropping my binoculars. It was the only
thing masking my pain.

“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” She put her hoof on my shoulder. I didn’t turn.

Ace pulled her away before saying “Might want to step back. He’s in his dark place right now.” I could feel the three ponies behind me staring, waiting for me to respond.

“Clove...are you ok?” Ace finally asked, taking a cautious step forward.

“Nope,” I said. It was the truth. I turned and looked at the Corporal after a few
seconds, “how’s it going Corks?” I said with a small forced smile. Ace gave a small sigh of relief. At least I wasn’t going ballistic.

Corks looked a bit scared but said “I’m OK I suppose.” My smile grew a bit more. She perked back up. “Who’s your friend?” She asked.

“Oh right, Ace, this is Corporal Corks. Corks, this is Ace.”

“Pleased to meet you. This here is Private Twitchy. Our CO told us to recon Lipton,” said Corks

“CO?” I asked.

“Commanding Officer. Say, could you do us a favor and check out what’s causing the smoke and where exactly its coming from? We aren’t authorized to intervene.” I looked at her oddly, “I don’t like it either but orders are orders.” I looked at Ace then back to Corks.

“I’m sure we can do that.”

“Great, here’s a radio broadcaster. Tells us what’s up and if the coast is clear. We’ll be watching from here.” She handed me a phone looking thing.

“Alright then, see you later.”

We turned and walked away.

“She was totally checking you out.” Ace said when we were out of earshot.

“What are you on about?” I nickered.

“She was, and I must say, I’m jealous. She’s hot.” I supposed she is kinda cute. Wait what did she just say?

“Jealous?”

“Yup. Oh you don’t know, do you? How do I put this…” She stopped for a moment deep in thought. “I’m on the same side of the fence as you are.” I gave her a puzzled look. “Um…oh, I prefer cave diving to mountain climbing…”

“Wait, are you saying you’re…” I asked.

“Yup.”

“You like…”

“Uh-huh.”

“I see… well, let’s get...moving then.” Good thing I’m not in any state for relationships, because that would’ve blown me out of the water, right now however, I couldn’t care less. I just wanted to get this job done.

Who was I kidding?

Lipton was hell.

The town entrance had the heads of mares and stallions, fillies and colts, on spikes. I immediately ejected my lunch from my stomach. I couldn’t look. This reminded me too much of the pony I had killed. I felt a huge pang of guilt and regret slice straight through me. We went inside. It wasn’t much better.

Along the street were ponies nailed to large crosses. Some moaning as we passed. Others were dead. There were fires in some areas. Charred remains of ponies lay on top of them. More heads on spikes were everywhere. It was a massacre.

“What the fuck…” I whispered as I passed a hanging colt. He was already dead.

“This isn’t bandit work. This is the work of Raiders.” Ace growled. “Keep your eyes peeled.”

Ahead of us stood a large building with the words Lipton Town Hall displayed in fine letters above the door. There were five ponies standing outside. One looked proud of himself. He turned and approached us.

“Don’t worry. I won’t have you two nailed to a cross like the rest of these degenerates. It’s useful that you came by. I want you to witness the fate of Lipton. Memorize every detail. And when you move on, I want you to teach everyone you meet the lesson taught here by Crusader’s Legion. Especially any New Canterlot Republic soldiers you come across.”

“What the fuck is this?! What the fuck did they do to deserve this?!” I spat. “WHAT FUCKING LESSON IS BEING TAUGHT?!”

“Where to begin,” the fucker in front of me started. His voice as cool as ice, “that these ponies are weak and we are strong? This you can clearly see. But the depths of their moral sickness, their dissolution? Lipton is the perfect example for this lesson.“

“What the hell are you talking about?!” I said. Ace was looking concerned at me. Did she want me to stop? Or was she concerned about my mental wellbeing? I didn’t care. This fucker had some explaining to do before I kicked his teeth through the back of his head.

“Lipton was a corrupt place. It served all comers as long as they had money. NCR, Blammos, Legionnaires. The town didn’t care. This town was a whore. For a mere sum of caps, the town agreed to lure those who it sheltered into a trap. Little did they know that they were caught as well. I herded them into the center of town and told them of their sins. Then I announced the lottery.”

“Sins? Lottery? You killed these people. You are the one who’s sinned here!”

“Each clutched their ticket,” he continued, “hoping it would set them free. They did nothing as their loved ones were dragged away to be killed. They stood and watched as their fellows where butchered, nailed to a cross or burned. One by one.”

“I’ve had enough of this!” I shouted as I jolted forward in a blind fury. Ace held me back.

“Are you crazy? They’re Legion! Trained killers. We don’t stand a chance.” She said

“I will forgive this outrage. Next time you will not be so fortunate.” The Legion stooge said.

“You…killed…everyone.” I seethed.

“Not quite. Some ran into the town hall in seek of refuge. So we sent in the dogs.”

“Dogs?!” I was squirming to get free from Ace’s hold.

“Yes, now if you will excuse me. We will be leaving.” He turned and walked away. Ace finally let go.

“GAAAAAAAAAAH!” I roared into the evening sky. I pulled out the broadcaster. “Corks. Come in.”

“We hear you. What’s with the war shout?” responded Corks

“Lipton is gone. Repeat, gone.” I said.

“Blammos?”

“Worse.”

“Oh?”

“Legion.” I growled

“What? Legion this far west? Oh hell. I’m going back to base to get HQ on the horn. See
you around, Cutie.” And with that, the two silhouettes on the hill got up and ran towards the Ponave Outpost. I looked up at the mountain. There was another silhouette. This one seemed to be wearing a long coat and a hat. He was watching the lLgion as they left. With a blink he was gone. I must’ve been going crazy…

“You really have to learn to control yourself, Clove. Luck will only get you so far!” Ace said with a stern look. I started to walk into the town hall. “Where are you going now?”

“There could be survivors in there and I’m going to get them out.”

Footnote: LEVEL UP!
New perk: “Swift Learner”
You gain 10% more experience when experience is awarded.
Skill note: Science 25, Lockpick 25, Guns 40, unarmed 20.

Special thanks to Demetrius and everyone else who helped out to make this jumble of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in to a halfway decent story. And Kkat for the inspiration.

More thanks to Kal for the revisions.

Chapter 4: Stitches

Chapter 4: Stitches.

“To array a man’s will against his sickness is the supreme art of medicine.”

The lobby of the town hall certainly made for grim viewing. Bodies were spread across the floor; most of them had been mangled under the jaws of relentless hounds. They were missing chunks of their necks and two of the corpses had no heads. If I had anything in my stomach I probably would have lost it after this sight. I pulled up my EFS. Ahead of us where three red ticks.

“Three up ahead…” I whispered as I hugged the ground. “Try not to fire. We don’t want to attract any unwanted attention.”

“I don’t see anything,” Ace whispered as she mimicked my movements. I had learned to be quite the sneaky little rascal from playing hide and seek with Shamrock and Dad as well as from getting Shamrock out of trouble countless times. Ace was right. There was nothing ahead but two corpses that had been ripped apart. I tried to ignore them.

“They must be above us…” Either that or my EFS was acting up and that seemed unlikely. I drew Silent Reaper from from its sheath on my upper-foreleg. This rescue attempt would require stealth instead of just running in guns blazing. We had no idea how many dogs were in here.

“Are you sure there are any survivors here anyway? I mean look at the place. It looks like hell.” As soon as she said that, as if on cue, two white ticks appeared. Apparently they were at the end of the lobby. We snuck towards them just for them to zip to the right. They had appeared behind us. I turned around to see nothing. I looked up.

“I count two friendlies above us, right beside three…four…six reds.” They kept appearing.

“Six, eh? Are they together?” I nodded, “I guess we’ll have to lure them away one by one.”

We proceeded up the blood spattered stairs. They stayed mercifully silent as we got to the top. The white ticks were up one more flight of stairs that were on this floor somewhere. We just had to find them. I opened the door to the floor and before us stood a dog almost the same size as me. It was muzzle deep inside the chest of a pink mare. I walked up behind it as silent as possible.

Our luck with silent floorboards ran out as I positioned myself behind the beast, ready to strike. I looked to my hooves and back up. The bloody face of the monster was staring right at me. He pounced. His teeth finding their way through the stable barding that covered my right foreleg as I tried to protect myself. I gritted my teeth around Silent Reaper as I plunged it into the dog’s throat. It quit growling instantly. The monster tried barking, but it only produced a strangled yelp as it slumped to a heap beside me. The damn thing had bitten right into my scar. I gave it a kick for good measure before falling to my haunches holding my foreleg. The pain was unbearable.

“Here, let me see that.” Ace said as she examined the injured foreleg. Blood was dripping from six holes around my scar. “Youch. Alright, I may not have extensive medical knowledge, but I know it looks a lot worse than it is.” She pulled out one of our healing potions, “drink this. It’s a bit too deep for just a healing bandage, that’s for sure. He could have torn your foreleg off.” I downed the potion and after a few seconds the holes began to close. By my count we were down to five potions left. My foreleg still hurt, but I put that down to my scar. According to my Pipbuck my arm was down to 75%.

“It’s a good thing there’s a lot of dead in here. The smell should mask us. That is if these guys hunt by smell,” Ace whispered. We kept going.

We rounded another corner to a door that was marked Armory. There were four bodies around it and there were marks and scratches around were the ponies had tried to get in but they were too late. I looked at the door and turned around. It was locked. There would be time to scavenge from this place once we had purged it. To my left were two stationary red ticks, along with the three behind us that I noted must be upstairs.

I opened the door to the office containing the red blips on this floor. Thankfully both of the dogs were asleep. One appeared to be holding a doll as it slept. I immediately backpeddled and gasped as I realized it wasn’t a doll. It was a dead filly who had not even been old enough to have her cutie mark. What do you know? I guess I could throw up some more. Even Ace looked pained, shocked and disgusted when she realized.

I steeled myself as I approached this sick bastard dog. He was sleeping like a log on top of the bed he had claimed. I reached out and slit his goddess-damned throat. He didn’t even wake up. Pity I can’t say the same of his friend on the other side of the room. He woke up when the filly’s body, whose neck was chewed wide open, fell onto a silver platter beside the bed with a crash.

The raging canine was charging at me and Ace wasn’t quick enough to get to him. The dog crashed past Ace, knocking her on to her back, and continued running towards me.

“Let me handle this,” a voice in my head said and without even thinking I threw Silent Reaper. It spun through the air before its blade hit home between the dogs eyes. Blood splattered out from around the knife as the limp body of the hound collided with me. The dog bled over my barding.

“Ugh. You got blood on my suit,” I muttered as I shoved him off and pulled my knife free. The blood dripped off its surface, leaving it clean. How it did that was beyond me.

Ace was getting back up as I brought up my EFS and saw three rapidly approaching red ticks. “Ace, shotgun, now.” She grinned as she levitated out her trench gun while I pulled out one of the Magnum revolvers I had pieced together in the rest stop.

The first dog rounded the corner and went down with a hole through his eye. The second and third dogs didn’t come through. They were waiting for us. Wasn’t much of a trap but then again, they were dogs.

I pulled one of the apple-shaped grenades Ace had given me from my saddle bags, pulled the pin and rolled it out the door. With my hoofs, I might add. Ace and I leaped behind a fallen file cabinet as the hall outside erupted into glorious light and the two red ticks on my EFS disspeared.

Our ears were ringing which continued for a few moments. We looked over the cabinet to see the door had been blown off as well as some parts of the wall. Small holes had appeared all along the cabinet and the wall from shrapnel impacts. We walked into the hall. Bits of dog meat and other…bits…were littered around the place. I holstered my revolver.

“Fucking animals,” I said, “burn in hell.” Ace was looking at me oddly again. I turned to her, “don’t start. We have ponies to save.” And with that, I stepped over the bits and pieces and started looking for the stairs. Ace followed after a few moments.

The stairs we had found were just like the others but instead of spattered blood there was a long streak of it going up them.

“I don’t like the look of this…” Ace said as we walked up the stairs. We had given up all stealth when we set off that grenade but with it we managed to kill the last of the dogs. For a 200 year old building, the halls could sustain considerable damage without collapsing.

I walked up and looked through the door at the top of the stairs. There were two white blips at the end of the hall. I figured it was the mayor’s office. Two corpses of ponies who hadn’t made it were sprawled out on the floor. We walked up to the door. It was locked.

“Hello?” I said as I knocked. There was a voice on the inside, muffled through the door. It sounded like ‘Don’t you die on me!’ “Do you need help in there?” I called through.

“Fuck off, Legion fuckers!” the voice on the inside yelled.

“We aren’t Legion!” I yelled back. “Ace, get the door.”

“Then…who...are…you?” he shouted back. His voice sounded strained.

“Travelers. We’re here to help.” Ace’s horn lit up and a bobby pin and screw driver came out of her saddle bags. She inserted them into the lock and started twisting. The lock opened with a small click. One of the white lights had disappeared.

I stumbled over Ace to get in. Inside the room and backed up against the wall was a vanilla pony with a light yellow mane that was easy to make out despite the blood; sorrow ached out from him as he continue to look down at his lap. Across his lap was a light blue mare. The mare was wounded in multiple areas, jagged bites all over her torso were still sending trickles of blood onto her companion’s hindlegs, her eyes were hollow, a sense of loss still reflected within them. The vanilla pony shut her eyes with his bloody hooves.

“I couldn’t save her,” said the pony as he looked at us. He closed his eyes and looked down again before saying, “damn it,” the loss heavy in his voice. He looked at the mare and whispered something that sounded like a prayer.

“I suppose the dogs are dead and the Legion bastards are gone?” I nodded, “good.” He picked up the body and carried it past us. We followed him.

As we stepped out into the street even the warmth of the setting sun was a welcome change from the chill of the Town Hall. The vanilla pony walked outside and froze. He stared out across the long street.

“By the goddesses. What have they done…?” I could see a tear roll down his face before he slowly walked down the steps. “This is an atrocity,” he whispered as he scanned each pony nailed to a cross, beheaded or still engulfed in fire.

I sat on my haunches, the sight of the town finally hitting me. Tears formed in my eyes as I looked to Ace while she watched the vanilla pony walk down the road, whispering to each body as he passed. She too looked haunted by the horrors surrounding us.

“You’ve seen this sort of thing before?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“I’ve seen much worse.” That I found hard to believe. “This is bad, but still a step down from raider work…”

“How so?” I asked, fighting back the tears and trying to focus on the conversation and not the desecrated bodies around us.

“The worst here is decapitation, Crucifixion and ponies burned while they were alive enough to scream. Raiders see that as underachieving.”

“What do…?” I stopped myself. Did I really want to know?

The vanilla pony had returned to us, “Can I ask you to help me give these innocent souls the funeral they deserve?” We nodded. “Good. You can start by gathering the bodies from inside.” We started going back into the town hall. “Give me your revolver and ammo, please.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Just give me it. I would rather you didn’t know.” Ace levitated my revolver out of my holster and handed it and its ammo to him.

“Hey! What...?” She looked at me with a stern face before shooing me inside as she nodded to the vanilla pony.

“What did you do that for?” I asked.

“He’s a desert medic. There aren’t many around these days. He needed your gun for a reason you won’t understand until he wants to explain it.” I could see that she didn’t want to explain either. I let it be.

We worked in silence as we collected the bodies from inside and lay them outside. It was a gruesome task, one that will haunt me for a long time. We had cleared the lobby and had laid the last pony on the ground outside. I was about to return inside when I heard a gunshot, the gunshot of a .357 magnum revolver. The revolver Ace had given the vanilla pony. I turned to see him standing in front of one of the hanging bodies. The body had a hole in its head.

“What the hell are you doing?!” I yelled as I ran up to him. He looked at me and lowered the magnum.

“If I were to get these ponies down, they would suffer in excruciating pain until they died. If I left them up there, they would have suffered until they suffocated. I took mercy on thier poor souls.” I stared at him in disbelief. Ace had appeared and seemed to understand. “It’s not something I enjoy, but if it means I can end the suffering of another I will do it.” I continued to stare. I understood, but I still wish I could have avoided what I had seen. Ace guided me back into the town hall.

“Clove, I don’t like it either, but it needed to be done.” I nodded in understanding. “Besides, they are in a better place now.” That did make me feel a bit better. “Come on, there’s an armory to loot.”

We had cleared most of the bodies from the first floor before the task of moving the desecrated filly away. I couldn’t even enter the room; Ace was reluctant but had mercy on me as she reached out with her magic and wrapped the corpse in the sheet from the bed. The blood was dripping through the fabric as she levitated it out. I choked as it floated past me and down the stairs.

She came back upstairs and slunk into the armory. There was barely anything inside the room except for four boxes and three ammo boxes. I opened the first box to find three grenades inside which I slipped into my saddlebag. My Pipbuck immediately added three grenades to the tally while Ace picked the lock on one of the ammo boxes as I moved onto the next.

This one held casings, powders, and other small objects that I didn’t recognise. I placed them carefully into different pockets on my saddlebags. My Pipbuck told me that the mystery items were lead, pistol and rifle primers. All the things I needed to make a bullet. Right after I found out how to make a bullet, that is. The next box was empty, and judging by the squeals Ace made I assumed she had found some shotgun shells. I was half right. She did find shotgun shells but a lot more than some. She gathered them up and put them in her saddle bag before starting on the next lock.

The last box the room contained was locked. Time to put my new found skills to the test, I thought as I pulled out a bobby pin and the spare screwdriver Ace had given me. I placed them into the lock and twisted. The lock moved slightly then stopped. I moved it to the left but the lock wouldn’t move so I tried pushing a little harder and the bobby pin broke.

“Dammit,” I mumbled, placing a new pin inside and turning it to the right. The lock clicked and the top sprang open. Inside was a light grey pistol with a wood mouth piece and beside it were three clips for it. I gingerly pulled them out and holstered my new gun. They were marked as .45 caliber rounds by the Pipbuck. Scavenging was fun when you didn’t have to go through anypony’s personal belongings.

“Right,” said Ace as she took the contents of the last box and put them in her saddlebags. “We got a carriage load of shotgun shells, thirty-two .308 caliber rifle rounds, and twenty-one .45 caliber rounds. The last two we have no use for.”

“Not anymore.” I said I nodded to my new gun. I don’t really like using pistols, but it was better than the old revolver I had given the vanilla pony.

“Impressive,” She said, “Forty-five pistols aren’t very common out here. You mostly find them in the north east. Find anything else good?” I showed her the grenades and bullet pieces. “Ah, want to make a bullet, do you?” I said nothing. “Come here.” She said as she led me to a bench with a large press on it.

She then proceeded to take the pieces she needed from my saddlebag. Before us on the bench were ten cases, some powder, some lead and pistol primers. She then began to work her magic around the pieces and started pulling things apart, pouring the powders into certain parts and added a primer. She had created five before I tried my hoofs at it. Thankfully the tools available let me negate the use for magic, and after a few tries I had made my first bullet. Four more followed. I was starting to feel proud of myself.

We left the town hall to find the vanilla pony carrying bodies to one of the bigger fires which he had decided to use as a funeral pyre. One by one we carried the bodies of the Lipton town’s people to the flames that would mark their departure from this world. I said the task of moving the bodies would stay with me for a while, but this would probably last longer. The heat from the fire was bearable, but the smells and sights of the bodies burning were horrible.

The sun had retreated over the western hills as we stood watching the fire burn. It was comforting to believe that these ponies were now going to a better place. A place without Legion, malevolent dogs, bandits and violence. The vanilla pony was sitting and holding a medallion that resembled the sun around a crescent moon; he was offering a prayer for their safe passage into the great beyond.

“Fucking Legion…” he said as he finally got up, “always screwing things up. I decided to settle here just over three weeks ago and now there’s nothing left. I’m Stitches by the way. Doctor Stitches.”

“I’m Clover, and this is Ace,” I said while Ace nodded to him.

“Under different circumstances, I would be pleased to meet you. Given what’s happened, I’m more thankful.”

“What are you doing here in the first place?” Ace asked, “I thought desert medics roamed the wastes.”

“We do. I’ve been roaming for ten years, and after that long you grow tired of everything. You help one group of ponies one day, to have them die the next. You save a town, and as soon as you leave it gets razed to the ground. It’s just…so tiring. I came across Lipton three weeks ago and decided that I would stay and help. Hopefully then this town would survive. Then the Legion showed up. I would have killed them all…”

“What stopped you?” Ace asked. It seemed a bit insensitive, but then I realized it, he had an old SMG sticking out from his barding.

“My SMG jammed,” he had a ten millimeter SMG tucked away in it holster. He pulled it out and looked at it. “I didn’t have time to fix it before the damn dogs came down on us.” He took out the clip, and when he pulled the bolt back, a bullet flew out. He put the clip back in. “Dammit, always the same. The feed keeps jamming.” If it were I rifle, I could have fixed it; SMGs however… “Where are you headed?” he asked.

“Well, we don’t actually know yet,” I said, “we were hoping to find some information about a group of ponies that might have passed through here.”

“Let me guess. Was their leader wearing a checkered coat, had a greased back mane, and was followed by a bunch of tribals?” The image of the night I was tied up danced in my mind. I shook my head before answering.

“Yes, that would be the one.”

“Yeah, he passed through here. He couldn’t leave fast enough if you ask me; always trying to get everything ‘on the house.’ Why do you ask?” Ace braced herself.

I stared into the fire. “I have a package for him,” I growled and Ace cringed. I was going to my little dark place. I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t stop.

“Oh? What might that be?” I pulled out my knife and shoved into the dirt in front of me. “I see. May I ask what the payment for this package is?” Ace shook her head while mouthing ‘no!’

“He killed my brother and tried to kill me.” Ace bit her lip in silent anticipation. The air went cold around us. Hello dark place. Stitches looked at me oddly and Ace looked scared. It must have been my dark stare and bloody attire. Not to mention the light of the fire playing over my face and glinting sharply against Silent Reaper’s blade.

“Well…” Stitches said, “I can’t tell you where he was planning to go but wherever he’s going has to be over the mountains. He has to have gone through the Black Mountain pass.” I stood silently, watching the fire flicker over the bodies. I was picturing Double Down burning amongst them. “You two aren’t planning on heading out in the night, right?” he asked Ace.

“Nope.”

“Then you should stay here until morning. The house behind mine is empty. I’m sure you can take that one for the night.” He looked at me before saying, “You two can join me for dinner if you’re hungry.” I was transfixed on the flames. He looked at Ace with a confused look.

“We’d be glad to,” she said.

“Right, well when he’s snapped out of it, my house is the one at the end of the road…” Stitches looked back to me before walking down the road.

“Clover?” Ace asked as she waved a hoof in front of me, “You okay, Clove?”

“Yes,” I looked at her, “fine…perfectly…fine…”

”Not in here it isn’t,” said the voice in my head. I chose to ignore it.

“If you…say so…” Ace said, cautiously. I gave her a forced smile. “Right, we’ve been invited to dinner with Stitches. You are either coming out of your own free will, or I’ll drag you there.” I nodded as she turned and started walking down the road to Stitches’ house. I took one last long look at the fire before I trotted after her.

Stitches’ home was rather cozy. Ace and I sat on an old patched-up sofa while Stitches made dinner in the kitchen. He came out for a while and sat on a large armchair in front of us.

“So, where are you to from?”

“Bitter Roots,” said Ace, “Clover’s from the Apple Plains back west in NCR territory.”

“NCR, eh?” Stitches looked at me, “army?”

“No.” I said.

“Then why the hell would you leave the safety of New Canterlot to come to the Ponave Desert?”

“Package delivery.”

“Oh, the whole knife thing?”

“No...that came after.” Ace was starting to fidget. She didn’t like where this was going.

“So what were you delivering?”

“My brother and I…” I stopped for a second, trying not to show any sorrow, “were hired to take a package to the ‘Lucky Bucky’ casino on the New Neighgas strip. Then Double Down came along...”

“I see. Well, the city of New Neighgas is miles away to the north. I suppose the only way up north now is the Black Mountains, what with the things moving in on this side of the Spine.”

“Spine?”

“That’s the mountain range that cuts through the Ponave. Hmm, dinner must be just about ready.” And with that, he disappeared into the kitchen.

He came out holding a large pot by the handle and set it on top of a table nearby. Ace and I took our seats as he began serving us our meal. It was a delicious broth made from the freshest vegetables I had had in a long time. We continued to eat and make small talk before Ace and I went to the house Stitches had claimed was empty. If it wasn’t for the radroaches, he would have been right.

After stomping a few roaches, Ace and I found the bed room. It was a small room with two beds and a small table. I took off my saddlebag and bloodied barding before climbing into the bed and burying myself under the blankets.

“Clover, can I ask you something?” Ace said as she climbed into the other bed. I didn’t like where that was going.

“I’d rather you didn’t, but go ahead.”

“You know how you went into the town hall and stuff?” She said as she rolled onto her side to face me. I grunted in acknowledgment. “How did you manage to kill those dogs so easily?” Well I guess I saw that coming…

“Easy. They were animals. The fact that they were absolute monsters helped too, plus I used to pick off the odd hostile creature back on the ranch.”

“Not all animals are brainless killers, you know?”

“I am aware of that. Show me one that isn’t looking to bite my legs or my face off and I will gladly holster my weapons.”

“Not if I have anything to do with it” A voice whispered in the back of my head. What was going on with that? I hadn’t really thought about the voice until now, I dismissed it as something I would deal with when I wasn’t exhausted and aching.

I looked at Ace but she was already asleep. I decided she had better judgement than me and settled into the comfort of the bed.

I awoke with a start. I could feel a blistering heat beating down on me, and I found it hard to breath. I couldn’t see the ceiling through a thick cloud of smoke. The house we were staying in was on fire.

I jumped out of the bed. The floor was coated in a thick black mist; I couldn’t see my hoofs as they touched the ground. I pulled the blanket off of Ace to find that she wasn’t there, just the heads of several ponies staring blankly at me.

“What the fuck?” I shouted as I covered them back up. I ran into the main room of the house. The flames seemed to slow before coming to a complete stop. “Seriously, what the fuck…” I whispered to myself.

The Black Mist started to swirl around the low table in the center of the room. I could hear an insane laugh that started at a barely audible pitch but erupted into a deafening laugh as the mist took the form of a pony. The jet black pony in front of me grinned unnaturally through sharp teeth. Its glowing red eyes were giving me an evil stare as the mist radiated off of its body.

“Who the hell are you?” I asked.

“My dear Clover, do you not recognize me?” The pony said in a low dark voice. It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t put my hoof on it.

Then it hit me like a flower pot, followed by an anvil, then a hay cart and finally a piano. No wonder I recognized this pony. It was me.

“Bravo, my dear meat sack,” the other me said, “it took you long enough.” This was getting weirder.

“Who are you?” I asked again.

“I don’t have a name yet,” he said before he assumed an exaggerated thinking stance, “I suppose I’m kind of a pioneer inside your mind. But Pioneer sounds too sappy, too silly. Let’s think of a synonym, shall we?”

“Okay, I seriously need to get out of here!” I said as I galloped to the front door. I opened it to find it led right back into the room I was already in. I turned to face to the other me.

“Oh, I know. How about Trailblaze?”

“That isn’t a synonym for the pioneer you claim to be!” I said.

“Correct. The meaning of pioneer I was referring to is to lay the ground work. A verb, if you will. And trust me,” he said as he floated up to my face, staring deep into my core with his glowing red eyes, “there’s plenty of ground work for us to do.” He charged at me and leaped leaving me no time to move out of the way before I absorbed him. I could feel him seeping into me through my eyes, nose and mouth. I could even feel it move through my ears as a wispy sensation of cold.

I awoke with a gasp. Ace shot up and looked around bleary eyed.

“Who? What? Where?” She mumbled while looking around. The moon was still in the clear desert sky, and the bonfire had burnt out. I looked at my Pipbuck to see it was just about three in the morning.

“Thank the goddesses; it was just a dream…” I sighed before lying back down.

“More nightmares?” Ace said as she lay back down in her bed.

“I don’t rightly know. That one was just…weird…” I said before rolling over and facing the wall, “nothing to worry about, go back to sleep.” Within minutes I could hear Ace’s gentle snoring. I found it adorable and comforting as I drifted back to sleep.

I fell to the floor in panic as a loud clanging woke me up. It was Ace banging her cooking equipment together.

“Rise and shine, Clovey, time to get up!” she shouted. I kicked her in the leg as I clambered back into bed and pulled the blanket over me.

“Go away,” I mumbled. Ace ripped the blanket off of me and drenched me with cold water. “Fine!” I shouted as I got up to hit her. She bolted out the door, laughing so I put on my stable barding, collected my saddlebag and varmint rifle. I really needed to get something with a little more stopping power.

I walked through the doorway to see Ace grinning at me while she peeked around the sofa. “That was just plain rude,” I said as I walked past her to the front door. “What’s the weather like today? Firey and burny as usual?” I opened the door to see a thick blanket of cloud covering up the sky. “Well this is a change…”

I saw Stitches trot out of his house. He was wearing an odd set of barding and helmet. His barding was a dark olive and green with numerous pockets; his saddle bags, helmet and foreleg bands had a red cross on them which I realised was the same as his cutie mark was his cutie mark. He waved at me before coming over.

“Morning, folks,” he said as he peeked into the house. I turned around to see that Ace was about to tip an old bucket of water over me.

“Don’t you dare…” I said. She didn’t heed my warning and tipped it over me. I was soaked. “Damn it, Ace, what was that for?” I asked as I moved my soaked mane from my face.

“You needed a shower, mister.” Well that was true; I hadn’t had a shower or bath since I’d left the Apple Plains. Or did Cloud…I’m not even going to think about that.

“I see you two had a good night’s sleep.” Stitches chuckled as he walked inside and sat down on an armchair. “Have you two thought of where to go now?” he asked. Honestly, I had no idea where to go. I was hoping someone here would have information on where he went in Lipton, but we all know how that turned out.

“Nope.” I said as I stretched out my neck, hearing several satisfying clicks from my spine. I continued to stretch out my body before sitting on the sofa, keeping an eye on Ace. Her little antics seemed to be over.

“In that case, come to Iron City with me. I’m sure the radio guru there will help you out in you predicament, given the circumstances.”

“Mr. Ponave?” I said as I clicked on my radio,

“Gooooood morning, Ponave Deseeeert! Hello campers, remember: today is Rad Away day, so don’t forget to drink some of that orange liquid and prepare for aftertaste-alley. Welcome to the Mr. Ponave Breakfast Show, bringing you the best tunes I can get my hoofs on and all the latest news as it happens. I guess we’ll start with the news.

“Sources claim that Lipton has gone silent after a visit from Crusader’s Legion. If anyone in the area has any idea what went down, contact your nearest Ponave Radio agent, if you can find them, or send a mail pony to the station.

“Now for our wartime correspondent, me. All quiet on the eastern front for the moment. Casualty reports from the last skirmish increase the death toll for NCR troops by five, their bodies have been recovered and are on their way home. Legion casualties are unknown.

“That’s it for news this morning but be sure to tune in later for the Twelve O’clock News. Now for the weather broadcast. Dust storms have started to swirl just south of Eastside, up near Bitter Roots and the Ponave Desert heartlands. Heavy storms and rain are expected to come down on us within the next twenty-four hours so duck ‘n’ cover people.

“Now for the best part of my program, the tunes. Here’s Sweetie Belle with ‘Maybe’”

“That’s the one,” said Stitches as I clicked it off.

“So Iron City it is. So why are you heading to Iron City?”

“I heard there’s a clinic out there, and I’m hoping that they have an opening for an experienced surgeon.”

“So shall we get going? Try to beat the bad weather coming in?”

“Sure thing, I’m ready, but are you two?” Stitches asked.

“I know I am.” Ace said as she dug through her saddlebag and pulled out a set of goggles and a bandanna. “Dust storms are fun!”

I searched through my belongings. Nothing but the stuff Cloud had given me, minus some food, water and a health potion.

“Umm, I’m not.” I said, sheepishly.

“I’m sure the general store will have something you can use,” but wasn’t Lipton deserted? “If we don’t take anything, bandits will roll up into town and take it all, no need to make it seem easier for them, right?”

I suppose leaving the store unguarded and unlooted would be a bad idea. Plus I needed something to wear other than the stable barding. It was still slightly blood stained and had a torn sleeve with threads that made me think a fly had landed every time the wind or my movement caused them to brush against the hairs on my foreleg. Never mind the memory of the jaws that had caused the tear.

The store wasn’t the biggest of places but still contained what anyone would need to survive in the desert; water, food, bandages and protective gear. The first thing to catch my eyes were three boxes of Pinkie’s Pies and a small box of Party Cupcakes. The cupcakes had “Now 20% cooler!” written in bold writing across the top. Something seemed iffy about them so I gave them to Ace. Before long we had stripped the store of food and water; our saddlebags were bulging. Not only did we find food and water but we also found a small sack of explosive powder, no doubt sold to the store by a Blammo.

“That’s more than enough to get us to Iron City.” Ace claimed as she closed her saddlebag.

Then came the task of finding some new barding. I searched the shelves and cabinets around the store but found nothing. It was then that I noticed a hooflocker tucked under the counter. Needless to say, it was locked. I plucked out my screwdriver and bobby pin and began to work. After I broke five pins, I realized I only had three left and gave up.

I asked Ace to try and pick it, but it seemed to be too complicated for her. Stitches claimed that he can remove bullets from flesh but couldn’t pick locks. I was about to give up completely before I remembered the explosive powder. The gears in my head started to grind as I formed an idea. I pulled the powder from my saddlebag and poured out a small mound onto my hoof. I then placed the mound into the lock and poured out a small trail around the counter. Ace and Stitches exchanged concerned looks.

“Duck ‘n’ cover!” I said as I dove behind a table having finished with the trail. Ace and Stitched stumbled over the table as I pulled out a match with my teeth. I lit it against the striker that I fumbled between my hoofs. ‘There has to be an easier way to do this…’ I thought to myself as the smoke from the match found its way up my nostril. I lit the small white trail and watched the powder sparkle as sparks danced up the trail. I ducked behind the table with a grin. Stitches and Ace had gritted their teeth and had their hooves in their ears.

I waited anxiously before I heard a rather loud bang. I peeked over the side of the table. There was a small trail of smoke coming from behind the counter and the wall behind it was partially scorched.

“Hooee! That was awesome!” I yelled, probably because my ears were ringing. If I had covered them up with my hooves like the others I wouldn’t be having that problem. You live and learn. Ace and Stitched looked at me as if I was nuts. “What? I was curious!” I said.

I walked around the side of the counter to see that the hooflocker had been blown open. The contents seemed to be surprisingly well protected from the blast as I lifted a package out. I opened it to find a long, brown leather coat and a red bandanna, perfect size too.

“Well it would seem your ingenuity exceeds that of your foolishness,” Stitched nickered when he saw the box blown open. I turned to show him and Ace the coat. “And it would seem your work has born fruit. Nice coat.” It was quite a nice coat but not barding which is what I really needed. I voiced this issue to Ace and Stitches.

“The store didn’t really deal in barding. The closest they had were neckerchiefs and bandannas,” Stitches told me.

“I guess I’ll have to improvise before my sleeve drives me crazy,” I said, grabbing the strands of the barding and ripping the sleeve off three inches from the shoulder. It felt much better now that I could move without it flapping in the breeze. I dumped the strands on the floor.

“Now don’t do that, with a bit of magic or antiseptic I can make tourniquets and bandages from them.” Stitched said as he gathered them up and popped them into his saddlebags.

I put the coat on over my barding. It was incredibly comfortable inside and had four pockets. The back of the collar rested just off the back of my neck.

“Looking snazzy,” Ace said, followed by a whistle, “now, are we ready to go? Or do we have to blow anything else up?”

“Well…” I started. The looks Ace and Stitches gave me cut me off. “…no…”

“Tally ho, to Iron City and beyond!” Ace shouted as she left the store.

“Is she always like this?” Stitches asked.

“I dunno. I hope not,” I said. He gave me an odd look before trotting after Ace.

We passed the smoldering remains of the bonfire. Stitches and I stopped and looked at the large pile of ashes.

“Goodbye, friends,” Stitches said before walking after Ace. I stared for a few more moments before trotting after the others.

We walked out of town and started heading into the hills. I turned and looked at the town of Lipton. It seemed quite peaceful from there, regardless of the now empty crosses, smoke and bloody spikes. I turned around and looked up at the hills, I was about to encounter the next obstacle on my journey.

Black Mountain Pass.

Footnote: LEVEL UP!
New perk: “Running with Scissors.”
You are able to use and throw melee weapons with greater precision.

Thanks to Logician, Errantindy and the good folks over at the FoE Proto doc for the help and edits.

More special thanks to Kal for the revisions.

Chapter 5: Black Mountain Pass

“Aint no mountain high enough...”

Black Mountain loomed eerily before us like a giant, surveying his territory. The road we had been walking on began to weave and snake around the rolling hills at the foot of the mountain.

Occasionally we would see a burned out chariot or cart on the road, or sticking out of the ground, front first. A long sky wagon, at least it looked like a sky wagon, was poking out of the dirt, long abandoned by its owner. ‘If only we had one of those and a pegasus’ I thought idley to myself. Yeah, like finding a working sky wagon and a pegasus would ever happen out here in the dusty, broken remains of the desert.

I could see how Black Mountain got its name; The Mountain itself was actually black compared to the gray and pale yellows of the surrounding area. I couldn't come to any conclusion of why it was like that, so I asked my traveling companions.

“Way I hear it, there was a dragon napping up there hundreds of years ago. It slept for so long that the ash from its snoring eventually turned the mountain black and no amount of scrubbing could get it off,” Ace said, making silly hoof movements through the air.

“That's just silly,” Stitches objected, rolling his eyes, “the soil around the mountain is much richer in minerals and nutrients, thus making the soil darker. Did you never read anything about geology? Or science in general?”

“Of course I did. I learned how to make basic ammunition and explosives.”

“That's chemistry, not geology. Just forget about it.” Stitches obviously didn't care enough to start a heated debate with Ace, that he knew he would eventually lose through just giving up.

“Damn right. Dragons,” Ace said as proudly as she could, puffing her chest out. Stitches gave a small sigh and shook his head.

We rounded the last bend before the mountain itself, and then I saw the large white dishes poking out of the side. The dishes reminded me of what Tire Iron had said about a balefire bomb going off over a communications array.

“Isn't that where one of the balefire bombs landed?” I asked.

“Yeah, why?” Ace replied, turning back to me.

“Wouldn't it be heavily radioactive?”

“You'd think so,” Stitches interjected, a know-it-all look on his face, “but it’s mostly focused around the peak and the communications facility. My theory is that since it was so high up, and the fact that very few bombs managed to detonate around the desert, most of the radiation was carried away by the winds. Leaving the base and tunnel of the mountain relatively harmless.” he theorised, putting his hoof to his chin.

“Relatively? I don’t like relatively irradiated, I would prefer not irradiated.” I whined.

“Just like everywhere else in the wastelands there are pockets of radiation. More so here than most of the wastes.” Ace explained with a smile.

We started our ascent up the side of the tall mountain, passing an old road sign, heavily covered with two hundred years of graffiti, with 'Black Mountain Pass 3 kilometers” written on it. This was going to be a long trek uphill and I certainly wasn’t looking forward to it because, well, you couldn't really count anything I had experienced over the last couple of weeks as a good nights sleep, not counting being unconscious.

The first leg of the trek was easy, but over time I started to feel bogged down, like I has trying to lift lead with my hooves. Luckily for us, there was a small flat area that was designated 'Scenic Outlook.' On the other side of the road was a small wooden door in the mountain face. I opened it to find it was just that; a door on the side of a mountain, it didn't lead anywhere, just to more rock.

“What is this?” I said as I closed and opened it again, kind of wishing something would appear magically before my eyes.

“Probably some joker playing a prank on travelers. Pretty good too, you should see your face.” Ace laughed as I realized that I was pouting with disapointment.

“Alright folks, lets peel ourselves from the mystery door and have some water. We go mobile in five minutes.” Stitches informed us, taking a long swig from his canteen.

The view was rather impressive from up there, I guees while you're focused on the road ahead, you never really think about how far up you’ve gone. I couldn't see over the mountains yet, but I could clearly see Ponave Outpost and Lipton. On the horizon I could barely see Goodsands and a few kilometers east was a large, fenced-in structure that I dismissed as the NCRCF.

“Really is pretty, isn't it?” Ace said as she trotted up next to me.

“Not really.” I grumbled, not really caring.

“What do you mean, 'not really'? It’s wonderful.” she insisted.

“Its mostly just yellow, brown and gray. Maybe if the sky wasn’t covered in clouds it might be pretty.” I looked up at the white, fluffy curtain, covering the sky above us with a depressing gloom.

“Whatever.” Ace nickered, waving her hoof dismissivly, “How're you holding up?”

That was a good question. I really had to think about it, I suppose after my brother dying before my very eyes, getting shot in the head, seeing a pony's head explode, stomping a bandit's head like a bug, and seeing a lot of ponies dead or dying, I was starting to wither inside, like a plant in the automn. I had yet to see anything good in this place; it even seemed that Goodsands was a fluke.

“I don't know, Ace. I just... don't know...” I sighed before starting back up the road. Stitches saw me and gave Ace a questioning look.

“What's eating at him?” he asked, thinking I was out of earshot. I frowned and picked up the pace, trying to put my frustration into raw energy.

“Just drop it, Stitch. He'll tell you when he wants to.” I let out a small, silent sigh of relief. I don't know exactly why Ace was coming with me on my journey, but it was nice to know that she wouldn't go blabbing about everything that's happened to me over the past few days. It was nice to have someone I might be able to trust again.

We had less than half a kilometer to go before we reached the tunnel before hearing something that did not bode well, why I didn't expect it out here was beyond me. I could hear the gentle sobs of a mare, coming up ahead.

We galloped to where it was coming from, leaping over dirt mounds, rocks, and fallen power lines at top speeds. We turned the corner and were met with a purple mare clutching her bloodied leg with her hooves, her face scrunched up in sheer agony, trying to hold in her tears but failing to hold back a few choked sobs.

Ace levitated her shotgun out, and I set my varmint rifle against my shoulder with the handle in my mouth, anticipating immanent danger. Another reason I did not like this rifle was that it had an awkward bolt; with my old rifle I could slide the bolt back with my hoof easily while still supporting the rifle with my mouth and shoulder. Some viewed this as odd, but I found it more accurate than using a battle saddle.

Stitches ran up to the mare and skidded to a halt before rummaging through his saddlebags.

“Clover, I’m gonna need some help here!” He shouted. I slung my rifle over my back and trotted to the mare’s side. “Okay, keep her talking so she doesn't go any farther into shock.”

“Got it. What's your name?” I asked. gently stroking the mare’s hoof, trying to keep her as calm as I could.

“Purple Haze, who are you?” she managed to ask between choked sobs.

“My name's Clover. Where are you from?” I asked. Stitches was administering a painkiller through a syringe he had pulled form one of his pockets.

“Rust Town.” She said, starting to calm from the relaxing fluid now coursing through her veins from the syringe. I looked at Ace to see if she knew what Rust Town was, but she just shrugged.

“Okay, now where is that?”

She cringed when Stitches put pressure on her wound, trying to stop the blood seeping out from around his hooves. “Its on the other side of the mountain; my son ran away and went after him.”

“Doc, need a potion or some healing bandages?” Ace said.

“No, the healing bandages will become useless with the amount of blood she's loosing, and I have to stop the bleeding before she can have a health potion so I can clean the wound, whatever cut her was either really dirty or infected.” he looked up from the gory wound, “Do any of you have any cigarettes or cigars? Anything with tobacco?”

I remembered the pack I had taken from one of the bandits. I pulled out the pack and handed it to Stitches, trying to avoid looking at the exposed wound, I was starting to feel a little queasy.

Stitches pulled out one of the cigarettes and put the pack down before tearing it open and pouring the tobacco into the wound.

“What are you doing?” Purple Haze asked, taking deep breaths.

“Tobacco from cigarettes can reduce the amount of bleeding.” Stitches nickered, not looking up from the wound, “There, see?”. The bleeding was starting to slow, being quickly absorbed by the tobacco. “Excellent, now I can give you this.” He pulled out a bottle of antiseptic and cleaned the wound, satisfied that the tobacco had done its job. He got out a healing potion and handed it to Purple Haze, “Alright, now to deal with these burns.”

“Burns?” I asked as Purple Haze lifted her forelegs after downing the potion to reveal that her side had been horrifically burnt, the edges of which were starting to shimmer and stitch back together with the potion.

“Good thing I'm prepared.” Stitches chuckled as he pulled out another syring, different from the painkiller. It had a small disk on top of the tube, held in place with two small pipes, filled with a purple liquid.

“What is that, Stitch?” Ace asked, lowering her guard a little.

“Its a medipack. It’s like a magic potion in a syringe, but it’s more effective for burns and localized treatment.”

“Localized treatment?”

“Like, say if you've got several cuts all over but your leg is cut open then a potion would have to siphon off some magic to fix the cuts, but a medipack only heals the area around the injection.” Stitches plunged the syringe into Haze's burn. The area around the needle started to heal.

“Incredible...” I whispered before standing up again, looking down at Haze. “Alright, who did this to you?”

“I don't know. I saw my son running up the road over there, and some big monstrous thing attacked me. It was like a huge green unicorn with wings; it stabbed my leg before I could escape and shot me with some sort of lighting. Oh goddess, please save my son! You have to!” Haze pleaded.

I looked at Ace; she gave me a sly grin while levitating her shotgun beside her. I looked back at Haze.

“I do try to help as much as possible. This is no exception.” I smiled, not really knowing why I felt obliged to help.

Stitches looked at me cautiously before saying, “If you're heading up into the unknown, take these.” he handed out four medipacks and four health potions between us, I quickly deposited them into my coat pockets.

“Aren't you coming with us?” I asked once I had finished my organisation.

“This mare has lost a lot of blood and is slightly in shock. I need to stay here and make sure she's stable.”

He pulled out a small device from one of his other pockets and put one of the ends into the mare's blood. It beeped once before Stitches huffed in satisfaction. “Hm, Type Q. You're in luck.” He pulled out a blood pack from his saddlebag and inserted a needle into Haze and connected it to the red bag. He held it above his head.

“You two going or what?” he asked, finally looking back up at us.

I dropped my saddlebag, “Weapons and ammo only, Ace. We don't want to get weighed down.” She dropped her saddlebag too, and we started walking towards the road Haze had been injured on.

The road was quiet. Too quiet. The sign that previously read “Black Mountain Communications Array” had been plastered over with radiation warnings along with warnings of “Run away” or “Get back.” I gulped hard after a cold shiver coursed up my spine, I wanted to go back but there was a young colt on this mountain and he needs out help.

“I really don't like this, Clover.” Ace said with a hint of a tremble in her voice.

“I am fully aware of that, and I don't like it either. Which is why we don't want to telegraph our presence to who whatever is up here.”

“I know, but still...it’s creepy, you know?” She was levitating her shotgun closer to her.

I almost jumped out of my skin when a white tick showed up on my compass, it was approaching fast. I motioned for Ace to duck and cover behind a rock while I jumped into a ditch, covered with the remains of a scorched tree. I watched as the white tick slowed to a halt between me and Ace.

“Hey, my little ponies, I know you're out here.” A mare's voice whispered, “I'm not going to hurt you; I need to warn you.”

I peeked over the side of the ditch to see who was talking. There was a large green unicorn with wings standing before me. It was more than twice my size, and its horn was at least three times bigger than Ace's. I barely recognized this species of pony, It was the same species as the goddesses themselves, An alicorn. If I were religious or even thought the old princesses were still alive, I would have revered her as a god, but right now I was more intrigued on where the hell she came from.

“Come on out. Don't make me look for you.” she scoweled. I slowly crept up out of the ditch, rifle ready. “Ah, there you are. I come bearing a warning.” I motioned for Ace to come out. Her shotgun preceded her.

I put my rifle back on my back and opened my pistol's holster, just to be ready. “And what might that be?” I asked.

“This isn't a place where ponies are welcome. On this mountain you will find more like me, but they are hostile to your kind, and even in their weakened state, they will kill you.” The alicorn whispered.

“So why aren't you hostile?”

“That's because unlike the others up there, I have some spark of intelligence.”

“Where the hell did you come from?” Ace asked, before I could.

“We were sent by the Goddess out east to find unicorns and bring them back to her so she could gain more power. She overestimated her telepathic powers, and she lost her hold on us as we crossed the great eastern mountains. Some regained what little of our old selves remained, like me. Others however have just become husks of their former selves. I used to be a stallion and a merchant called Knick Knack before I was taken and shoved into a vat of purple liquid. That's when things got fuzzy.”

“Uh huh. Well, we're looking for a colt who supposedly ran up here, and we aren't leaving until we do.” I said, as confidently as I could. Knick Knack saw straight through my false confidence.

“The colt is okay and is being held captive up near the array. I'm waving you off right now; the alicorn who runs this group is absolutely crazy. She still claims that she can talk to the Goddess. She's ordered all of the other alicorns to attack anything on sight and that includes ponies.”

“Then why are you still here?” I asked, “If my boss was a psycho, I would just up and leave.”.

“Because her broadcasts tend to attract other alicorns here and I try to divert them to the settlement to the north. I don't want them to get wrapped up in something they don't need to be.”

“So how come I haven't heard this broadcast?”

“The array has been down for almost a month, and the technician that we have here hasn't been able to fix it yet.”

“So if you don't want other alicorns joining this crazy alicorn's herd, why not take her out?” Ace asked. It was a fair question but nothing I would ask the large, probably-kick-your-ass-in-a-heartbeat alicorn to her face.

“Because she claims to see what's in an alicorn’s mind. I don't believe her, but I’m not going to test that theory.”

“But you still want her gone?”

“Yes, I do. Why? Are you offering?”

“I might be able to help. If this 'Goddess' is making unicorns into 'husks of their former selves', I can't let it continue!” I said with a stomp. Ace looked at me seriously before looking up and remembering that she was a unicorn. She went slightly red as she looked back at the alicorn.

“Do you have a plan?” Knick Knack asked.

“Well, we were planning on sneaking past ‘monsters’, which I suppose means alicorns, and getting the colt out of there. Now I suppose we do that but get rid of the boss alicorn too.” I doubted this was going to work.

“Seems a bit shakey to me, but I might be able to help. Meet me near the array.” Knick Knack said as he...she...whatever it was, flew off.

“Crazy?” Ace asked, watching the beast crest the top of the mountain..

“Probably.”

We had come across our first group of red ticks as we made our way up to the mountain to the array. There were three alicorns ahead, two green and a blue one. One of them had a helmet and jury rigged armour along with a large gun on its battle saddle. It was going to get very hairy, very fast if they saw us.

The road was fairly narrow between the cliff and the mountain wall, but was strewn with several large rocks, them being the only thing between us and the alicorn checkpoint. We had no way to get around them.

“Any ideas?” I whisprered to Ace, trembling a little.

“Nothing that won’t get us shot to ribbons...” Ace said as she peeked over the rock.

“Well then. We're screwed.” I sighed as I looked around for anything that could help. We couldn't do anything with the scrap metal walls of the checkpoint, I had no use for the rocks around us, and the rocky walls around us were too steep to climb. That's when I did noticed something useful, a large group of loose rocks about ten meters above the road behind us. Time to get resourceful.

“Right, stay here.” I whispered to Ace as I pulled out the explosive powder from my coat's pocket and slithered across the grounds to the rocks. I started spreading the powder around and snaked it back to the rock Ace and I had hid behind. I looked over the rock and back at Ace, “We've got to move up.” I motioned, pointing up ahead. Ace sighed and rolled her eyes before moving.

We successfully snuck up to the checkpoint walls and I pulled out the pack of matches I had quickly grown to love, inhaled deeply to steady myself, and struck off a match, which was hard to do with your hooves and mouth. I lit the trail of explosive powder and hunkered down as small as I could and shoved my hooves into my ears.

I couldn't help but grin as I heard a dull thump through my hooves. I pulled them out and looked up; The loose rocks above had come tumbling down under the shockwaves of the explosion. Two of the alicorns, including the armoured one, ran out of their checkpoint. I brought up my EFS to see one more dreaded red tick behind the metal barricade walls we were hiding behind. Damn it.

“Looks like one of them got left behind.” I said and peeked around the corner to see the blue alicorn standing and staring at the charred remains of a wagon. Its wings were damaged and mangled at its sides, obviously on the losing end of a fight. I took a deep breath before signaling Ace to stay put and cover me.

I snuk up to the last alicorn, its stare still on the wagon and pulled out my knife, I was going to try and sneak around it but I might have needed my knife ready, just in case. I breathed a sigh of relief when I got around it before signaling Ace over. As if by fate, it was then the alicorn snapped out of it and turned to me. It grinned before turning completely invisible.

“Shit!” I whispered frantically scanning for any signs of the blue fuck, swinging my knife back and forth.

Ace ran over to me, only to be knocked several meters into the air, coming to a collision with a rock. She hit hard and slumped to the ground. I sheathed my knife and pulled out my pistol and tracked where I thought the alicorn was, but it was too late. The alicorn tackled me, sending me flying and landing millimeters from the sheer drop of the cliff side. I looked over my shoulder.

“Oh shit!” I shouted before trying to get up, but I was sent stright back down when the alicorn shoved its hoof onto my throat, choking me. It came into view over me, grinning from ear to ear as its horn started to glow.

It was about to unleash its magic on me before my knife floated up behind it, surrounded in a magical levitation field before plunging into the brute. The alicorn tried wailing, but it was no use, the blade was deep inside it. Ace's shotgun came up behind it and smacked against the alicorn’s head with a wet crack. The alicorn fell off me and over the cliff, plummeting to its demise.

“Thanks.” I coughed as I picked myself up. Ace was sitting up against the rock, horn glowing with the same levitation field around the shotgun and bloody knife. There was blood trickling down her head, I scrambled over to her and lifted her head, looking into her deep brown eyes, “Are you okay?” I asked, genualy worried about her safety.

“I think so. Probably have small a concussion. Nothing too serious though.” she smiled, stumbling to her hooves. “C'mon, those alicorns could be back at any moment. Best keep moving.” I followed her as she staggered along the road. I handed her a potion, but she refused to take it, making me almost pin her down to get her to drink it, she eventually gave in and gulped it down.

The next check point was up ahead. Of course, we only noticed this after I got hit by a lightning bolt.

Bullets and lightning were flying over the boulder Ace had dragged me behind. Ace was firing her shotgun over the side of the rock while I clutched my burning stomach. I wheezed and convulsed as the air filled with the smell of burnt flesh and ozone.

I tried rolling over to my side to get one of the medipacks Stitches gave me, but when I tried, pain lashed throughout my whole body like a whip, sending me right back down as Ace was trying her best to both shoot her shotgun and rummage through my pockets to get the medipack. She emptied each of them onto the ground, stopping only to reload her shotgun. I looked at the contents of my pockets on the ground. There was some ammo, some bandages and our last grenade. Thank Celestia...I thought as I looked at the grenade.

“Ace, the grenade.” I managed to rasp, barely able to breath. She picked it up, pulled the pin and flung it over to the alicorns. The fire stopped for a brief moment while the alicorns took cover. Why they did this was beyond me, It seemed they had fucking shields.

Ace put down her shotgun in fustration before finally opening the last pocket on my barding, pulling out a Medipack. She stabbed it directly into the burn and it started to heal, I gasped as my lungs inflated with air; I was able to breath again. Ace got right back to shooting as soon as the alicorns opened fire again.

I peeked around the corner of the boulder. The alicorns either thought I was dead or were too concentrated on Ace. Their shields seemed impenetrable against anything Ace threw at them. Her buckshot pinged off of the shimmering shield around the alicorns. There had to be a weakness.

Bingo.

I managed to see a brief break in the shield as one of the alicorns shot a bolt of lightning that exploded on the boulder, inches away from my head. I pulled out the varmint rifle and rolled onto my stomach, clenching my teeth against the pain. I aimed down the sights, waiting for my chance. I let the alicorn charge and shoot one more lightning strike. Five seconds between charge and shoot, it started to charge another shot.

“..two...three...four...” the shield started to shimmer before it came down. I took my chance and pulled the trigger, the inside of the alicorn's shield splattered with red before it collapsed along with the alicorn, blood oozing from a hole below its right eye.

The last alicorn was like one of the one we saw with the jury rigger armour and large gun. It seemed to have mastered its shield spell as only small holes at the front of the shield opened when it fired. Just enough for me to shoot through but the timing was hell to pin down. I took a deep breath and watched.

“Right...there!” I pulled the trigger, only managing to catch one of the alicorn's legs. It back peddled as it rose itself off of its forelegs.

“Gah! Pain!” it shouted as its concentration faded and the shield collapsed. I dropped the rifle, got up and sprayed the alicorn with my pistol. The .45 caliber bullets tore through its midsection like a hot knife through butter; and it fell to a quivering heap. I slowly trotted up to it.

“...sorry...” I whispered before shooting the last bullet in the clip into its head. I had a sudden flashback to when Shamrock was murdered, how the blood spilled from his head onto the desert sands, how his head bucked backwards as the bullet impacted. I held my head with my hoof, fighting back the image before I burst into tears. This was not the time and place to snap now.

“Holy Luna above, how did you do that?” Ace asked as she trotted out from behind the boulder. She looked back at it and whistled at the bullet and scorch marks. “I mean, there was like a two second wait between charge and shoot from that horn.”

“I counted five seconds.” I said

“No way, definitely two. They had shot at least twice by the time I counted to five.” I could have sworn it was five seconds. Then again, the projectiles did seem to move slower while I waited for my opening...

“Anyway, here's your stuff.” she levitated my belongings to me with a light grace. I really needed to sort my inventory, seeing as my disorganization almost cost me my life. I looked at my stomach to see that it had healed except for the edges of the burn which glowed a faint red as they healed slowly, even my light gray coat had started to grow back in patches thanks to the medipack.

“That was sure to have attracted some attention,” I said, looking back down the road, “I'm surprised their friends aren't here yet...” I repacked the two pockets on my stable barding with my medical supplies and the pockets on my new coat with my combat items. I was surprised that my coat hadn't got damaged in the fight, dirty yes but not damaged.

We stopped and hit the ground after two red ticks came up on my EFS. We had just narrowly avoided the first patrol we had encountered as they came to investigate the fight we had barely come out of alive.

The two alicorns ahead of us were standing close to the cliff and starting out over the desert, as if they were searching for something, a look of loss playing over their faces. We would have snuk around them if it wasn't for the fact that I had already tried with the blue alicorn and almost got tossed off a cliff. I started thinking of ways to combat these alicorns when a white tick flashed on my EFS.

One of the alicorns looked up the road to the approaching friendly, only for its head to turn to mush under the force of a large hammer, suspended in a magical field. It fell over the side of the mountain as the other alicorn was about to fire its lightning, just for its horn to be snapped under the weight of the large, blunt weapon. It's face did not survive as its magic imploded as it too fell off the cliff.

“That felt good.” Knick Knack said as he dropped the hammer. “Never did like those two.”

“Thanks for that.” I honestly didn't know what I was going to do if they had come to, and we were in the open.

“No problem. Now, the way up to the array is fairly safe compared to the road. This was the last checkpoint, but there are still a couple of alicorns up in the courtyards with the radiation. The holding cells are just past the crater in the first building on the left. I've taken care of most of the alicorns, either by hammer or distraction, and the cells should be unguarded.”

“Got it.”

“Oh, and you remember what we talked about. You'd best get rid of the crazy boss because after what I've done to help, I'll be hunted down if I stay.” and with that, he flew off back down the mountain.

“Clove, I'm not sure about this. If this crazy alicorn is the boss, who knows what it’s capable of.” Ace said. The blood from her head had dried on her coat, leaving it a dark brownish.

“I know.” I said. “But I have a plan.” I thumped my chest in confidence. I had been thinking about it since Knick Knack first mentioned it, and I honestly had a plan. Well, kind of...

We started back on the road before we came across a fallen broadcast antenna sticking out of the rich black dirt. My Pipbuck started to click.

“And that means radiation.” I casually reminded myself. It seemed to be a small dose but nothing that would kill us without prolonged exposure.

We turned a corner to find a large open space before a huge, square building underneath a huger satellite dish. Ahead of us was a set of buildings around a wide hole in the ground, most of them had been torn to pieces, but a few still remained, two in particular, one of them containing our missing colt. Along with the ruins were some shacks that seemed to be put together with sheet metal and barely anything else. The radiation levels were still surprisingly low.

“Anyone around?” asked Ace in a hushed tone.

“Nothing yet.”

We slowly moved around the crater as My Pipbuck started to click more rapidly, but not indicating lethal levels. I heard some talking from inside one of the shacks as we passed.

“What did Knick say again? There wuz pony in here?”

“I unno... head hurts. Gotta hurt sumthin else.”

Obviously not the thinking type, but easily distracted. We got around the crater and were met with something straight out of a nightmare. It was a large bulbous thing that slightly resembled a pony. Its neck was elongated and its face seemed melted with three large tentacles hanging out of its mouth. Its body was bloated and hugged the ground, bones were poking out of multiple points along its body as It propelled itself with its six legs. It stared at us with deep red eyes. I was petrified.

“What the fuck?” Ace whispered as she stepped back.

The monster leaned back, whatever was inside of it cracked loudly, before unleashing a large glob of goo that hit me square in the face causing me to back flip into a heap. It stung my entire face as I scrambled in the dirt, trying desperately to scape it off. I could hear gun shots through the goop in my ears, I rolled over and wiped my eyes on my leather coat and saw the monster, torn up as Ace reloaded her shotgun and trained it on the shack we passed. The Alicorns were sure to have heard that.

Sure enough, the lumbering brain dead beasts came crashing through the door, both with sledgehammers in their levitation field. They swung wildly at us, I managed to dive out of the way just in time, but Ace was not as fortunate as the sledge hammer came down on her hind leg.

I rolled over as a sledge hammer crashed down where my head was just a few mere milliseconds ago. My luck finally shone through as the hammer's head slipped off as the alicorn tried raise it. It looked at the stick in great bewilderment, I took the chance.

I clamped down on my pistol and unloaded a clip into the beasts head. It slumped down, its entire front covered in blood. I got and saw the other alicorn approaching Ace, lifting the hammer up above its head. I pressed down on my pistol's trigger.

Click click click.

“Fuck!” I screamed as I dropped the pistol. The hammer was about to come down on Ace.

“Play time.” The voice in my head said. I pulled out Silent Reaper, gripped the tip in my teeth and flung it through the air at the alicorn. It hit home, digging deep into the alicorn’s head, It fell on its side, bringing the hammer down about a meter away from Ace. I galloped to my fallen friend.

“Don't think anythings broken, just hurts like a son of a bitch.” she hissed through gritted teeth. I handed her a healing potion, leaving us with about four left in total, including the ones Stitches has given us.

She slowly got to her hooves, her hind leg glowing a faint red as the potion healed the muscle damage. She looked at me and smiled.

“All better.”

The voice in my head was starting to worry me. It seemed familiar, as if I had known it my entire life, but I couldn't put my hoof on it. I froze when I realized who the voice was. It was Trailblaze. The dream I had wasn't just a drea, Trailblaze was real and was in my head. He had effectively just saved Ace. He also saved me in the Lipton town hall; maybe he wasn't so bad?

“Clover? You look like you've seen a ghost...” Ace said, nudging my shoulder with a hoof. Ghosts? I don't think Trailblaze was a ghost. It would explain a lot, but I ain’t afraid of no ghosts.

“I wish...” I said. I looked at my EFS, nothing to report. I walked over to the corpse of the monster who had spit the slimey, horrendous goop in my face, which had caked gruesomely, and examined it. It was seeping a purple viscous fluid along with blood, I honestly did not want to touch it. I thought of bottling it and giving it to a scientist for analysis. I facehoofed pretty hard, making a crackling sound as I brought my hoof down through the hardening goop on my face. I shouldn't have read that 'Professor Utonium's Lab' comic book so much. Like I was going to find a professor or a lab out here.

“Don't we have a colt to save?” Ace asked, prodding me again. Celestia buck me to the moon, she was right.

We galloped to the building that supposedly held the colt, it was a two story building without any windows; it seemed appropriate for a prison. We entered through a large wooden door; the lock on it was so rusted that a swift buck was all that was needed to get in. There were three doors before the staircase, one was open to reveal an empty room while the others were locked tight. Ace went up the stairs while I started snooping around the open room.

All I could gather was that this room had not been used as a prison cell but more as a guard house. There were empty ammo boxes and a bed. Bored with the relatively empty room, I went over to the next door. Ace had found a terminal on the stairs and started poking at it. She quickly gave up with a huff and started picking the lock.

The lock on the door had been much better preserved but was still easy to pick. I could only find three bobby pins in my pocket so I took my time picking it, rushing these things often lead to mistakes.

It finally gave way after the first bobby pin broke, I turned the handle and was met with a terrible stink. I looked around the room, holding my breath. It was similar to the guard room but only had a cast-iron bed, a desk with an assortment of tools on it and a bucket in the corner. On the bed was a dead pony, judging by the look of it, he had been dead for a few weeks.

“Eugh. That's just nasty.” I cringed.

“What did you find?” Ace called down, followed by a small 'dammit' as she broke a bobby pin.

“A dead pony... Poor guy.” I sighed as I started to turn to head out. I was about to close the door when my body went rigid and I let out a choked squeak.

“I aint dead, Gringo.”

Footnote: LEVEL UP! New perk: “Mutant Hunter.” Your accuracy and timing seems to go well with dead mutants. You deal an added 20% damage to mutated creatures (Eg. Animals, ponies and Ghouls).

Skill note: Guns 50.

Special thanks to Errantindy and all the people over on the FO:E protodoc. You people are the best. (Especially Mittens.)

PS. Decided to only do skill updates every 25, 50, 75 and 100 level.

Chapter 6: Remnant of the Past

“History must be written of, by and for the survivors.”

“Motherfuckingvoodooshitzombie!” I shouted as I stumbled backwards out of the room and into the wall, knocking several things off of shelves. The zombie started to get out of the bed and stretch out his rotten flesh.

“What happened?” Ace called out as she bounded down the stairs from the terminal and froze solid at the sight of the approaching zombie. “Stand back, Clover. That's a ghoul.”

“What? Never seen a sane ghoul before, amigo?” the zombie chuckled, his voice was cracked and raspy, as if his throat was full of sandpaper, or something.

“Not a sane one, no...” Ace growled as she loaded her shotgun. I was trembling behind her like a coward. I have no regrets about that. “Prove you aren't going to devour us, and I might not shoot you.”

“Seems reasonable. My name is Snake Eyes, and I was born in the lands south of Equestria before the war. I've been, among other things, an engineer, a soldier, a spy, an executive and a wanderer,” Ace pressed her shotgun against his head, “And a vegetarian.” Snake Eyes added, hastily.

Ace narrowed her eyes at the rot bag, a skeptical look dancing across her features. after a few moments she lowered her shotgun. “Okay, but I'm watching you...”

“I suppose you're here for the foal?” Snake Eyes asked. Ace slowly nodded, “Then allow me.” Snake Eyes trotted up the stairs and started tapping keys with practised ease; the door unlocked. Ace looked at the zombified unicorn with a puzzled expression on her face.

“Where did you learn to do that?” She asked.

“I've been around for over two hundred years. You tend to pick up a few things.” He grinned and backed away from the door, letting let us past.

The room was a cluttered mess of papers, pencils, radio equipment and tools; In the corner sat a small cage with a small blue blob inside. Ace and I approached cautiously as Snake Eyes picked up a number of tools and put them inside a discarded saddlebag. The blob seemed to twitch as we got closer and out poked the tiny head of a colt who seemed unharmed.

“Mommy?” he asked through bleary eyes. “You're not mommy...” he put his head back down before his eyes went wide, “Are you here to help me?” bounced to his hooves.

“Sure are, kid.” I said with a smile. I could hear Snake Eyes mumble 'he speaks' under his breath, I shot him a glare and immediately regretted it as he smiled back at me through a dilapidated muzzle. Creepy. “Ace, get the cage door.”

“Sure thing, boss.” She said with a smirk and began picking the lock.

“One thing I ain’t so good at,” Snake Eyes nickered from behind me, making me jump, “Is lock picking. Hacking and just about anything technological on the other hoof...”

Ace was taking her time picking the lock so I took some time to examine this 'ghoul', I had never even heard of one before, let alone seen one. Snake Eyes was like a walking corpse, his skin was flayed and cracked and only parts of his dark gray mane remained, fortunately his small mustache had somehow survived, giving him a slight not-so-dead look. His coat was a patchy light gray and had a revolver with a snake coiled around the grip for a cutie mark, slightly distorted through the rotted skin and flesh.

Finally Ace opened the cage, and the colt sprinted out and wrapped himself around my leg. Ace chuckled as he looked up at me.

“Thank you.” He said with wide, adorable eyes. I gave him a pat on the back as I looked at Ace.

“Objective one...” I nickered. She went from chuckling to silence.

“Objectives?” Snake Eyes asked, “You ponies mercs?”

“No. Objective one, get the child out of here. Objective two-”

“Kill psycho bitch.” Ace said, finishing my sentence.

“You're going to try and kill that thing controlling the dish? She's loco, claims to kill with her thoughts. At least, one of them does...”

“One of them?” I spluttered, “There's more than one up there?!”

“Well...yes and no.”

“You'd better start making sense soon, or you're going to be deader than you look.” Ace threatened. The colt hid behind me from the scary mare.

Snake Eyes raised his hooves, “Okay, okay! It seems that its not just one pony in that pony but a bunch. Could be two, could be more, I never really wanted to find out.” and I thought I was nuts. “Got a plan?” He finally asked.

“Kinda. Got an armoury?” I asked. Snake Eyes grinned.

We left the prison building after opening the last locked door, which only housed a few skeletons, and trotted to the second building. It was smaller than the prison building and had a much tougher door to get through, considering it was made of metal and intact, but still had a fairly easy lock, nothing Ace couldn't get through.

“Built to withstand a balefire blast but not the skill of the great and powerful Ace!” she called out triumphantly, thumping her chest in glory. I rolled my eyes as we stepped inside.

The building housed the best thing you could find in the wasteland: Weapons. Some stacked high but in horrible condition; rusted and cracked but some still operational. The thing that caught my eye was what was hanging on the back wall. It was the most majestic, mouthwatering, groin twitchingly, awesome rifle I had ever laid eyes on.

“Clove, wipe your chin, and get to looting.” Ace smirked, knocking me out of my stupor; I walked over to the rifle. It was larger than Longshot, the rifle I had customized for so many years, so it had to be mounted on a type of harness mechanism that seemed to go across ones back. I smashed open the display case and hefted it down. It was much heavier than my old rifle; I loved it.

I strapped the rifle onto my back and the harness mechanism immediately started humming and buzzing as the rifle positioned itself beside me and it's scope swung over my eye. It was a bit unconformable, but I would get used to it. I flicked a switch on the harness and the scope retracted back to the rifle and the rifle swung onto my back. The weight felt good on my back, It felt like I actually had a rifle now, and not a toy BB gun.

“Anything good?” I asked as I approached Ace, who was muzzle deep in a large box. She pulled out several pieces of junk; scrap metal, some electronics, some spark batteries and some wonderglue. Nothing special.

“Nothing useful at the moment but this stuff will defiantly sell.” she chuckled, triumphantly. I could hear Snake Eyes muttering while ransacking several cupboards and boxes, throwing the stuff we could sell out of the way, searching for something in particular.

“AHA!” he shouted as his chipped horn started glowing and he levitated an impressive magnum out of the bottom of a box, “Bull Stopper.” he said before he kissed it. Weeeeirdo.

“So anything that can deal any damage?” I asked right as Ace opened a small cylindrical box, squealing with glee. I peeked into the box, and inside were three disks with Better Wiped than Striped written on them.

“Watch it, those things are extremely dangerous...” Snake Eyes said as he backed away, slowly.

“Duh, they're mines, of course they're dangerous.” Ace said.

“Yes, but those are designed to blow up tanks.” Snake Eyes said, “And they are quite unstable.”

“Why might that be?” Ace smirked as she spun one in the air with her magic.

“Because they have a slight tendency to negate their safety measures and explode.”

“Explode?” my ears perked up. I like explosions.

“Explode.” Snake Eyes repeated with a nod.

“The plan just got a whole lot better,” I grinned. “You know your way around the command center?” Snake Eyes nodded. I looked at the junk Ace was piling up in a crate and spotted the wonderglue. “Good.”

The colt looked at me with a puzzled look. “But first. We need Knick Knack.”

Finding Knick Knack was not hard with my EFS and the fact that he was not too far away. What we were about to try and do was far too dangerous to take a colt along with us, so we asked Knick Knack to take him down to Stitches and Purple Haze along with the box of salvage. He was reluctant but did it anyway.

We stood outside the communications command building. It was a huge square concrete building sticking out of the mountain face with a large dish on top. Apparently, the crazy alicorn that resided here never leaves the main control room, which made our job easier.

“Everyone know what to do?” I asked.

“You made that plan up on the fly, didn’t you?” Ace nickered.

“Um...well...mostly...” Ace gave me one of her stern looks. “Well I had most of it planned out...kinda. It was mostly reliant on explosives...” she continued her stare. “Well we've got a plan now, alright?” she rolled her eyes.

“Forgive me for interrupting, but are we going in there or are you two going to start kissing or something?” Snake Eyes said, breaking the tension. Ace went wide-eyed before laughing. I stood dumb struck, as always.

“Come on, lets go.” Ace sighed after composing herself, wiping a tear from her eye. Through the great metal doors we went.

The inside of the command center was dusty and smelled of age; The walls were gray and grimy. There was a large portrait at the end of the hall of two alicorns, standing side by side, their faces scratched off. Most of the painting was deteriorated and covered in dust except for the some fresh scratchings underneath reading: “The Goddess commands me”.

“Those are the princesses and former rulers of Equestria before the bombs.” Snake Eyes said. “Never really met them as myself.”

“Not as yourself?” Ace asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

“Ah, that is a tale for another time.”

“You're an enigmatic little bastard aren’t you?” I asked.

“My life is an open book, granted the pages are scorched and falling out, but still open, its just not the time for my ramblings of the past.”

“Right...best get to work.” I said, regaining focus on the mission.

We parted ways at the end of the hallway, Ace and I turned left and headed for the command center while Snake Eyes headed right. My EFS was still clear when we rounded the corner before we heard voices.

“Get the ghoul!”

“NO! I will not let you use him any longer!”

“The Goddess waits for no pony. He will fix the dish or die trying!”

“Why do we have to talk to the goddess? Can't you see we are better off without her?”

“BLASPHEMY! The unity needs our assistance. GET THE GHOUL!”

What followed was a series of banging and crashing. Ace looked at me with a expression that said 'what the hell?' I returned the look before poking my head around the corner to see a blue alicorn smashing its head against a table but what struck me as odd was that it had a cutie mark that seemed to flicker. I flicked a switch on my harness and approached the alicorn.

“Stop! Get away! Quickly!” It screamed as its head shot up, staring at me through beautiful blue eyes before I could take a shot. It flailed around the room suddenly, clutching its head. The alicorn hit a wall and stared at me again; Its eyes were starting to go from blue to a sickly green before it grinned.

“Should have ran, ponies. You should have ran.” it laughed before picking up a nearby table with its telekinesis and flinging it at us. I quickly dove to the ground as the great hunk of wood flew past, just grazing the tip of my mane.

“And so it begins. Snake Eyes, you'd better hurry...” I muttered to myself. I disengaged my new rifle and plucked my .45 out of its holster, ramming in a fresh magazine. I took a peek around the corner to see the alicorn shoot off a bolt of lightning. It whizzed past me, making the grime that had set around my face crackle.

“Fucking hell!” Ace shouted, “How are we going to do this?”

“Simple. Hold it off and wait for the signal!” I called back.

The alicorn started to march through the room to where we had taken cover, shooting lightning with each hoof fall. Ace was firing blindly out of cover but to no avail, the shield was too powerful.

“We have to move!” she shouted between shots.

“You first! I'll cover you!” I sprang up after a bolt flew over my head and fired off four bullets in quick succession before I ducked down again. Ace was staring at me with her big brown eyes. “Get going!” I shouted as I gave her a small tap before I jumped out of cover again, firing off the rest of my mag. Thankfully Ace got the picture, left cover and darted out of the room.

second bolt, 2...3...4, third bolt. 2...3...4, fourth bolt. Now! I jumped out of cover and galloped to the door but a table beat me to it. Well not exactly, considering it had taken me with it. I slammed against the wall outside the door.

“Fucking run!” I shouted as I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the pain along my back, and jumped out of the way. A large machine smashed into the space I had just vacated with a dull crunch that shook the floor beneath my hooves. We ran through another door into a large room, laden with chairs and tables. We proceeded to move the tables in front of the door and waited.

Thump...thump...thump...

we dove behind a counter and readied weapons. Ace poked her shotgun over the side of the counter while I lay prone next to it. I really liked my rifle, it would have been too heavy for me just to grip with my mouth and shoulder but the harness made up for the additional weight.

Thump...thump...thump

Ace trembled beside me, breathing heavily.

Thump...THUMP...THUMP

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Calm down...I thought to myself, and willed myself to stop shaking. All I could hear now was my heart beating. The thumping on the door stopped.

Silence. The one thing we didn't want to hear. I could see the sweat dripping off of Ace's brow.

“Take a deep bre-”

SMASH

The barricade came down in a shower of splinters. Ace started firing her shotgun blindly into the smoke as I prepared my shot. I could hear her shots ricocheting off of the alicorn's shield and I heard the crackling of its horn charging up as it came into view.

Part of the shield came down just before the lightning fired. I took my shot. The shield started to come up before my bullet hit home but managed to ricochet off the closing shield into the Alicorn’s shin. The alicorn stood shakily on its bloody leg, glaring at me.

“well...shit...” I muttered before the alicorn picked up the counter.

“Look out!” Ace shouted as she dove out of the way. If I had thought of that, I wouldn't have been smacked in the face and almost crushed beneath the counter. If I had thought of that...

My head felt like it was split open and I could taste the blood. I managed to open my eyes just enough to see that Ace was still fighting, shot after shot but the only thing she was killing was her ammo reserves. The alicorn grinned as it plucked the shotgun out of Aces levitation field and threw it across the room. Fuck, Ace’s going to die. The alicorn picked her up in its levitation field and threw her across the room, cause Ace to smash through several tables.

She slowly got up, only to be knocked back down by a chair. The alicorn picked her up and held Ace suspended in the air, blood dripped from the field. The alicorn pulled a piece of pipe that extended from the counter I was under, effectively freeing me, and ripped it out. She swung it above her head before connecting it with Ace's cheek.

I felt pain arc across my midsection as I saw that the glass containers my potions and medipacks were in had smashed and stabbed into me. The liquid inside had seeped deeply into what remained of my barding and coat.

The alicorn was going to town on Ace, swing after swing; she did not let up. I wobbled to my feel before trying to charge the alicorn. I managed to get enough momentum to at least get its attention. It dropped Ace into a crumpled heap, she did not move as blood started to stream onto the floor. I felt my heart sink.

I could hear a whirring sound that wasn't my rifle's harness; it came from above. Both the alicorn and I both halted and looked up, the sound increased in volume before it became a deafening screech.

The signal!

I galloped out of the room and went in the direction Snake Eyes had gone. Lighting shot out from behind me as I turned corner after corner. I finally got to the archives where Snake Eyes had put the next stage of out operation into place. I ducked and weaved my way through the shelves as the alicorn entered the room. I hid under a fallen bookshelf.

“Ollie Ollie Oxen Free...” the alicorn purred as it flicked the shelves away like dominoes. I crept out of my little hidey hole and sprinted for a nearby door. I managed to just get through it when the ground exploded beneath me. I choked on the dust as I rolled over and saw the alicorn walking towards me through the door way. It placed its hoof on my chest and its horn was glowing.

“Ever felt poison running through your veins, slowly, painfully killing you?”

Beep

It turned around.

Beep

It looked above the door way behind it to find three disks glued in place.

“Have you ever felt the impact of three anti tank mines? Have a nice day.” I said

“In other words,” a voice boomed over the intercom.

Beep beep

“Adios,”

Beepbeepbeep

“Mother fucker!”

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

“FIRE IN THE HOLE!”

The explosion was deafening. The image of a black alicorn silhouette in front of a white light was burned into my eyes. My body ached as I started to come to; I shook my head to clear my vision. In front of me was the twitching body of the alicorn, its cutie mark still flickering, one of her eyes was green but the other blue. The blue one looked at me as the alicorn mouthed “Thank you.” before Snake Eyes came through the door with his revolver in his levitation field.

The blue eye of the alicorn had gone back to green as it stared down the barrel of the revolver. I couldn't hear much over the ringing in my ears as Snake Eyes said something before pulling the trigger. The alicorns cutie mark flickered one last time before it vanished.

Snake Eyes helped me to my hooves as the ringing started to subside.

“...and another thing, that was too lucky that the alicorn still had its shield up or you'd be cut to itty bitty pieces! I mean, just look at the doorway, amigo!” the doorway was completely blown apart. I finally got a stable footing before I raced out of the room and down the hallway.

“Where you going?” Snake Eyes called after me.

I didn't listen. Only one thing was in my mind.

Ace.

I screeched to a halt beside Ace and pulled her out of the smashed table, she was lying in a small pool of her own blood. It did not look good, her face was swollen and bruised, blood flooded her face.

“Come on, Ace! Wake up!” I shouted as I lifted her head. No response. “Come on! I can’t loose you!” I yelled. Still nothing. “Why did you have to be the one to get hurt?” tears welled in my eyes. “You’re the closest thing i have to a friend! Hell, you are my friend! Don't you die on me!”

“Okay...” She whispered in a tiny, hoarse voice. She cracked her eyes partly open and looked into mine. “...I'll try...not...” she closed her eyes again, but she was still breathing.

“Uh, boss?” Snake Eyes said as he appeared behind me, “I dunno if you realise this but that alicorn may have rigged this place to blow in the event of her death... as in, any second now...”

“I'm getting you out of here and back to Stitches.” I said as I hefted Ace onto my back. I heard a dull thump from above us, followed by more thumps from all around.

“Let’s get outta here!” Snake Eyes shouted as he darted off.

I galloped after him as the room we had just vacated exploded, sending cement chips and splinters flying all around me. I heard Ace groan on my back. Just around the corner and we were home free. Snake Eyes flew ahead of me as we passed the last corner. He leaped out the door.

Just a few more steps and... as luck would have it, the floor fell from beneath me, just a few hoof beats from the door, I managed to barely leap off of the falling floor and get one hoof out of the door and grabbed the edge while my other foreleg was wrapped around a bloody Ace. I was going to fall into the seemingly bottomless cavern under the facility. Even the basement had collapsed. More rumbles shook the entire building as fire erupted from the upper floors.

Either I let go of Ace and save myself or we bother perish.

“let go.” the voice said in my head.

“Fuck that!” I yelled as I tightened my grip around the edge of the door frame I had managed to grab. I was losing my grip on Ace; It was time to make the decision. I let go of the door frame, maybe we would survive the fall...

“Oh no you don't!” a voice called out from above as my hoof caught something, I looked up to see Snake Eyes grinning back at me through his cracked teeth. I would have vomited if I wasn't about to die. His horn flickered before lighting up, making us a bit lighter as he tried to lift us out of the hole. Even with rumbles shaking the building, he had remarkable focus.

He finally lifted us out of the hole and I hefted Ace onto my back again, and without a minute’s notice, We galloped for the crater, good timing too as the building exploded behind us, I didn't bother even looking at this explosion. Ace needed help more than I needed to watch the glorious fires of a detonation.

We had no time to take the winding road down, it was time for me to learn how to fly. I looked down the relatively steep hill. Was I really about to do this? Ace groaned before coughing up blood on my leather coat.

Fuck it. I jumped off the side and skidded down the mountain. I could feel my hooves burning and gradually chipping away. I landed with a thud on the road we had fought the alicorns on and I got burned.

I sprinted down the road, both my blood and Aces blood dripping from my hooves with each hoof fall. It was painful but I kept going, I wasn't going to let my only friend out here die. Not while I still drew breath.

I passed the area we had outsmarted the alicorns and I almost took my first flying lesson without wings. The smashed corpses of alicorns littered the area. Obviously Knick Knack didn't like these alicorns much either.

We finally got back to Stitches and I gently placed Ace on the ground before him.

“By Celestia...What the hell happened?!” He gasped, immediately gathering his supplies.

“Alicorns are toughies, and explosions are not as fun as I thought.” I said as I procured some healing bandages from Stitches' saddlebag. “Please, tell me she will be okay.”

“This is significant damage, she's barely conscious as it is. I can try and get her stable but I wont be able to do anything more with out proper supplies or environment. Haze was lucky it was just only a leg injury she had.”

“There's a small clinic in Rust,” Purple Haze said as she helped me get the bandages around my hooves. Her leg was looking a lot better. “and it is just beyond the tunnel down the road.” I got to my hooves, as painful as it was to do so.

“Lets go then!” I said, picking up both mine and Ace's saddle bags before trotting in place.

“I'm surprised you got her down here in one piece, if we plan on moving her now I should get herready to be moved. Give me a minute.”

It was the longest minute of my life. I watched as the colt ran between his mother and Knick Knack, who had somehow managed to gain the trust of the mother and colt. I watched as the clouds started to turn darker and darker; A very light drizzle had started to come down.

“Okay, that ought to do it for now, lets not waste anytime getting her to that clinic.” Stitches said as he picked up his saddlebag. Stitches helped me pick up Ace and gently place her on my back. My legs were killing me with the weight, but an unknown force seemed to be driving me, allowing me to keep going, a force that seemed to strengthen with each impact from the pipe as it hit Ace, it felt like the rage I showed when I tried to fight the legion pony, but different.

“What the hell, kid?” Snake Eyes said as he finally caught up, “Since when is surfing down a mountain on your hooves a good idea?”

I looked at Ace and back to him. “Anything is a good idea when a friend is in need.” and I sprinted off for the tunnel, quickly followed by Knick knack carrying Purple Haze and her colt, then Stitches.

“Mi diosa...” Snake Eyes muttered before galloping after us.

The tunnel had seen better days. Carts were left to rot where they stood, some crashed into each other, some with skeletons still hanging over the sides. For a route taken by probably hundreds of ponies, it was still as desolate as if the bombs had only just fell.

Did I care at this point? No. I ran straight through the bones, managing to barely miss them as I thundered past. Blood was staining my bandages as I galloped along, causing me to cringe with each step. Some healing bandages those were turning out to be. I'm sure that if Ace was up and about, she would be going through each and every cart or chariot in search of any valuable goods. I looked over my shoulder to see Knick Knack still holding onto the box of goodies we had gathered up on the mountain.

I burst out of the tunnel and felt the rain gently falling on my face. Knick Knack appeared at my side.

“Well, for a pony, you sure are fast.” Knick Knack said as he caught his breath. Running with a mare, a colt, and a box of junk must have been tiring.

“Rust is just down the road.” Haze said. I looked at my comrades and darted off again, followed by the thundering choir of several pairs of hooves behind me. The relief I felt when I saw a makeshift sign with ‘Rust’ scratched on it was great, but my heart quickly sunk when I saw smoke rising from the nearby town. At least, I thought it was a town, the large jury-rigged wall spanning around it obstructed my view.

I screeched to a halt outside the large door to Rust before a bullet ricocheted off the metal walls. I looked up to see a pony in sunglasses looking back at me through a sniper scope.

“Let me in!” I shouted up at him, banging on the gate. He aimed down the scope but didn't shoot. My entourage caught up to me and looked at the sniper, he moved his eye from the scope as another pony walked up behind him. They both stared at us before the new pony whispered something. The sniper nodded and they both disappeared. I heard shouting before the large metal door started to open.

“Who are you?” The new pony said from under his large top-hat.

“Doesn't matter right now, we need immediate medical assistance!” I took a step into the town. I figured out that was a big mistake after I found myself at the end of a sniper barrel. The sniper pony had smaller sniper to my new one so he didn’t need a harness like mine. I couldn't tell if that was a good thing or not...

“Again, Who are you?”

“Travelers, now please, some medical help?”

“A likely story. You're a raider spy, and that's a bomb, isn’t it? Come to finish the job, eh?” He bellowed. I was going to object before Purple Haze spoke up.

“You're right, these aren't travelers, they saved me and my son, blew up where the alicorns had set up shop and got us back here, even thealicorn helped. They are bloody heroes, now if you will excuse us. The clinic is this way.” She said as she pointed into the town. We trotted after Knick Knack as she guided him. The top-hat pony glared at us.

“Just watch it kid, if it wasn't for Haze, I would have gunned you down on the spot.” He hissed as we trotted past.

Rust was in bad shape. There was blood on the dirt and walls along with bullet holes and scorch marks. Haze's eyes widened as we passed the scenes of carnage but still gave Knick directions. We stopped outside a larger building and we trotted inside.

There was two doctors and three nurses but ten of the twelve hospital beds were occupied by ponies old and young. Each in significant pain.

“Come, put that one here.” A nurse said and pointed to Ace. I walked over to her, followed by Stitches and Purple Haze.

“What the hell happened here?!” Haze asked.

“Miss Haze, the raiders in the old factory came for us. Five are dead, no, desecrated, and these ten were injured in the fight. We could use your help, mister...uh...”

“Clover” I said as I softly put Ace onto the bed, which was hard to do with hooves. Purple went back to the group as the top-hat pony came in.

“We had to suspect you of being a raider with the recent attack. I am mayor Driftwood. Welcome to what is left of Rust.” the top-hat pony said, obviously calmed down. Purple stared out of the window at Knick Knack and her colt, mixed emotions washing over her face.

I was helping the nurse clean Ace's wounds as Stitches talked with one of the doctors about getting the needed supplies. “This brings me to my next point. The creature you brought with you is starting to... at a lack of a better word, panic the rest of the town. May I ask you to get it to stay outside the gates?” I looked a him and then to Knick Knack. I looked back at Ace's bloody face, sighed and walked out to Knick Knack..

“Knick Knack, it appears you are unwelcome here.” I said. “I want you to stay but these people don't want any of it. Can I ask you to stay outside the gate?”

“Don't worry about me. I was planning on going to my shack afterward anyway. I guess I will just head back there now.”

“Why?”

“Because the broadcast might have attracted more alicorns and I want to send them to the alicorn refuge in the northern mountains.”

“I suppose. Its been nice meeting you, Knick Knack.” I said as I raised a bloody hoof. He shook it like any regular pony would.

“I doubt this will be the last time, Clover.” he said before walking to the gate. I watched the alicorn leave our company; he was possibly the only reason we are still alive, but what had he meant by not being the last time we meet? I cut that thought short as I turned and walked back into the clinic.

“What did you mean by 'desecrated'?” I asked the nurse. She winced as she pointed through the door to the bar across the street. I walked outside into the rain and entered the bar.

The scene was something I was completely not ready for. I had seen a pony's head blasted apart but I had never seen a two completely dismembered bodies lying on top of each other, obviously forced to partake in intimacy before being massacred. The other bodies weren't any prettier, the head of a unicorn mare had been ripped off and shoved inside its own back side as its intestines dangled from a table. The last two had been hung by each others entrails. My jaw was on the floor and tears rolled down my cheeks, I raised a bloody hoof to my face to keep from vomiting. I didn't want to look but I couldn't walk away.

“Beheading is a step down from raider work.” I remember Ace saying. The strength I had been feeling since the communications array started to boil inside of me, raising me to new heights. The corners of my vision started turning red. I could hear the faintest chuckle, like it was miles away.

“Its a sad sight, isn’t it?” Driftwood sighed from outside. Sad? Try traumatizing, disgusting, but above all, rage inducing.

“These raiders are going to fucking pay.” I growled. Driftwood stumbled back and almost fell into the puddles that were starting to form.

“Your eyes...” He stammered. I looked into a puddle and noticed the corners of my vision was starting to go a bright red. The eyes in the reflection turned completely red before grinning at me. I kicked at the puddle, sending water in all directions.

“I'm fine.” I muttered. “Where are the raiders?”

“uh, um, right, come with me...” Driftwood stammered as he led me back into the clinic and up the stairs. The nurse had hooked Ace up to a machine that was beeping at a constant speed. I gathered that as good as Stitches looked up from his bloody tools and gave me a small nod. I followed Driftwood up four flights of stairs to the roof. We looked over the rusty walls of the small town; About a kilometer from the town was a large building.

“Crab Apple Guns West. The factory of one of the biggest gun manufacturer out west. The Raiders pitched up there about a week ago. We've been watching them, but they caught us off guard but we managed to kill a few before they ran off, claiming they would be back. So you understand my suspicions.”

“How many are there still alive?” I asked, not looking away from the building.

“About fifteen attacked, but we have no idea how man-” The Bit dropped, “You're going after them, aren't you? By the goddesses, are you crazy?!” I gave him a cold, dark gaze. The red around my eyes intensified. “You are absolutely nuts aren't you?”

“Getting there.”

“You can't...how can... WHAT?!” I stared at him, “You are scary... If you do manage to avoid their snipers, watch your fire. They took the children and their teacher straight out of the schoolhouse before they burnt it down.” I felt a small impact inside at that before my vision flickered red and went back to normal.

“Get me the ghoul.” I said

“Ah, yes, the ghoul. We need to talk about him.” I gave him an even scarier gaze. “But...it can wait.” he said with a sheepish grin, before fleeing down the stairs. Some mayor, he had the courage of a filly.

A few minutes later, Snake Eyes trotted up the stairs. “You wanted to see me, boss?”

“Why did you follow us?” I asked.

“Uh, well, I gathered that you saved me, so I guess I owe you one.”

“Good, because I'm cashing in. I'm going to assault that raider nest, and you're going to help me.”

“Mi diosa, are you serious?!” I nodded. “Serves me right for not playing dead... got a plan?”

“Come back in half an hour.” and with that, he left down the stairs.

I looked to the factory through the increasing drizzle, thunder rumbled in the distance. A plan was starting to form.

Thirty long minutes had passed. I could hear the faint hammering and shouts as ponies repaired their town and the familiar sound of Snake Eyes trotting up the stairs behind me. I did not shift my sight from the factory.

“Hey, amigo, you been out in the rain all this time?” It was true that I had been in the rain, and my mane slumping over my brow proved that. I did not move. “Uh...okay then...you got a plan?”

I looked at him; he froze solid. I grinned. “Eyup.”

I passed him and walked down the stairs. I could hear Snake mutter “What the fuck was that all about...?” from the top of the stairs. My hooves ached, my head hurt and my stomach felt like it was tied in a knot. Did I fucking care? Fuck no, I felt strong and ready to take on anything. These raiders had done something no pony could ever even think of; They were animals and had to be put down.

I walked into the clinic. Two ponies had sheets over their heads, and only two were awake and writhing in pain. Ace was still hooked up to the machine but had a bandage around her head. Her bloody leather barding was crumpled in a heap beside her bed. I sat down beside her and watched the machine beeping.

“Ace... If I don't make it back... thank you for everything you've done for me. You saved my life more than once. I just wish I hadn't got you into this mess.” I put my hoof on hers. She didn't move. “You're the best friend anyone could ever hope for.”

“She's unconscious, but stable.” Stitches said softly as he appeared behind me. I looked up at him. “Now, I hear you're going to try and wipe out those raiders?” I nodded “Of course you are... well I have no more supplies at the moment and the clinic needs all it has. Just know that you are on your own.” I looked at Ace one last time and got up. I started walking towards the door. “One last thing, the sniper heard the rumors of you wanting to take on the raiders and wants to talk to you.”

I nodded. Snake Eyes was waiting by the door.

“Looks like the sky is about to burst, friend. Best get going sooner rather than later.”

We needed to make one last stop.

The sniper had set up in a large makeshift watch post, overlooking the main door way. He had his sniper mounted on a bipod, around him were ammo crates, some open, some locked. There were some pictures nailed to the walls, some framed, like a picture of, from what I could gather, the sniper from when he was younger, a mare and a small baby unicorn. Some of the pictures were just on scraps of paper.

One really stood out, it was a child's drawing of two ponies, one was a tall unicorn and wore a green blob on its head and the other was a small turquoise unicorn with a blue ribbon in its mane. “Me and daddy” was written on the side.

“That's me and my daughter.” The sniper said as he watched me. “The photo is my wife and I after Jade was born. She was killed by slavers a while back, now its just me and Jade here in Rust.”

“What happened to the slavers?” was my first question. More ponies that should be dead?

“I hunted down each and every one of them.” That works too, “I hear you're going after the raiders?” I nodded. “I'm coming with you.”

“What? Why would you want to go?” hell, why did I want to go? The images of the bar flashed in my head. Oh yeah, that.

“Jade went to school today...” fuck, “...she still hasn't come home.” double fuck. That's it, the raiders are going to be nothing but mush.

“I've got a plan...” I began but he just got up, gathered his sniper and opened a large ammo box. Inside were some brown camouflaged sheets, one of which he handed me. He put on a green beret with a bear skull symbol on the front, looked at me through his sunglasses and lit a cigar.

“Time to rock and roll.”

The sniper, who I had come to know as Drop Shot, Snake Eyes and myself walked in the pouring rain to a position I had marked on my map. After a few years of hunting out on the Apple Plains you tend to know what is and what isn’t a good place to sit and wait for your targets.

The position I had chosen was about five hundred meters from the factory and covered in desert shrub and rocks. My luck was starting to look up, even the storm had reached us; the sky was dark and ominous as flashes of light illuminated the sky, followed by crashes of thunder that were getting louder with each flash, over powering the slashing of the heavy rain as it splashed down form the heavens above. Everything was going according to plan.

Snake Eyes brushed what was left of his mane out of the way before peering through the binoculars between two large rocks. Drop Shot and I took up positions on either side and covered ourselves with the camouflaged sheets. If they had snipers then the sheets would come in great use. I flicked the switch on my harness and the rifle swung forward and planted itself against my shoulder. I steadied the gun by placing a hoof under the rifle's forearm, just before the barrel. We waited for Snake Eyes to spot the raiders and confirm our count. The factory was a large rectangular building with three guard towers and a long fence, light illuminated every inch of the yard around the complex.

“Let's see... we've got three possible snipers in those towers,” Snake Eyes whispered, “three on the roof... two by the front gate...two by the main door...one having a smoke in the shelter by the side...and two...getting down and dirty out the back. I guess that makes thirteen. Might I recommend the towers first?” My thoughts exactly.

“I've got the back left.” Drop Shot nickered as he shifted to get a better shot. He had set up hit bipod for better stability. I took aim at the pony in the front left tower. We waited for the right time. The red around my vision had intensified, my grip on the rifle grew stronger. The power manifesting inside of me was awesome.

FLASH

wait for it....

The sound of righteous thunder filled the night air over the sound of the torrential rain, canceling out the sound of two rifle shots. The front of the camo sheet flew up as my rifle blasted out a cleansing bullet aimed directly at the wasteland scum that was a raider. I watched the two ponies in the towers fall out of sight. The others were none the wiser.

“Ha ha! Take that, pendejo!” Snake Eyes shouted under his breath triumphantly as he punched the air with a hoof. “Two down, eleven to go. One tower left.”

“I got smokey in my cross hairs. You got the tower?” Drop Shot asked. I gave him the go ahead. And so the waiting began.

The flash and thunder was epic. So was our aim. Simultaneously, the pony in the tower and the pony having a smoke slumped down, lifeless. Both with large red holes in their head. The wall of the factory was sprayed red. No pony noticed.

“Well what do you know?” Drop Shot asked, “Smoking really does kill!” I chuckled.

“So roof or the two making the beast with two backs?” Snake Eyes asked. We went for the beast forming raider couple. We shifted right. It wasn't exactly a pretty sight, both of the ponies were extremely dirty and certainly weren't pretty.

“I got the one on top.” I said. Drop Shot aimed for the one underneath.

We waited and watched for about twenty seconds before the next flash of lightning. If my stomach wasn't empty, I would have thrown up copious amounts.

A Flash of lighting tore through the sky as the pony on top reared his head back in climax, only to have it torn up during the thunder. Both of the ponies fell to their sides, blood mixing with their own bodily fluids. I quickly shifted to the three ponies on the roof. One hung back in the shadows of the roof access, leaning against the wall. It didn't have the same standard uniform as the other raiders. Instead it had a long brown leather coat, similar to mine, and a wide brimmed hat. The shadow of the hat obscured the face, all I could see was the cigarette handing out of its mouth.

It flicked away the cigarette and walked to the others.

“I got the one with the hat.” Drop Shot whispered.

“Hold up, lets see what happens. I can't take two ponies out with one bullet.” I insisted. Drop Shot reluctantly agreed. We tracked the hatted pony as it slowly marched towards the raiders; The raiders turned and went for their weapons. The hatted pony, as quick as the lightning, got up on with hind legs and smashed both the raider's heads together. They slumped to the roofs surface behind a low wall. The hatted pony got back on all fours and pulled out a pistol with a long barrel. It fired two bullets into the ground where I presumed the heads where, I could only see a puff of smoke from the barrel, I heard nothing. The pony looked in our direction, gave a wave and jumped over the opposite side of the building.

“Did...you guys just see that?” Drop Shot asked.

“um...yeah...” I mumbled. What the fuck just happened? I had no idea, I was dumbstruck.

“Okay then, front door.” Snake Eyes brought us back to the mission at hand.

“Got the one on the right.” Drop shot said.

“Guess that leaves me with the left one.” I sighed as I took aim. The pony in my sights was wearing an odd helmet, it was leather with the skull of a small animal tied on top.

Flash

“Hat...” I said as I clamped down on the grip. Thunder cracked and I pulled the trigger. His helmet flew off in a shower of red as the top of his head was blown to pieces. “...no hat.”

“Nice shot.” Snake Eyes said. “Just two more.” The last two were standing under a small shelter, they seemed to have one brain cell between them. Drop Shot went right, I went left. We took are shots on cue. The one on the right's head exploded.

“Standing around like a bloody idiot.” Drop Shot muttered. We had successfully taken out the sentries without raising the alarm. For me, this was an achievement. The rain didn't seem to want to let up. “Phase two, eh?”

“yup.” I said. Snake Eyes picked his rotting self up and dusted himself off. Which seemed futile giving the rain.

“Let's load and lock and roll and rock.” Drop Shot said as he re lit his cigar.

Snake Eyes and I made our way to the factory as Drop Shot disappeared.

The power that had been building inside me made me feel epic, godly even. What would have happened if I hadn't had this power? Ace might have died of either blood loss or shock at Black Mountain, I would have broke down and died at the bar and I certainly wouldn't have had the courage to go down to the factory and start killing ponies. No, they weren't ponies, they were animals, I had already established that but it still felt odd, the thought of killing a pony felt good. It felt satisfying to bring down an unsuspecting pony with a single shot as his compatriots stood idly by.

We approached as carefully as possible, trudging through the thick paste that was the soaked mud and sand. The factory wasn't very big but it wasn't small either, the only ways in was the roof, the main doors and the office windows.

I hefted Snake Eyes through the office window and he helped pull me in. The office had been untouched by the raiders, papers still littered the desk and floor and were covered in dust. There was a skeleton in the corner clutching a faded photo, the best I could make out of the photo was that it was of a pony, maybe a loved one? Probably long dead by that point. Something did catch my eye though, on top of one of the desks was a small parcel with a note, reading 'Sgt Black Sword left this behind, I'm going to send it back to him on monday, have a nice weekend.' I picked it up and shoved it in my pocket. Might be useful, plus the pony in question was dead. Probably.

I followed Snake Eyes up the stairs to the observation room, I gasped in horror when I peered out. Hanging from the walls were skinned ponies, all set in decorative poses. Dead ponies were everywhere, in the machinery, on the walls, hanging from the ceiling, not only ponies but I spotted two decimated corpses of griffins. Blood covered every surface, I could hear shouting and laughing from behind a bunch of machines, piled up on top of each other, possibly to make room on the factory floor. Some machines were working, munching and pulverising pony bodies. My head pounded and with each pound the red around my vision flared and grew. What the hell is happening?
.

“Okay, I'm going to go find the main control room, you go and find the captives.” Snake Eyes said as he disappeared through a door. I walked back down the stairs and opened the door. I could see the shadows of unicorns playing a game of cards at a table, illuminated by a fire in one of the machines. I listened in on their conversation.

“Where the hell are Red Grip and Wraith Scar and their guys?” one said

“Red Grip's guys went on a raid and Wraith Scar is still after that griffin kid.” said another

“Fucking hell, that kid flew faster than I thought!” a mare said.

“Yeah, well, I'm sure Wraith Scar will get her, mate. Fuckin' oath, he's a good shot.” said a fourth in an accent I hadn't heard before.

“Snap!” a fifth voice said.

“We're playin’ poker, you stupid twat.”

“Oh, I'm sorry, I thought we were playing snooker.” the fifth one said. Followed by a gun shot.

“Fuckin' idiot.” the fourth one said, the fifth one's shadow collapsed to the floor. My head was killing me but I now realized that I could fire my gun here and nopony would care. Neat.

“Right, I'm gonna go hit the head, touch my chips and die.” the mare said and got up. That left three at the table. Another got up and went out of sight. The other two started their game and started another conversation.

“So what is the boss going to do about those kids?”

“That's easy, mate. He's going to ram each of them when he's done with that mare, pass them around, then kill or sell them. Simple, eh?”

“I've got my eye on that one with the blue ribbon. She looks tighter than a-”

Fuck this, I grabbed my pistol and turned the corner and slid into SATS. The frozen faces of the ponies were still buried in their cards. I picked my targets and took the shots. Both of the ponies fell to the floor.

“That will teach you for cheating, dick head!” I called out, trying to mimic the raider’s voice, just in case the shots attracted attention. No pony came around the corner.

How was I able to kill these ponies and not feel anything? I peeked around the corner of the machine to a terrible sight. A large pony was mounted on a pink mare with a ruler as a cutie mark, she was crying beneath the large, grunting pony. My head pounded harder and harder. In front of them was a cage full of young colts and fillies. The pony was raping the mare right in front of the children as the other raiders around them laughed and shouted.

The world flashed around me, I saw Double Down laughing over the body of Shamrock.

“No.” I whispered

Flash! The vision changed to me pounding the head of the bandit.

“No.” I said.

Flash! In front of me was the body of a filly, shredded from hound jaws. Each sound in the factory, each sob, grunt and laugh brought a new vision, each more horrible than the last. I held my head with my hooves. Give in! The voice in my head said.

“NO!” I shouted.

Flash! The vision of Ace being hit over and over again by the alicorn, Flash! The vision of the alicorn standing over me, FLASH! The vision of the bar.

I heard a deep chuckling, I opened my eyes to find my self around the corner, a deep red tint over my eyes. I was the one chuckling and I couldn't stop, I was grinning much more than any pony should be physically able to, I couldn't control myself, an almost unnoticeable black mist was seeping from my cuts and scars. Every eye on the factory floor was on me. Even the boss had stopped to stare.

“Who the fuck is he?” The boss shouted.

“Oh that's simple, sir.” I said in a voice that wasn't mine, but oh so familiar. “I'm you're worst nightmare.”

The power building inside of me had erupted. The power of Trailblaze.

I...Trailblaze...Pulled out my knife and sprinted at the boss, at the last second we turned and bucked the boss bastard in the head, the power of Trailblaze had boosted my strength, allowing me to smash the boss's head to pieces. In same movement, we jumped onto the boss's body and pounced at the nearest raider, and cut his head in two. Bullets started flying. We were still grinning.

“What's happening?!” I silently screamed.

“Sit back and relax.” Trailblaze said.

A bullet tore through my ear, clipping the tip, blood started dripping down my face. It hurt like a bitch but Trailblaze grinned even harder. I felt the power surge through me as we ran at the pony who had taken the shot. We managed to grab him by the barding and swung him around. We hit three approaching raiders and threw the raider through the air, he landed inside one of the working machines and was smashed pieces. Three bullets tore into my leg, but we didn't falter, we turned.

“That didn't hurt.” Trailblaze grinned. The raiders shat themsleves.

We threw the knife at the nearest raider, It jammed itself in his throat, he clutched his neck as another raider watched in awe. Trailblaze pounced, grabbed the knife, pushed off of the raider and shoved the knife into his comrade's head. Both fell to the floor. The remaining raiders were running at us with melee weapons, intent on pulverizing me.

We ran straight at them, ducking and weaving under swinging weapons, making quick slashes and stabs as we passed. Three raiders fell as their insides fell from long gashes in their abdomen. We turned to find ourselves surrounded by raiders. Trailblaze laughed as all of the raiders armed their guns and took aim.

“FIRE!” one yelled; They pulled their triggers. What did Trailblaze and I do? We ducked, of course. Several of the raiders slumped to the ground, felled by their comrades weapons. The remainder of the raiders looked around and tried to run. Trailblaze pulled out my pistol and gunned them down.

We stood in the middle of a bloody mess, breathing heavily. Even Trailblaze had stopped grinning. A door swung open behind us and the two raiders from the card came through, chatting about something or other. They stopped and went wide eyed. They stared at me, my bloody, bullet ridden leather coat, lying in a pool of blood, my ripped and burnt stable barding hanging from my torso, blood pouring from my torn ear and leg. I was silently screaming in pain while Trailblaze didn't feel a thing. We stared back at them, the air was still, nothing could be heard but the machines, jammed up with raider bits, the whimpering of the captives, the dripping of blood coming from the flayed bodies littering the factory, both from my hooves and the work of raiders.

Trailblaze grinned and threw Silent Reaper in the blink of an eye. It lodged itself in the stallion's head, and he crumpled to a heap. The mare stared at the body, and looked back at us only to find us directly in her face. She staggered back and fell, shuffling to the wall as Trailblaze and I made a slow advance.

“Please, don't kill me! I've got a foal that needs me!” She whimpered.

Trailblaze reloaded the pistol. “Too bad...” he put the barrel between her eyes. “...so sad.”

BANG

Trailblaze and I walked slowly to the cage holding the children, after we pulled the knife out of the stallion's spine through his forehead. Their teacher had huddled up to the bars and was shaking madly. I grinned one more time before my vision cleared and I fell to the floor. My voiced had gone back to normal, the power and strength I was feeling had gone.

The toll of the past day, running, being shell shocked, being burnt, being shot and torn up, hunger and exhaustion all crashed down on me. I steeled myself and was about to try and pick the lock, but there was no lock, just a plate of metal with wires curling around the cage and up to a room on a cat walk.

“Don't touch that thing, unless you want to permanently lock the cage and electrocute anyone nearby.” Snake Eyes said over the load speakers, I certainly didn't want that to happen, especially now that I have just regained control. “Gimme a second I should be able to.. got it!”

The door to the cage swung open and the teacher sprinted in and grabbed her children. Most were crying as she flung her forelegs around them.

“Thank you.” she smiled at me.

“We aren't out of this yet.” I grunted under the pain in my leg as I gestured to the main door. Snake Eyes had opened it from the control room and had come down to meet us. We ushered the children out and we quickly followed (well, as quickly as I could with bullet holes in my leg.)

We spotted Drop Shot leaning against the gate with his forelegs crossed over his chest. He opened them as soon as the little turquoise filly with the blue ribbon ran to him, flinging her self around him screaming “Daddy!”. I couldn’t help but smile.

“You've done good kid.” Drop Shot smiled at me. “Phase three?” I nodded.

We all walked back up to the hill. The rain had let up and the clouds were thinning to reveal a starry sky. Drop Shot pulled out a switch and passed in to me.

“Got a present for ya.”

I stomped on the switch, activating it. The factory windows exploded and the building collapsed in on itself, burying all the horrors under a pile of rubble. Anything inside that could have been useful was jammed with bits of pony, anyway.

“And that was left hoofed.” I chuckled. The children cheered as the building came to a rest; The raiders inside were now gone forever. It felt good to know that a had purged a little bit of the desert wastelands of scum.

We started our march back to Rust.

Raider bodies littered the path to Rust, I told the children not to look but I doubt it would change anything. Some of the raiders had roasted flesh and burnt manes, others had been smashed up or shot. It wasn't a pretty sight, but it brought me joy. I noticed that one of the larger one's pistols had red tape around the grip. Red Grip's guys went on a raid... Glad to see they didn't make it.

We approached the main gate to find Knick Knack and Mayor Driftwood talking. They immediately perked up when they saw us, and Knick Knack put down his hammer and trotted to us.

“I should have known you would survive.” He laughed.

“Good to see you too. Saw your handiwork there. Nice.”

“Yes, well, what does one do when he spies a bunch of raiders from the skies?”

“He took them all on to protect my town, but he won't even let me ask him to stay.” Driftwood said as he trotted up. “He's certainly proven that Rust can trust him, think you could talk some sense into him?”

I staggered before Knick Knack caught me. The pain in my legs and ear were finally catching up to me. Drop Shot came up beside me.

“The kid did well, he needs rest.”

I staggered through the gates and collapsed. Knick Knack picked me up and placed me on his back. The children and their teaching ran into the town square to the arms of loved ones. I sat up on Knick Knacks back as the towns folk cheered for me. I had never felt like this before. I was a bloody hero!

I clambered off of Knick Knack’s back and limped into the clinic. Ace was still out cold, but seemed okay, even with the bandage wrapped around her head. Stitches directed me to the bed next to hers.

“Celestia is really looking down on you. How you managed to survive must have been a gift from the goddesses.” He said. Snake Eyes sat down in a chair and immediately started snoring.

“That, or that I'm just to damn pretty to die.” I smiled. I fell onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling. Even though my ear was split, my legs shot and every part of me hurt like hell, I fell asleep as soon as my eyes closed.

Footnote: Level up!

New perk: “Focus lvl 2” Your marksmanship skill is improving. Taking out baddies through a scope is now becoming your second nature.

Quest perks:

“Wrath of Trailblaze” It seems when Trailblaze comes to play, shit goes down. When active: Melee increases by 50 points, agility +6, strength +6 and endurance +6. You become a runaway train, damn near unstoppable. After the effects wear off however...

“For the team” You never leave a friend behind. Those around you are more likely to trust and respect you.

VERY special thanks to Errantindy for his editing excellence, No One for her awesome help with dramatic effect and the awesome people over on the FoE sidefic protodoc. You guys are awesome.

And Kkat for creating the world I have so gingerly implanted myself into.

Chapter 8: Redemption

“It is his capacity for self-improvement and self-redemption which most distinguishes ponies from mere brutes.”

Waking up after suffering a collapsed lung is a bitch to do, especially when the other one is filled with blood. Apparently getting shot in the chest isn't very fun and takes a few hours and a lot of medical supplies to patch up, and ideally a lot of rest and time to recuperate. Ideally... I guess that's why it was morning by the time I regained consciousness.

I woke up to find an elderly gentlecolt talking with Stitches, who was now sporting bandages around his legs and head. I could hear Ace laughing somewhere nearby along with an unfamiliar giggling. Oh, that's right, we added griffin cub to the team. Good to hear she wasn't crying anymore. And of course the familiar snoring of a mustachioed ghoul. The gangs all here.

“Remind me never to get shot in the chest again.” I rasped as I tried to get up, pain shooting down my entire torso as I took a deep, shuddering breath. Oh, how I've missed you, pain.

“Noted,” Stitches said as he hobbled his way to my side. “You really do enjoy getting shot, don't you?”

“It seems to be a hobby of mine.” I managed to shuffle to so sit on the side of the old bed on which I had been lying and bleeding on. “What happened to you?”

“Shot caught my legs, hit the wall and brought a shelf down on my head knocking me out. Thankfully Doctor Deadhoof set my legs and fixed you up, all free of charge.” The elderly gentlecolt nodded and smiled through his light beard.

“Deadhoof?” Seemed an odd name for a doctor.

“Son of a raider, not something I’m proud about...” Deadhoof muttered. “Ran away at a young age and trained to be a doctor with the Followers of Fluttershy.” Stitches snorted at the name, “And your friend and I were just discussing that topic...”

“Do you have a problem with these 'Followers of Fluttershy'?” I asked. I think Fluttershy was one of those Ministry Mares. Probably some Ministry for Peace or Medicine or something.

“I don't have a problem with them or Fluttershy, they’re good ponies. It's their ideology I don't get,” Stitches sighed. “They go under the motto 'Peace by any means necessary' which means healing anypony, slavers, civilians, anypony. I still live by the motto used by the Ponave field medics of the war: 'Peace Through Victory'. Only heal those who deserve it, and soon the world will be rid of evil.”

“That's...noble...” I let out a nicker as I tried to stand up, promptly falling over again as pain shot through my chest. Stitches limped over to give me a shot of med-x and the pain began to dull.

I slowly got to my hooves and shuffled to Deadhoof to shake his hoof, which was far from dead, might I add. He wore an old suit over his weathered black hide and a small fedora over a gray-maned head.

“Not a problem. All for one and one for all, and all that.”

“So, uh...” I turned to Stitches. “Where the devil are we?”

“This is my home lad,” Deadhoof said. “I happened to be on my way here from Iron City and found your friends gathered around, trying to resuscitate you, I brought you here, patched you and your medic up. Put a big dent in your medical stores and unfortunately I'm out of healing supplies, I do have other drugs though.”

“You sell drugs? Don't they mess you up something bad?”

“Well yes, but some can be used for certain medical conditions, like Dash being used for depression, or Buck for muscle deterioration. Everything has a use in the medical community”,

“I'll leave that to Stitches, medicine is something I could never really wrap my head around. Meanwhile, I have other friends to check up on.” He nodded as I trotted, or tried to trot, out of the room while he and Stitches resumed their conversation.

I entered the main room and found my blood-stained riot armour, coat and hat sitting on a chair next to a snoring Snake Eyes. I donned my clothing over the new bullet scar and stepped gingerly outside to embrace the warmth of the morning sun. Revelling in the warmth I took a moment to check the Pipbuck’s compass to find that we weren't far from Happy Homes Village and less than a day's walk from Iron City.

I looked back up to see Ace and Tallie playing a game of catch with a small rubber ball. “Good morning!” I called out as Ace dove for the flying ball, effectively distracting her and making her crash into the dirt. I couldn't help but chuckle.

In a blur, she got back up and wrapped her hooves around me tightly. “I thought you were a goner!” She squealed.

“Ace...”

“I mean, you were shot in the chest!”

“Ace, buddy...” The pain in my chest was increasing.

“There was blood everywhere, I mean...”

“ACE! Get off!” She finally yet go. “Thank you,” I said as I held my chest, waiting for the pain to subside while Ace began to blush. Tallie sat behind her, smiling. “How are you doing, kiddo?”

“I'm fine, Mr. Clover,” She said, without a hint of sadness in her voice. Either Ace was a miracle worker or Tallie was damn good at hiding it. She came over and gave me a little hug before climbing on to my back.

“She wouldn't stop worrying about you,” Ace chuckled, “always checking in on you and stuff.”

“And you didn't?” Tallie said, her little head peering over my hat.

“Oh really now?” I asked raising my eyebrow at Tallie.

“What? You took a .308 armour piercing bullet for me,” she shrugged.

“Wait, what do you know about bullets?” I asked. Now I was completely dumbfounded. She was such a small griffin but knew about Bullet types?

“Mom and Dad were slavers,” she sighed, once again looking forlorn. Damn... “They did bad things to ponies. Dad even taught me how to shoot just in case the slaves escaped but never gave me a gun, he said I was terribad at shooting.” she reclined down my neck.

I looked to Ace who, as I expected, shrugged in response. I turned my attention back to Tallie, “and what did you think about all that?”

Tallie sighed again and rubbed her eyes. “I thought about running away sometimes, but my parents never taught me anything about the desert, they said it was to protect me but I think it was so I wouldn't be able to leave. They did keep me safe though.” She sighed once more, “can we not talk about them please? They were bad but they were still my parents...”

“No problem,” I said, “Ace, how are you?” I needed to change the subject before Tallie became sadder. For a young griffin, she certainly was more mature than I expected.

“Never better!” She shouted as she trotted on the spot, “I mean, we have five hundred caps in our pockets, I got to beat the stuffing out of that rifle pony and you survived! Today is just dandy!”

“Five hundred? Thought we had more than that.”

“I rounded down,” she shrugged. Good enough for me.

“So where is this rifle pony?”

“Well after Snake Eyes and Ace beat him senseless for trying to kill me,” Tallie said, “they broke his rifle, took his ammo, shades and then let him go.”

“I would have killed him...” I muttered.

“Clover!” Ace said, she was obviously shocked when I said that.

“What? I'm kidding!” I really wasn't. Did I seriously say I would have killed him? Ace was giving me one of her looks. It really was getting a bit redundant.

“Okie dokie lokie!” She said and smiled, brining the ball above her head and launching it at me, it would have hit me square in the snout if Tallie hadn’t leaped over my head and caught it. “Nice!” Ace cheered.

“Its all fun and games until someone gets hit in the face by a rubber ball,” Snake Eyes chuckled as he trotted from the house in his odd hat. “How are you feeling, amigo?”

“Better than I should be, that’s for sure,” I smiled, “what about you?”

“Haven't given a beating to somepony since I left the capital wastes.” He said as he stretched, showing off his rotted flesh and the patches of skin that still clung to it. It made us all shudder. He looked down, “I'm slowly rotting away, deal with it.” He levitated a cigarette out from behind his ear and lit it with his new lighter.

“Capital wastes?” I asked

“Yeah, you know, Canterlot, Fillydelphia, Manehatten, all those places around the old capital.”

“Smoking kills, you know,” Tallie squeaked from behind me, changing the topic. She had been following him with her eyes, peeking out from behind me whenever he moved about. I was sure he noticed but I doubt he minded. I could guess at the kind of horrors Tallie must have seen throughout her childhood but while this may have seasoned her far beyond her age, I could see how it made her suspicious and wary around strangers. A ghoul had been unnerving for me, I couldn't imagine what Tallie thought of him given she knew what ponies were capable of committing.

“Kid, I've been smoking for over two hundred years, if it was going to kill me it would have done it by now,” as he took a long draw, “besides, you're more likely to die from a bullet than a cigarette.” This was true, although I had survived a bullet to the head, one to the lung and a few to the leg, I was still standing. I considered this my biggest 'Fuck You!' to the odds system.
“Anyone opposed to having breakfast before we go?” Stitches asked as he waddled out. My stomach let out an earth shattering rumble and I grinned sheepishly.

“Ever hear about the two fish in the fish tank?” Stitches asked as we walked along the dusty road to Iron City, bellies full.

“Nope.” Snake Eyes responded.

“One said to the other, 'How do you drive this thing?!'” Stitches said, followed by a ripple of light laugher from the rest of us. Laughter that reminded me of the times before the Ponave.

Times where my only trouble was finding a job or keeping critters away from the food stores. Times where I had no care in the world. I remembered the small shack i had lived in with Dad and Shamrock since I was born. It brought a smile to my face remembering those times. Times of peace and happiness. Times before Double Down and his gang of tribal brutes.

I felt the Rage rising in me at the thought of the checkered-jacket wearing, greasy scumbag and his black leather-clad henchmen. I wanted to march straight into Neighgas and kick Double Down's ass all the way back to the Emerald Isles. However, for all his fancy ways he had acted like a professional and for all I knew he could have a small army at his disposal. This is why we were heading to Iron City, if anyone knew what I would be up against it would be Mr. Ponave.

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts of destroying Double Down, that it took me a while to feel Ace incessantly poking me.

“What?” I asked, trying my best not to growl at Ace, my only real friend out here in the desert. Actually she was the only real friend I had at all. Maybe it seems harsh but I felt that Stitches and Snake Eyes were little more than traveling companions. Ones who had thrown their stake in with me through necessity. Like Tallie, sitting carefully on Ace’s back, who we would find a home for in Iron City. Ace just beamed at me.

“What’cha thinkin?” She chirped. “You look a bit down?”

“Revenge and what not...” I answered not bothering to lie.

“Hey,” she said and grabbing my head. She stared deep into my eyes, “we talked about this. Stop thinking and start laughing, or else.”

“Fine,” I sighed. I looked back down the road at the endless desert, except it wasn’t as empty as I had thought. Just off theroad was a large group of NCR troopers, all watching a large warehouse amongst the ruins of, what I thought may have been small offices.

“What's going on?” Ace asked, her face brightened up, “let's check it out!” With that she was off.

“Yeah, uh, let's not,” said Stitches stopping Ace in her tracks.

“Why not?” She asked, as she turned around.

“I get...uncomfortable around large groups of NCR. Just a nervous quirk of mine.”

“Pansy,” Ace snorted, “I don't know about you but I want to check it out,” as she galloped off.

I looked at Tallie, who had jumped ship the first time Ace galloped off, and my fellow travelers. I shrugged and trotted after her, followed by Tallie and Snake Eyes. Stitches watched us before huffing and slowly following.

When we finally caught up with the mad ball of speed that was Ace, we found her chatting with one of the troopers. We watched for a few moments before they noticed us and Ace waved us over.

“What's the big hubbub?” Snake Eyes asked. Tallie giggled at the use of 'hubbub' but still managed to shoot me a hostile glare until I reached down and placed her on my back.

“Well, it seems that some tribals have taken hostages in yonder warehouse and we are to find the commanding officer of this group to figure out whats up.” Ace informed us. The trooper she was chatting at pointed to a small grouping of motorized vehicles. A small tank and two of the same type of vehicles the mercs from yesterday drove, but a bit bigger and in good repair, to be specific. Amongst them were two large carts, must have been used to transport the soldiers.

We approached one of the carts as a pony in a blue beret, similar to Drop Shot's but instead of a bear skull sniper's insignia it had an angry bears head flanked by two alicorns, he spotted us and signaled two troopers to his side. Stitches froze and dropped to the back of the group.

“What are you doing here, civvies, this is a restricted zone.” he grumbled, obviously he had been awake for a while.

“We want to know why there's a large presence of troopers around an old abandoned warehouse that must have been picked clean years ago?” Ace said, confidently.

The officer put his hoof on his forehead and brought it down his snout with a sigh, “Fine, I am Lieutenant Bubbles and we have been deployed here to sort out a hostage situation.” Ace exploded into laughter at Bubbles' name and fell into a fit of giggles. I rolled my eyes.

“Well, we know that.” Snake Eyes said, as Ace was unable to continue. “How many hostages are we talking about here? How did you get your intel? Are you using a bug? How about a mole?”

The lieutenant stepped back before composing himself. “How exactly would a ghoul know anything about intel gathering?” he asked, somewhat condescendingly.

“I was a spy in the National Equine Intelligence Gathering Headquarters during the war, now cut to the chase.”

Bubbles gasped and stumbled back again. The troopers flanking him's jaws dropped. They must have thought he was bloody fabulous. Me? I couldn't care less. Bubbles composed himself once again before explaining. “We apparently have three hostages and we got this information from a fourth who had escaped. Quite a dapper fellow too, had a nice checkered coat.”

I grabbed the lieutenant, “Checkered suit?! Slicked back mane, two cards cutie mark?!” I shouted. Bubbles' eyes went huge and I realised Tallie was gripping my mane and shaking.

“Y-yes, now get off me!” He whimpered. The troopers pulled me off and Ace put her hoof on my shoulder.

“Just stay calm...” She whispered as she gently pulled Tallie from my back. Rage started to build inside me.

“Lieutenant, that pony is a murderer.” I growled.

Bubbles straightened his desert camouflaged fatigues, “Yeah? Well, who ever he is, he's long gone. We've been here for days and still no orders from HQ, I've barely had any sleep...”

“Why haven't you stepped in yet?” Ace asked.

“Because they said they would kill the hostages if any NCR even thought about approaching.”

“I'm not NCR.” I said. “Let me go talk to them.” If these hostages were the black leather bastards then I wanted to be there for their execution.

“We don't have any orders to go on, and I’m tired as hell... what am I thinking? No, I'm not putting a civilian in harms way.”

“Do you want to save those ponies? Improve relations inthe Ponave? Or are you just going to sit here and wait for the hostages to die?” I added a stomp for emphasis. Bubbles seem to consider this. He looked me over a few times.

“Fine, but if you don't come back, its your fault.” he said. I turned and started walking to the warehouse with my friends. Bubbles grabbed a megaphone.

“Hey, anyone there?” he called through. There was a moment of silence.

“What do you want?!” A voice called out over the large courtyard before the warehouse.

“We are sending in a third party negotiator.” Bubbles called back. Silence again.

“Send him over.” The voice called back. I turned to my friends.

“Stay here, I'll only be a minute.”

I started to walk towards the warehouse before I heard Snake Eyes whisper “Ace, better go with him, in case this goes south.” Ace nodded and trotted after me. I didn't care so I pretended not to notice. I could see the ponies inside slowly watching me down the sights of their guns. There must have been three in total. I stopped at the main door as it opened. I walked inside to find myself at the end of three barrels. Ace was no where to be found.

“Boys, please, I'm not here to cause...” Then it struck me like an anvil. The hostages weren't the black leather-clad tribals who attacked me, they were just regular ponies. It was the ponies in charge that were clad in black. I heard a laugh in my head punctuated by a flash of red.

I smiled and slowly took off my hat and sunglasses. “Hello, boys.” All the guns dropped to the floor. The pony in front of me fell back and shuffled away.

“You're...you're dead! How did....what?!” he stammered as he shuffled.

“Simple,” I said, as he finally hit the wall, “I really don't want to die, and I bet you don't either.” He nodded vigorously. “Well then, you're going to answer a few questions.”

I heard a pony pick up his gun behind me. I spun around and slid into SATS. Time stopped as I aimed for the gun. I pulled out my pistol and shot the gun out of the pony's jaw. He cowered back into a corner. “Anyone else feeling like a hero?” I asked. Everypony in the room shook their heads as Ace came in and started to untie the hostages.

“How did you manage to disarm all these ponies?” She asked as she untied the last one.

“These were the ponies that helped Double Down kill my brother and I.” Ace looked up at me.

“Clover, remember what we talked about. I trust you will make the right decision with these tribals, turn them in to the NCR, don't kill them, this doesn't have to end in bloodshed.” Her face was covered in worry.

“Don't worry about it.” I smiled.

“Listen man, this is just one big misunderstanding,” the tribal squeaked before me. I turned my attention to him.

“You and I are going to have a little chat. First of all, why is Double Down not here?”

“That rat bastard took these ponies as hostages, notified the NCR and split on us,” he whimpered. Some tough group this is turning out to be. “He even took most of our ammo, those guns only have one mag each!”

“Where is my rifle?”

“He took the rifles as trophies.”

“Where did he go?”

“Back to his casino on the strip, that’s all I know! Please, let us go!”

Ace left the warehouse with the hostages and closed the door behind her. “So.” I turned my attention to the ponies who had huddled together in fear of the courier they thought dead. I could feel Trailblaze's grin in the back of my head, slowly seeping into a pyschotic grin on my face. “Kill them all,” he whispered.

“You beat the shit out of my brother, took all of our stuff and didn't let the hostages go when the NCR arrived, and now you want me to let you go?” They all looked at each other before nodding.

“Yes please.”

“Well then, this might be your lucky day,” I smiled, “but I'm not letting you go free.”

“You're going to turn us in to the NCR? That's cool, just don't hurt us.”

“Funny thing about luck these days, with all the raiders and slavers out there, most consider luck surviving to a natural death. To others, luck is finding something of value, or something to help survive this terrible world we live in. I suppose to you, luck would be me letting you go?” They smiled and nodded. “To me, luck is surviving a bullet to the brain.”

I smiled at the tribals, “let's just see how lucky you really are today, shall we?” I shot the first pony in the head, blood splattering over the concrete behind him as he slid down the wall, the other two didn't move, they shook while staring at their fallen comrade. “Damn, looks like his luck ran out, who's next?”

Both of the ponies scrambled to their hooves and started to run for the stairs. I felt the same rush pulsing through me that I felt when I had taken out those raiders...but I was still in control, at least I thought I was. I took my time picking up my hat and sunglasses. Not conscious of the smile trickling across my face.

“What? You worked for a casino owner and you don't want to gamble?” I laughed as I trotted after them. I could see the corners of my vision go a light pink. They split up on the walkway, one kept running, the other galloped into the offices. I followed him into the offices. He stopped at the dead end and turned around, freezing as he saw me standing by the only exit. It was the tribal with the squeaky voice.

“You. You're the one who looted my brother's corpse right after he was shot. Do you really think I'm going to let that fly?” my voice was laced with Trailblaze's. I had to stop this now, but I couldn't.

I lost control.

I smacked my forehoof into the squeaky fuck's face. Even though I couldn't control myself...I wasn't sure I wanted control. Trailblaze brought his hoof down on Squeaky's neck with a squishy snap. His neck looked like a puddle of pony meat. The life from his eyes ebbed away as Trailblaze stood over the twitching corpse of Squeaky, grinning unnaturally.

“Clover!” A voice shouted from downstairs. It was Ace. Trailblaze turned and grinned.

“I guess the clock is ticking. Oh, I do love time trials.” He chuckled as we galloped out of the room and down the catwalk to another set of stairs. The last pony stood at the bottom of the stairwell as we thundered down the catwalk towards him, crunching through some charred remains of a pony as he sprinted up the stairs, into the sunlight.

He stood at the edge of the roof looking down at the dirt below. He turned to find Trailblaze and I staring back at him, face full of grin. The tribal got down on his haunches and pleaded for me to have mercy. It Deep Voice, the pony who had claimed they were getting a handsome payment.

“Mercy? Mercy has nothing to do with it,” Trailblaze hissed through his grin, “I'm just here to test your luck. Let's see what happens when you deal with the devil.” We pulled out my pistol and held it against the his head.

“Clover! Stop this!” My heart sank. Ace had made her way up to the roof and Trailblaze's grin disappeared. We didn't turn. “This isn't you. Please, stop what you're doing.” The air was still, the sound of my coat flapping in the wind and the whimpering of the tribal were the only noises as Ace started slowly making her way over.

“Just drop the gun,” she whispered. The gun fell from my jaw and hit the ground. I felt thankful that Trailblaze was starting to listen. But...why was he grinning again?

Ace came up behind us, took the gun in her magic and put her hoof on my shoulder. I felt calm and somewhat thankful she couldn't see the twisted grin on my face. Go away, Trailblaze I thought.

“No.”

As I hear his denial I heard us move, fluidly we grabbed on to the tribal and with a triumphant snarl we sent him flying backwards as a feeling of elation mixed in with the Rage. We listened to him scream as he fell, that almost hysterical euphoria pushing the Rage back until it was gone, punctuated by the wet thump of the tribal as he hit the dirt below.

Trailblaze's grin finally dissipated and I regained control, feeling the ache in my jaw as Ace spun me around to slap me hard across the face, sending my sunglasses flying as she looked at me with tears running down her face.

“What is happening to you?!” She screamed, “this isn’t you. You promised me that you wouldn't let it consume you! You promised me!” She shoved my gun into my chest, I could feel her trembling as she pushed away, “I...I can't even look at you...” she turned and started walking to the stairs.

“Ace, I-”

“Don't. You didn't keep your promise. You've failed me, you lied, you failed yourself...us.” That last word barely a whisper. I saw her disappear and then start down the stairs. I sat down hard and held my head in my hooves as I caught sight of my reflection in the sunglasses that lay beside me.

“I'm becoming a monster...” I whispered as a solitary tear fell down my cheek. Trailblaze killed those tribals, but wouldn't I have done the same thing, wasn’t I glad? Was I really going to spill the blood of those who fell in with the wrong crowd? I was prepared to go against Ace and my promise to her just for petty revenge. Was I really the wasteland cleansing pony I thought I was? Or was I just becoming the thing I swore to sweep away? I hung my head in shame. I had betrayed my closest friend and let Trailblaze take over. I couldn’t stop my mind as it let the memory of Shamrock’s image merge with my shame.

“I am a monster.”

I don't know how long I spent in a stupor of self loathing on the roof but I finally found the strength to pick myself up and go to the stairs. I allowed myself to look over the edge and indulged a thought of following the tribal, but honestly, I wanted to go down fighting. Maybe I could just walk in to a bullet?

I got to the bottom of the stairs and took a look around. seeing the charred remains of the pony I had stomped through. The window and the ceiling it had been standing at were blackened and a slender tube lay next to the remains, as black as the bones that lay next to it. I tried to pick it up but it crumbed at my touch. I put my hooves on the railing next to the burned pony and set my head on them.

“I bet you never had to deal with losing a friend to a psychopathic monster...” I looked at the black skull, “...or being that monster,” I added. I sighed and looked down at the warehouse floor and saw the tribal pony I had shot in the head lying motionless below me. I couldn't look at him.

Something caught my eye, something metallic, between the boxes. Something I had seen before, something recent. I trotted down the stairs carefully avoided the corpse. I found and picked it up suddenly realising as I saw the engraving, Sparky, where I had seen it before. It was the hat-camera Coalition engineer I had seen in Black Sword's video. The casing was dented and scratched like it had fallen from... I looked up at the blackened bones, Sparky’s bonesand then downloaded the video file to my Pipbuck. I planned on watching it but I looked out the open doors to see the NCR troopers hustling and bustling. I walked out into the warm sun to the barricade they were bringing down.

I came to a stop just beside what was left of the barricade. Some of the NCR troopers smiled at me but I wasn't paying attention to them. I was looking for somepony in particular, and I spotted her, sitting alone out by the road. I couldn't see her face but I was sure she was upset. I started walking to her before Bubbles dragged me over to the side.

“My boy, you have done the NCR a fine service by exterminating those troublesome tribals. Just in time too, orders finally came through that we were to kill them anyway.”

“Was it worth it?” I asked.

“Pffft, I couldn't care less. Now I can finally get a good nights sleep instead of waiting for orders that never arrive.” We stopped beside Snake Eyes. As I noticed Stitches a short distance away, checking on Tallie’s wing. Bubbles looked at Stitches, “I can't help but shake the feeling that I know him...”

“Bubbles, I really don't care,” I muttered. He gave me an odd look.

“Fine then, here's a few caps for doing our dirty work.” He placed a bag of caps into my hooves with 300 BC was scribbled on the side.

I watched as Bubbles and the remaining ponies jumped into the large wagons and started to roll out, followed by the tank and other vehicles. Seriously, why did they need a tank?

Snake Eyes walked up beside me and joined me in watching the convoy. “Ace is pretty upset with you.” he said. My heart sank even lower. I'm surprised I hadn’t farted it out yet. “What did you do?”

“I let my anger and need for revenge take control of me. I killed those tribals.” That really twisted the knife I felt digging into my stomach. Everything felt heavy, my head, my saddle bag, the rifle on my back, everything.

“Yeah, I saw what you did to that last one. That was...” He saw me cringe and lower my head. Thankfully he shut up. I looked over to Ace, sitting alone. “Go.” he said, nodding at her.

I slowly made my way to her and sat down beside her. She didn't look at me. “...I'm sorry...”

“That isn't enough, Clover.” she said, tears starting to crawl down her face. She looked away. “How do I know that you mean it? How can I trust you if you won't listen to me? I told you to turn them in, not to kill them but what do you do? You slaughtered them! What can you possibly say to me?” She was crying.

I think now is as good a time as ever to explain Trailblaze, “Ace, listen, I-”

“Clover! We've got company!” Snake Eyes called out and pointed down the road. A large band of raiders were approaching.

“Now?! You've got to be fucking kidding me!” I shouted. I got up and activated my sniper. Ace wiped her eyes and picked up her shotgun. I looked back at her, she gave me a dark stare. A stare that said 'control yourself'.

I aimed down the sight at the approaching raiders. The stallion at the front was huge and had a large scar across his face and a battle-saddle with the largest rifle I had ever seen on one side and...a fucking minigun on the other. “Wraith Scar.” I growled. “Everyone, get into the warehouse!”.

I crouched down in front of the window where I stepped through Sparky’s remains and peered down the scope. The raiders were starting to fan out, Wraith Scar and two mares with strange rifles stood in the courtyard. They were after Tallie, that I knew for sure. We had no choice other than hiding her and hoping for the best.

“Where is she?!” Wraith called out. Why do these long fights always have to start with fucking conversation? I could have killed him then and there.

“Who?” I called back.

“The griffin!”

“What’s a griffin?”

“Don’t play smart with me, colt.”

“She's pretty valuable to someone out there.”

“Yeah. Sure.” I chose my shot and squeezed it off putting a hole through they eye of one of his bodymares. “Lets try that again.”

“You are so dead, DEAD.” Wraith screamed. “Get him!” I heard a whirr moments before he opened up with the minigun. The wall around the window was hammered with bullets as I ducked out of the way. It slowly started crumbling under the incessant drumming of large caliber bullets but I kept moving, taking a peek whenever i could chance it. The raiders started to close in on the warehouse, some charging with a mad look in their eyes but my comrades were making short work of them as they closed the gap to the enterance. Of course now the raiders with guns were starting to shoot. That complicated matters.

“Why can't we all just get along?!” Stitches shouted as he reloaded his SMG, narrowly dodging a hatchet that a unicorn had thrown.

“Simple.” I shouted back, “They're jealous of your good looks.” I laughed and slipped into SATS before I broke cover and took another shot, this one embedding itself deep into a raider’s head forcing him to back-flip into another, stabbing him with his machete. “Double kill!”

I noticed that the minigun had stopped shooting and I couldn't see Wraith Scar. I scanned the area around the warehouse but all I saw were raiders shooting from cover. Then I remembered his anti-machine rifle and sure enough, he was perched in one of the offices aiming down the scope. I traced his laser sight and saw him aiming at a big red barrel. He shot and was rewarded with a slow trickle of oil oozing out of the hol and down the side.

“Doesn't work like that, stupid,” I muttered as I aimed for his head. I could see the look on his face, it was a look of anger and disappointment and I couldn't help but chuckle as I adjusted the scope and zeroed in on him. I was about to take the shot when a blue beam shot past my face, making my shot go wide and hit Wraith's rifle.I looked to where the beam had come from and saw the raider mare aiming at me with her odd magical rifle. I ducked just in time to see the beam pass through the air my head was in just a moment before.

“That's a 2206 Matter Charger,” Stitches called up to me, “best take her out quick.”

“How do-” A beam shot out above me again. “Man, I just can't finish a sentence today!” I ran down the stairs to join my comrades in the fight.

“They're getting gutsy!” Ace said as three raiders came running at her. She finished the first two off but her face went blank as she was hit by a sudden realization; she needed to reload and the last raider was still running at her. I went for my pistol and noticed the hatchet that Stitches had dodged.

“Ace!” I called out and threw the small axe to her, which she grabbed with her magic and embedded in the raiders head, stopping him in his tracks in front of her, before turning into blue ash. He had gotten between Ace and an energy beam, and I bet it wasn't the last beam either.

I charged at Ace as the raider raised the 2206, fumbling with her reloud as her lack of competenct gave me time. Time to reach Ace as I tackled her to the ground the moment the bodymare fired her shot. She missed Ace but the beam singed through the end of my tail. I held my tail to my face to see the tip burned off. Its amazing how many nerve ends are in the tip of a tail.

“Owie.”

Right, raider mare was now priority one. No one burns me and gets away with it. “Stitches! Cover me!” I called out as I ran out of the warehouse and darted from cover to cover.Stitches covered me before moving forward to cover. We kept moving, narrowly avoiding the beams from the mare before we finally reached her. I leaped out of cover and tackled her as she tried to reload. She managed to knock me off by kicking me in the chest. She was far more capable at hoof-to-hoof combat than she was with a rifle.

I got back up and pulled out Silent Reaper as she smiled and pulled out an old sword from her sheath that I hadn’t noticed she had. She lunged, I managed to roll out of the way, she lunged again, narrowly missing my head. She reared up and was about to bring the sword down on my again before evaporating into a cloud of blue ash. The sword landed between my hind legs, narrowly missing my... stallionhood... I looked over at Stitches who held the magic rifle, expertly replacing the ammo pack.

“How did you...” I started as he flicked off a few more shots. Three raiders disintegrated.

“Four in a row. A personal record,” he chuckled while helping me up. The fighting was still going on in the courtyard of the warehouse and I could hear the sounds of combat as my friends took fire from the remaining raiders. They seemed to be coming out of the woodwork. They were getting closer and closer to my friends. I could see Wraith Scar watching the fight from on top of the office building, smiling.

“Get back to the warehouse, he's mine.” I galloped off to the office building and started to climb the stairs. The Anti-machine rifle was crumpled in a heap by the window. I couldn't help but look it over. It must have been a masterpiece before I broke it, I smiled as I saw that some of it was salvageable. “Waste not, want not.” I whispered as I removed the ammo pack and laser sight before proceeding up the stairs.

I emerged behind Wraith Scar. He was about half a pony taller than me and seemed the same size as Dusty. He turned slowly.

“You gonna hand over the griffin?”

“In order to get to the griffin,” I pulled out my pistol, “you have to get through me.” I raised the gun. Wraith Scar spun up his minigun.

“Are you fucking nuts?” he asked instead of shooting, “You do realise that I have a minigun, right?”

“Yup.” I said before slipping into SATS and aiming for the ammo belt. I managed to get off three shots before the spell ran out. The belt buckled and snapped out of the gun. I grinned as Wraith Scar looked at it, looked back at me, and unbuckled the gun, dropping it with a loud clang as I holstered my pistol.

“Fine then,” he said as he approached me “have it your way.” He charged at me smacking straight into me, sending me flying through the roof access door, effectively smashing it to pieces and sending me down a flight of stairs. My chest was burning with pain as I tried to get up. I looked up the stairs to the hulking silhouette of Wraith against the afternoon sky. I had to think of something. I pulled out my pistol.

“Ah, ah, ah, that's cheating,” he said. I looked at the pistol and back to him. I was lowering it.

Then I realized that my need to survive was greater than any urge to adhere to the Marequess of Queensberry’s rules, “You're a raider.” I shot him several times in the legs and chest, his armour stopping some of the bullets but not all of them. Wraith stumbled back and gave me a death stare as I trotted up the stairs.

“You cheating bastard!” he bellowed.

“If you wanted hoof-to-hoof, you should have asked.” I could see him seething.

“Me and you, right here, right now. Lets end this hoof-to-hoof.” he yelled. I put my gun away.

“Come at me, brony.” I said.

Wraith Scar charged me again but this time I had the common sense to dodge. He stopped just short of the ledge and looked back at me as I removed my knife and hopped from side to side with a somewhat obnoxious smile. My chest and back were killing me, but this guy was going no where. That really pissed him off.

“C'mere you little fuck.” He shouted as he brought his hoof down on me. I ducked under it and jumped onto his back. He started to buck trying to get me off, but I held onto his mane to stay on before he finally sent me off. I landed on my hooves with a skid. I looked down at my hooves in amazement. I was really starting to get a hang of this hoof-to-hoof stuff. Except the paying attention part.

Wraith bucked me back, sending me flying again. I landed and tried to catch my breath, he had winded me leaving hoof shaped dents in my riot gear. Trailblaze was slowly chuckling in my head. No, I will not let you take me again. I thought before Wraith appeared over me. He leaned in close.

“You are so puny, how did you think this would pan out?!” he cackled, “Did you really think you could defeat the great Wraith Scar? Leader of the toughest raider gang in the Ponave?!”

“You know what the main difference between us is?” he grinned at me. “You talk to much.” I picked up my knife and jammed it into his throat. His grin disappeared and was replaced with a look I had seen far too many times before. He stumbled back and put his hoof to the knife. He was staggering about on the roof, not seeming to find a place to fall.

“Go to sleep little guy.” I said as I walked up to him. “You've had a big day.” I turned and put all my strength into a buck. I heard a snap as my hooves connected with his head and he fell back. I pulled my knife out of his neck and walked to where he had dropped his battle saddle. Feeding the ammo belt back in to the gun I then hefted it onto my back. I looked over the side and saw the remaining raiders starting to break through the windows and doors of the warehouse while bullets and beams shot out around them.

“Hey!” I shouted down. Some of the raiders looked up. “Say cheese!” I opened fire with the minigun, tearing into the raiders outside. “What you got, bitches? What you got?!” I managed to shout around the saddle's mouth piece.

Raider after raider fell before my hail of bullets. Some started to run away so I turned and tore them up too. Soon there was nothing but bloody dirt and body bits around the warehouse and the clicking of the empty minigun.

I heard the back door slam open as a raider darted from it with a brown bag on his back.

“Ah got 'er, ah got 'er! I done got me the griffin! Yeehaw, ah'm gonna have me some fun tonight!” he yelled as he raced out into the Ponave while Ace and Snake Eyes burst through the doorway behind him.

“No!” I gasped.

“Don't shoot!” Ace shouted at Snake Eyes as he brought up his blood stained revolver. “You could hit Tallie!”

I brought my sniper to bear and peered down the scope. I could see the bag bouncing on the raider's back as he galloped away. I focused everything I had left into this shot, the shot that could save or condemn Tallie. Time slowed around them as I took aim, following the bobbing of his head as he ran. All I could hear was my heart beat and my breath. I felt my heartbeat regulate to a constant beat and then slowly let out half my breath as I had learnt to do while shooting back on the Plains. I took the shot and an instant later I saw blood slowly explode out of the front of his face as he slowly bounced across the ground before stopping.

I lowered my rifle and jumped into the ruins of the building below me onto an adjacent dumpster, then to the ground and galloped past Ace and Snake Eyes as they ran. I skidded to a halt beside the bag and opened the top. A griffin claw swiped out at me before Tallie realized who I was and wrapped herself around me. I hugged her as tight as I could while she cried tears of fear and relief into my coat. I couldn't tell but I think I did the same.

Ace and Snake Eyes trotted up behind us, followed by an exhausted Stitches. They watched and smiled as I caressed the small griffin as she blubbered and sobbed between my hooves. I think Ace even smiled at me. I couldn't tell if it was me who was crying tears of joy and relief or it was her. Let's just say somepony was crying other than Tallie.

“Still think you're a monster?” Ace whispered as she sat down beside me.

“How did you...” she winked at me before smiling. “...we good?”

“Not quite,” she sighed, “but a little better.” She got back up and shook herself off. She looked off into the direction of Iron City before slouching with a groan. “Do we have to go now?”

I had to admit, after that little skirmish I was exhausted and hurting.

“Why don’t we just head back to the warehouse and call it a day. Hell, the sun is already going down.” suggested Stitches as he pointed up. I think Tallie could go for a good nap. She was already half asleep, curled up on my back. I think out of all of us, she had the worst ordeal.

We all sat on the roof watching the sun set together. Snake Eyes had already passed out and Ace was pre-occupied maintaining her shotgun with some parts she found. I guess it was a good thing too, after what I put her through today I would have avoided me too.

So there I sat with Stitches by the edge of the warehouse roof with Tallie sleeping soundly against me. I watched as the sun started passing over the horizon, highlighting the silhouette of Iron City and the small hill into which it was embedded in the distance. I could see the large antenna protruding from the tallest building as lights started to flicker around the base of the dish. It was a soothing sight to behold. I decided to flick on the radio and listen to whatever Mr. Ponave had to say this evening.

“Welcome to the evening show with your host, Mr. Ponave, where else to relax after a long day surviving the wild and wacky wastes than right here with me?

“I guess to kick off we should have some news, hmm?

“First on the list, It seems a group of mercs has been almost wiped out up by Happy Homes. One Cool Runnings, the sole survivor of said mercenaries had this to say.

“We were hired to take down the fucking Courier. Oh goddesses was that a mistake. They killed the lads and beat me senseless. I mean, I lung shot’im, he had to be dead but then I hear the bastard’s working for the NCR the next damn day!”

“You heard it here first, folks, which brings us to our next item of business.

News from the I-10 hostage situation. Seems that bounty hunter that claims to have shot him was right, looks like he helped out the NCR and went to negotiate on their behalf” oh boy, here we go... “And by negotiation I mean going commando and sending those kidnappers to an early grave.

“Not only that, but I’m receiving reports of a raider kill team showing up out of nowhere and still not being able to take out our local hero. Is there nothing he can’t take?

“In short, the one-pony Judge, Jury and Executioner of the desert continues his travels.” Judge, Jury and Executioner... I like that...

“Lets see what’s going on else where...” I could hear the rustling of paper “Oh! Here’s some news from that Mysterious Mare-Do-Well! It seems that she has single-hoofedly saved a caravan from certain doom after a Hyena ambush. Go get’em Mare-Do-Well.

“Some action on the war front, it seems that a Legion slaving party has been stopped near the town of Eastwood, thanks to NCR sniper team Bear Claw.

“That’s it for now, here’s Smooth Tunes himself, with Siege of Maredrigal.”

A slow piano number floated through my earbloom. I was conflicted by this radio broadcast. Did I feel proud? Sad? Angry? I just didn’t know.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” Stitches asked, switching my mind to things less soul crushing. The sun had almost completely set, leaving the sky a mix of oranges and purples.

“How does one see Mr. Ponave?” I asked.

“I guess you make an appointment?” Stitches shrugged. “I’m sure we’ll find out tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow...” I whispered. “We find out what we need to know, you can go do your clinic thing...” I looked at the tiny griffin, sleeping heavily, “And find you a home.” I smiled as I stroked the base of her neck where the fur melded into her feathered mane. She snorted, rolled over and stretched her back legs, twitching before she curled back up with an audible sigh.

Footnote: LEVEL UP!
New perk: “Terrifying Presence”
New conversation options!
In some conversations, you gain the ability to initiate combat while terrifying a mob of opponents, sending them fleeing for safety or attacking you in fear for their lives.

Special thanks to Kal for his excellent editing and everyone over on the FoE Side-Fic protodoc! You guys are the best!

also Kkat for creating the universe I have so gingerly implanted myself into.

Comments are much appreciated.

Here's the link to the protodoc, come and check it out!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KaoFWVlFlMjYR2KmTWxwCYnvTZQcjEULO9YHSaqqk9U/edit?hl=en_GB#heading=h.80iw1fmanf18

Chapter 9: City of Iron

“Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal as well as enslavement and existential death.”

The sun was shining way over our heads and everyone was smiling, even if Ace kept her distance. She walked along with Stitches as Snake Eyes and I took the lead. Tallie was alert as ever with the ghoul so close but occasionally she would glance at Ace, then to me, then move her stare back to the tobacco-scented ghoul in his funny hat. Seriously, what was up with that hat?

“Snake Eyes, what is that thing on your head?” I really had to ask. It was fairly high on my list of things to ask about, right above Tallie's necklace.

“This 'thing' just happens to be the hat I have owned for the better part of two hundred years, amigo,” he said seemingly offended.

“Doesn't look like much...” I nickered, Tallie giggled a little on my back before going back to alert.

“Well It used to be like yours.” He pointed at my hat, I raised an eyebrow at him, seeing as his hat was mostly patches and was deformed, “The years may have not been good to it, but I've had it since I can remember.” So sentimental value. I get it.

“So you're two hundred years old, huh.”

“More than two hundred, that's for sure.”

“So what have you been doing for the past two centuries?”

“This is going to take a while...” He started.

“Well, I kinda like history and it will pass the time to get to Iron City.” Tallie groaned and slumped across my back. I could tell she doesn't much care for the past.

“Fine, I was in my MWT Security Command Bunker under Fillydelphia when the bombs dropped. I can remember I had just got back from...” his voice trailed off before he trailed off, a thoughtful expression on his face, “...I don't remember, anyway, I had just got back from wherever I’d been and was checking in on the security systems when the ground shook. The camera feed from Manehatten went dead, and and as I began to check the others...I got frames here and there before slowly all the other city links went blank, was like watching picture stills of the carnage that was going on, hard to get anything more than knowing that something bad, horrible even, was happening, but I just didn’t know what.” he said as a forlorn look crossed his face, “then the shaking got worse, much worse. It was on the magnitude of a large earthquake in the nearby vicinity and the camera feed from Fillydelphia did not last long. I remember it ceasing just before I was rendered unconscious.” Knocked out, got it.

“So you spent two hundred years knocked out?”

“Don't be silly, boy,” he scowled, “I'm getting to it!” He cleared his throat, “I don't know how long I was out but when I came to I found myself ghoulified. Apparently the Fillydelphia bomb landed almost on top of us and the radiation had started to penetrate, I was the only one in that bunker to survive. I spent about a year inside trying to get everything back online. It took me a while to actually leave the bunker, it would have been longer if I hadn't figured out that the bunker's power plant needed a vital part that wasn’t stored in the bunker. I left the bunker to a hellish landscape...” he looked off in to the distance as he reflected.

He sighed before continuing, “it took me a comparatively short time to find the part amongst the ruins, but I found it, fixed the generators and brought the security system back online. This included the surveillance camera feeds to the cities. The majority of them were just static, those ones I turned off, some were confusing, like the Canterlot one which was completely pink, or the Mustang one, which looked like it was covered in frost.

“Some cameras were still active though, like the one on the Tenpony tower in Manehatten, which was being used as a base for some crazy DJ. The other ones which I can remember are the Neighgas one and Celestia's Paradise.”

“So how long did you stay in in your hidey hole?”

“A couple of years, I felt disconnected and spent a lot of time just taking in the limited views from the camera feeds but sure I got bored and began to venture out to explore the ruins while using the bunker as a base. Remained that way for about fifty years before some mercs decided it was a good idea to try and take it. I snuck out and left them a surprise,” he grinned, “you'd be surprised how much of an explosion a bunker's power plant can produce when it gets overloaded.”

“So you stayed in Fillydelphia for fifty years, then what?”

“Then I traveled throughout the Capital Wastes, seeing what the damage was to the once glorious lands of the Equestrian Capital. It was not pretty. Tenpony Tower refused me entry, Ponyville was infested with raiders, Canterlot was absolutely uninhabitable and Appleoosa had become a slaver den. I left the Capital Wastes after a while and headed south to Dise, the closest thing I ever found to an actual living city.”

“What was so great about it?”

“The city was still alive. Even though the casino owners were at each others necks. One of them, The Black Salamander, took me in and let me study cybernetics with them. Great ponies with great minds. I stayed there and studied for fifty long years.”

“So if this city was so great, why didn't you stay there?” I asked as Tallie paused from her snoring on my back to stretch out before continuing to snooze away her boredom.

"I intended to, but this big fight broke out and I suddenly felt the rush of danger and adventure, and I must say, amigo, it felt great,” he smiled, “I started to make my way out here to the Ponave after that. I still miss Dise, but the adventures I had on my way here were fun. Like the time I evaded an Enclave search party after I stole a component from one of their surface research outposts. That was loads of fun and almost got me killed several times. The last adventure however, did not end so well...”

“Oh? How so?”

“Well, it required you to rescue me.”

“Ah. Right. What were you doing up Black Mountain anyway?”

“The comm relay fascinated me and I needed it to send a message back to a friend in Dise. I managed to send it before the alicorns jumped me. Dunno if they received it or not... oh well. That's life, eh, amigo?” he chuckled.

“I bet you must have met all sorts of wonderful people along the way,” I said with a smile.

“You'd think, but most ponies were just asking for a hunk of burning lead from my trusty revolver.” He levitated out his revolver, one of the nicest I had seen with an extended barrel and a snake curling around the thorns of a rose inlaid on the grip. The thorns were clearly made to aid in aiming it, all in all an impressive piece of hardware. He spun the cylinder and the resulting click made Tallie jump. She growled at him, which was much less of a fearsome growl but more of an adorable squeak. Snake Eyes chuckled as he lit a cigarette with his new lighter.

“Good thing we are so close to Iron City, I'm almost out of tobacco.” I rolled my eyes, this wasn't exactly helpful when it came to cultivating Tallie's trust. I wondered if one of her parents smoked.

“Well point of the matter, you need a new hat. So you could replace that one and just chew it I reckon, its probably absorbed enough smoke and its certainly rubbery enough!"”

“Eh, maybe,” he nickered. I could tell he was rather attached to the hat. I guess with all of his adventures he would have had to repair it quite a few times.

He stopped. “What's going on over there?” he asked as he squinted towards the side of the road at two NCR troopers, one with a large headset and metal saddlebag, the other with binoculars. They were watching a pegasus flying high above them. I couldn't help but be curious about what they were doing.

“Looks like he has a radio,” The one with the binoculars said to his companion as they tracked the errant flier above us, “don't need to use the megaphone this time.”

“What's going on, amigos?” Snake Eyes said. They rolled their eyes and ignored him.

“Come in pegasus, you are currently breaking NCR air restrictions. Please land and submit to mandatory checks,” the radio pony said into his head set. The pegasus stopped, looked at the NCR and stuck out his tongue.

“Not going to happen, losers,” he laughed down his radio.

“Doesn't look like he's cooperating.” Radio pony said.

“Try again.”

“This is your last warning pegasus, land now or suffer the consequences.”

“Uh-huh, what are you gonna do, fine me? Psh, get lost,” said the pegasus before making a spectacle of himself, looping and 'swimming' through the sky, clearly enjoying himself in the clear sky.

“Not quite,” nickered the binocular pony, “right, he's had his warnings. Are we in range?”

The radio pony nodded, switched channels and cleared his throat, “Camp Celestia, come in Camp Celestia, this is patrol Alpha 259, over.”

The radio crackled with static before a mare's voice sounded. “This is Camp Celestia, we read you. What seems to be the trouble, 259, over?”

“Celestia, we've got a rogue pegasus, possibly a smuggler, over.”

“259, this is Celestia. He’s not coming up on radar, has he been warned, over?”

“Celestia, 259, confirming he has been warned twice, over.”

“Copy that, 259. Interceptors have been dispatched, over.”

“Acknowledged, nothing further. 259 out.”

The NCR troops put their equipment away and started counting down from ten. Ace cocked her head at them then looked to the rest of us. Stitches looked warily at the troops. The pegasus stopped and laughed down at his audience.

“See, you can't do shit to me. I'm untouchable up here.”

It would seem he spoke too soon as three pegasi thundered over the horizon, leaving long smoke trails in their wake, each wearing large helmets with re-breathers and jet black visors, NCR emblems had been stenciled on the sides, along with small customizations, a large machine gun mounted under each wing. They were approaching fast.

The cocky pegasus stopped cold and watched in shock as the NCR interceptors barreled towards him.

“Three...” the NCR troopers on the ground said in unison, “Two...”

The pegasus snapped out of it and tried to fly away as fast as he could. The interceptors were faster.

“One.”

The large machine guns of the interceptors opened fire turning the rogue into a cloud of red mist and falling bits and pieces. The interceptors thundered over head and turned back to the horizon.

“Camp Celestia, this is Phantom-1. Interception complete, target neutralized, heading back to base, over.” The lead pegasus barked into the radio. The troopers gave a quick “whoop!” before they started to walk away. Ace put her hooves to her mouth to stifle a gasp, and Tallie hid her head in my mane, shaking with fear while Stitches just shook his head and sighed. Me? I was almost foaming at the mouth.

I ran up to the nearest trooper and grabbed him, turning him around and shouted “WHAT THE FUCK?!” in his face. He shoved me off and wiped the spittle from his snout, red with anger. Tallie clung to my back.

“You have just assaulted an NCR trooper, son. Choose your next words wisely and I might just forget about it.”

“Why was that pegasus shot down?!” I bellowed. The trooper was not amused.

“Because he broke air restrictions. Nothing is authorized to fly without NCR permission, which he did not have. He was warned, now stand down.” he growled. I stared daggers at him. He huffed and walked away.

I took a deep breath and let out a ragged sigh. I needed to keep calm. Less for my sake but for for my friends'. Tallie continued to shake on my back as Ace gave me one of her looks before looking down at Iron City. That could have gone better...

We approached the ruins of what was once a small town around the monstrous concrete walls of Iron City. I mostly spent the last leg of our journey wallowing in regret at my outburst, seeing as Ace had refused to talk to me when I tried to engage conversation. She simply shook her head and whispered “Not yet.”

The ruins were swarming with ponies, mostly pulling apart the remains of houses and office buildings, some singing as they worked, others telling jokes. All of them smiled at us, and most waved as we walked along the main road, lifting all of our spirits. Even the heavily armed ponies, with their black, white and gray camouflaged uniforms smiled at us. Iron City seemed to be a happy place, certainly the happiest place I had seen so far. I could feel the relief surge into me, a nice respite from the last few hours.

The large gates in the concrete walls spanned the large four lane road, flanked on each side by two large bunkers in the wall, both with large machine guns protruding out. There was a flag on the top of the wall of a large hammer crossed over a sword on a gray background.

“Woah. Awesome!” Tallie said as she stood on my head to get a better look at the huge walls that spanned for kilometers around the intact city and the gun emplacements situated at ten meter intervals.

We passed through the large iron gates to a security checkpoint where a large pony in a camouflaged uniform and black beret approached us. Tallie slid back down my neck to a rest on my back and peeked over my head at the pony.

“G'day folks, welcome to Iron City, the friendliest place around!” laughed the large pony with a great rumbling. “My name's Chief Thunderhoof Facecraker. Most just call me Thunderhoof or Chief. How's it goin'?”

“Great!” Ace smiled, “my name's Ace!” She trotted ahead of me and shook his hoof.

“Well ain't that splendid!” The Chief laughed before looking us over.

“That's Snake Eyes,” Ace pointed at our ghoul friend, “Stitches, Clover,” we nodded and smiled. Tallie shuffled a little bit further down my back and peeked out around the side of my head, “and little Tallie.”

“Aww, ain't you just a cutey,” the Chief said, looking around me at Tallie. She let out a little squeak as she darted behind me to duck her head into my mane. “A little shy, eh?” He laughed again, “anyway, what's your business here in our fine city?”

“Clover and I are here to see Mr. Ponave,” she explained, “Stitches is here for some clinic to help out at and Snake Eyes is here...to do Snake Eyes types of things, I guess.”

“Which are?” The chief straightened up and looked serious.

“Trading, sight-seeing mostly.” Snake Eyes said, causing the Chief brighten up.

“Well then, you'll be wanting the marketplace, mate. I think you lot might want to see the mayor, get the real layout of Iron City, y'know? I'm just in charge of security so watch what you do and keep your safeties on, I didn't get my name for no reason.” he laughed. “You'll find the mayor in the Town Hall just east of the security checkpoint.”

“Thanks, Chief.” Ace said, giving him a little salute.

“A’ight, laters.” he said before walking through a door that led deeper into the security checkpoint.

The sentries at the last set of gates into the town moved aside as the doors started to open and wished us a good day as we passed through. We walked out into a large cobblestone square with ponies bustling all around us, some shouting and laughing as they haggled at stalls set up along the long sides of the square while others lounged around eating at cafes and carts filled with food that made my mouth water. I could see several dirt covered ponies emerge from a large building with smoke stacks, the only clean part of their face was the goggle shape around their eyes, all laughing as they finished their shift and eased the tool-belts as they anticipated their downtime. I could hear the faint sound of a rhythmic drum beat over the noise from some place nearby.

Three of the largest buildings, the smoke stacked one, a large warehouse, and an office building all displayed the letters MWT proudly on their sides, each letter recently polished. The red bricks they were built with were all clean as well. The city was alive, and more than that...it was bursting with life lived. I could feel a weight ease itself from my shoulders, if only for a moment."

“Dusty!” Ace called out as she ran over to the familiar blue bulkiness of a one-wheeled robot. Except there was something a little different about him...

He turned and we immediately saw that, instead of the happy face of the cowbuck robot, it was a rugged face in a large hat with corks hanging from the brim.

“Dusty?” He asked as Ace screeched to a halt in front of him. “Nah, mate, I'm Rusty, Dusty is my brother. How ya doin'?” he asked, cheerfully enough.

“Robots can have brothers?” Ace asked with a slight frown.

“Well not really, but Dusty and I were two of the only Ponitron V3s programed to have our own personalities. An innovation that started with our father, Crusty,” the robot explained.

“That is confusing...he doesn't even look like a pony...” Tallie muttered from her perch on my back.

“Yeah, I guess I don't,” Rusty laughed, “new design, the one wheel made us more maneuverable.” I could see how he got his designated name, some of the large blue panels had been tarnished with the tinge of rust. “Anyway, you need anything?”

“Yes, we would like to know where Mr. Ponave is,” I said.

“Oh that's easy. He's on the top floor of the MWT office building, mate,” he said, pointing his talon at the building with the antenna that towered above the town.

“While you and Ace do that, I’m going to the clinic, and see if I can't find a place for me.” said Stitches, “Make sure you pop in and say goodbye before you leave, won't you?”

“Sure thing, Stitchy,” Ace laughed, “see ya later!”

“As for me, I'm going to have a snoop around,” our mustachioed friend said. We nodded before he disappeared into a tide of ponies. I thought there would be a wide berth around him, but it seemed no one noticed. In fact, looking around, I could see a few ghouls scattered around the parts of the town we had seen, getting on with their business like any other pony.

“Shall we?” Ace asked, having cheered up enough to talk to me. I could feel the faintest sigh of relief from Tallie as she relaxed a little more.

We trotted to the large building as a pony in a large hat and coat left. He tipped his hat to us and opened the door for Ace. I nodded and he was on his way, heading for the market square. I watched him until he blended in to the crowds and then followed Ace in to the building.

The building was almost empty, save for a few uniformed ponies walking about who gave us a smile and a nod as we passed. Ahead of us was a small iron elevator, the lights showing that it still worked. I pressed the button to call it down.

“Where we goin'?” Tallie said, dropping her head down in front of my face.

“Into the elevator to go to the top floor.”

“Where's the elevator?” She asked, looking up. I knew she couldn't have encountered an elevator before when she almost fell off my back with a small shriek as the doors open, I guess griffins have little use for them. She got over her fright when we got inside though, her fascination screwing up her face in concentration. I even had to pick her up so she could press the button."

“Never been in an elevator before.” Ace said, looking around. “Never even really heard of them before neither. How do you know what it is?” She had a good point. All the buildings on the Apple Plains had been to small for them.

“Books I guess,” I shrugged.

The doors finally opened and we exited the lift in to a bland, gray corridor with a doorway at the end. I poked my head through to see a large room, wall to wall with large computers and machinery. Half a pony protruded from under one of the larger machines.

“Yo,” a mare said as she wheeled herself out from under the machine, “what can I do ya fer?” She wore an oily green jumpsuit over her light yellow coat and a cap over her long blond mane. She was covered in dust, grime and oil splats. Nonetheless, she was hot. Really hot.

“Dayum...” Ace whispered, voicing my thoughts.

“Whut?”

“Uh, I mean...”

“What she means,” I said, helping Ace out, “is that we are here to see Mr. Ponave.”

“Ah, well, uh... you can't see him yet,” the mare said, sheepishly. Sending weird vibes at us. Wait... she couldn’t be...could she....?

“Don't tell me you're Mr. Ponave...” I said.

“Whut?! Hell naw. Why would I want t' be that old coot?”

“Well you said we can't see him and got all weird about it.”

“That's cuz I haven’t finished fixin’ up the equipment. That storm did a real number on the machines and I've been barely getting it online. Most of what you hear on the radio is all prerecorded. Other than the news, o’course. S’just embarrassin' is all,” she looked away a little ashamed.

“Oh, its okay,” Ace said, trying to sooth the mare. I was starting to feel a little awkward...

“I know it is,” the mare said, brightening up, “gimme a jiffy and I'll get this fixed.” She ducked back under her machine and started tinkering with her tools. Ace bit her lower lip as she stared at the mare's flank.

“Gently...gently...” the mare muttered from under the machine, followed by a large crash that made us all jump. The lights on the machine flickered on and the machine started humming. “That augh’ta do it,” the mare said and pulled herself out. She trotted up to the intercom on the wall and held down the button. “How's that, Mr. P?”

“Everything is running smoothly, thank you, Gigs.” The familiar voice said through the intercom.

“Oh, also, there's two ponies and a griffin here to see you.”

“Is that so...well I am rather busy. Who are they, and what do they want?”

She turned to us and raised her eyebrow. Ace was still staring at her flank. I tapped her head, and she snapped out of it. “Right, um, sorry, I'm Ace, and this is Clover and Tallie.” We let out a small giggle at Ace's expense, “and we’re looking for information.”

“Did'ja get that, Mr. P?”

“Sure did, but I've never heard of you before, and I really am very busy.”

I gently moved Gigs out of the way and pressed the microphone button, “maybe you haven’t heard of my name, but what about the 'Crazy Courier'?”

“Wait, are you telling me you're that crazy courier I've been blabbing so much about?”

“The one and only.”

There was a long silence before Mr. Ponave spoke. “Gigs, show them up please.”

“Alrighty then. Come on, folks,” Gigs said as she trotted to a door on the far side of the room. She opened it to reveal a flight of fancy stairs.

“I thought we were on the top floor,” Tallie said from Ace's back.

“Well the elevator only comes to this floor, we gotta walk the rest of the way up,” Gigs chuckled.

“Is Gigs short for anything?” Ace asked, almost falling over as she got a good look at Gigs' flank while she walked ahead of us.

“Sure is. Gigabyte Board of the Board family at your service,” she said with a small bow as we approached a large oak door. “Here we are. Now, if y'all would excuse me, ah've got work to do.” She trotted back down the stairs.

“Damn, she's hot.” Ace sighed as Gigs was out of earshot.

“Even when covered in engine grease?” Tallie asked.

“Even when covered in engine grease,” Ace confirmed. “No, especially covered in engine grease.”

“Good to, uh...know...” I nickered. “Come on.” I pushed open the door into a fantastic looking room. On the walls to each side of us stood bookshelves that stretched up for meters until they hit the high ceiling. On the back wall was an assembly of computers and recording equipment, neatly packed together around the huge windows and the large red velvet curtains. This was a room I could get used to.

My attention shifted to the large chair that was currently facing away from us and the smooth elderly voice talking about the day's events, ending with a public service announcement and the title of the next song.

The large chair turned and we were greeted with an elderly gentlecolt, smiling through his large mustache. He wore a black fedora with a little piece of paper with 'press' written on it, along with a nice white button-up shirt, the top undone, framing an untied bow-tie. He picked up a pipe and lit it, taking a few puffs.

“So,” he started, “you are the Crazy Courier whose been going around killing raiders and other bad cats out there?” I nodded, “then, son, I would like to shake your hoof.” He got up and did just that.

“What you did for the people of Rust was beyond great. You reopened the trade route down the I-10 too with that whole hostage thing.” I cringed a little, but Ace was looking through the books with Tallie, not listening to our conversation, thankfully.

“So what brings you to me?” He asked as he eased back into the leather chair.

“I need information.”

“Well, information is power, and I am a very powerful pony. What do you need to know?”

“The pony that shot me and killed my brother,” I started, trying not to think about Shamrock. Whoops, too late. I tried to shake it off, “his name is Double Down.” I felt a cold dagger stab at my heart with the thought while Trailblaze chuckled softly in my head.

“Double Down, eh? Owner of The Star Casino on the Strip?” I nodded. “He's a real piece of work. So he shot you and your brother?” I slowly nodded again, my right eye twitched a little as the cold dagger twisted a little inside, “well I bet it isn't just a package you want to deliver then. Let me see what I can do.”

He took a panel off of his desk to reveal a large map with several lights on it and buttons along the side. He pressed one labeled 'The Star' and waited.

Tallie and Ace had taken their attention from the books and bookshelf climbing to come over and check out the map. Tallie slowly reached out a wing to press an inviting button, before Ace pulled her away.

“Don't touch,” she whispered. Tallie didn't know what was going on at all.

There was a slight crackle and a pop before the light over the strip winked on. A stallion's voice sounded from a speaker on the desk, “Ring-a-ding-ding, bossman.”

“There's a pony here that needs information on Double Down. Care to oblige?”

“Uh, sure thing boss, but DD's been a little on edge lately, who is the client?”

“You remember I told you about the Courier who came back from the dead?” Ponave leaned back on his chair and put his hooves together.

“mmhmmm...” the voice seemed bored.

“Well, he's the client,” he smiled.

“Hot damn. Is he there?” The Stallion's tone went from bored to excited.

“Sure am,” I said.

“Damn, C, you got a whole mess of trouble coming your way.”

“Oh really?” I arched my brow, I guess it's troubles turn to find me.

“Yeah, man. DD's sent for hitponies and mercs from far and wide, way over the Great Diving Range. Even out as far as Manehatten and beyond.”

“How many are we talking here?” Ace asked. She had a mix of seriousness and worry playing over her face.

“No idea on the numbers, all I know is that there was only one refusal. Some gal by the name of Hired Gun all the way over in Dise. Told the messenger to 'fuck off' apparently.”

“Obviously a fake name,” I huffed. Who the hell would call themselves 'Hired Gun'? That was just asking for a bullet to the brainpan.

“On the Apple Plains, when someone does right by you, you buy them a drink... dunno how that would work in this situation.” I turned to Ace “Looks like we best keep an eye out.”. She looked about as worried as I felt, and I had just heard there was an unknown number of ponies out to get me, I was not exactly feeling very safe.

“Sounds bad.” Ponave nickered. “What was it you wanted to know?”

I turned and narrowed my eyes. “Simple. I plan to take Double Down to an early grave and I need to know what I'm up against.”

“Sounds easy enough...” The informant said, “gimme a week and I should have some solid intel.”

“A WEEK?!” Trailblaze screamed, sending tendrils of pain slithering through my brain.

“A...week?” I mumbled.

“Yeah, you spooked DD pretty bad. He's got all sorts of cool cats running around. I won't be able to pin down what he's up to for a bit. If you just lay low for a little, he should chill out and I can get the info you need with minimum risk, you dig?”

“Yeah, I understand,” I said, my head throbbing with pain. Trailblaze was tearing me up something bad.

“A’ight, that all? What we got cooking down here?”

“Yeah,” I sighed.

“Okay then. Later boss. Stay classy.”

Ponave pressed a button cutting the comm and the light on the strip winked off. He put the panel back on his desk.

“I think Hired Gun is an awesome name,” Tallie huffed and crossed her avian legs.

“Listen, kid. Iron City is one of the most secure places in the Ponave. The Iron Defenders are highly trained and brave as lions.”

“Iron Defenders?”

“The guards of Iron City. Two hundred years ago the warehouse down there used to house Coalition Military equipment and training simulators. Our guards are all trained up on them and they're as tough as nails. You wouldn't believe how much the NCR wants to get its hands on this stuff.”

“Why haven’t you handed it over?”

“Because Iron City is a peaceful friendly place, we start picking sides and someone's going to come after us.”

“I see.” I turned to Ace, “any ideas on what to do for a week?”

“Under these circumstances,” Ponave said, “I will see that you are provided with one of the suites in the Miner's Pick hotel, free of charge. Its the least I can do for the Heroes of Rust, in the meantime look around town, there's always stuff going on.”

“What about our friends, the ones we arrived with?” I had no intention to leave my new friends high and dry without a place to stay.

“I'm sure I can arrange for their accommodation as well, two wasn't it? Right, I will see to that immediately. Oh, also be sure to see Hammer down in his Bazaar in the marketplace, he sells the good stuff.”

“The good stuff?” Ace asked, perking up.

“Yeah, weapons, armour, bullets, anything an adventurer needs. You know, I used to be an adventurer like you...” he let out a deep sigh.

“What happened?” I asked

“I took a large caliber hollow-point bullet to the stomach, tore me up something bad. Still hurts from time to time,” he sighed.

I walked to the window, looking down at the city below, the ponies had disappeared having finished their shift change. “This city has been growing for two hundred years, son,” the old pony told me, “the mines are still going even after that.”

“Mines?” It seemed highly illogical that there were still mines out here after two hundred years.

“Yep. This started of as a small mining town, mining iron out of the hills but every so often a new iron vein was found and mined for the MWT and Equestria. Hell, this office was once Applejack's for when she came out here.” He pointed to a painting of an orange pony in a large cowpony hat above the door, she looked happy as she kicked a tree as apples rained from above. “Yep, the people of Iron City look after this town with great pleasure. Even the public restrooms are spotless.”

“This place has survived Zebra invasions and balefire bombs. The latter of course was thanks to Mr. Horse and his lasers. He's probably long dead now... most of the iron we dig up is put into the foundries and forges in the factory district to turn into anything we need. Guns, pipes, just about anything. Even the scrap yards come up with something useful now and again. Only thing we can't make is anything big, like armour plating. I dunno why, but the Foremare won't allow it.”

“I wonder why not.” I raised my head to the sky, watching the white fluffy clouds gently coast along the endless blue. Oh, If only I were a cloud... My eyes dropped to the large buildings on the horizon. “What's out there?” I asked.

“That would be Mustang, a place of complete mystery. Scavengers go in but few come out. No one knows what happens to them, the ones that do come back say that the only dangers were the weird radiation and the raiders in the rad free zones. Its just a spooky place I guess. I honestly would not recommend going out there.”

“Well, Ponave. It was nice meeting you,” I said and smiled at the old man. He returned my smile but frowned and seemed in deep thought. “Problem?” I asked.

“I'm sorry, it must be my age but I can't remember your name...”

“That's because I never got around to telling you personally. My name's Clover; this is Ace and Tallie.”

“Clover, Ace and Tallie. Got it,” he nodded, “don't be stranger now, come on back and have a chat whenever you like.” With that, we left him back to his broadcast.

Ace, Tallie and I walked back down the stairs and in to the machine room. Gigs had changed out of her grimy jump suit into a more casual outfit; her hair still wet from a recent shower. I could see Ace's hind legs quiver. Gigs looked even hotter than before, even if she was pigging out on a hay sandwich.

“Y'all leavin'?” She asked between mouthfuls, “well, y'all take care now, ya hear?”

“Uh...yeah...sure...” Ace stammered.

I almost had to shove her back down the hallway and into the elevator. Tallie immediately clambered on top of Ace's head and pushed the button that would take us back down to Iron City.

We walked out into the square, there wasn't many ponies out and about anymore, mostly just stall vendors, some shoppers and a pony sitting at a small drum set on the street, playing a rhythmic beat that caught my ears. I trotted over to him.

He wore a dark green wool hat and patched green shirt, with a big gray beard covering his neck. His drum sticks had been taped to his hooves as he played his tune. I couldn't help but smile at the bearded pony. There was a small, cap filled tin just beside him. I couldn't help but drop a few more caps in. He smiled under his beard and kept on playing.

Ace's face brightened up as she looked at one of the shops along the square. “Wait here!” She said, darting off into the shop doorway.

“What's she doing now?” I nickered. That mare was crazy.

I sat on one of the nearby benches lining the square and listened to the drumming. I saw Rusty shamble alongside an older mare who sported a large computer chip on her flank.

I remembered that I still had a recording to watch. Ace was nowhere to be seen inside the shop, so I loaded it up on my Pipbuck and watched the screen fuzz and load.

I was sitting on Sparky's head set on a bench in a wagon, his comrades sat beside and opposite us, all chatting and laughing. We were sitting opposite a griffin with an assault rifle. Black Sword sat between him and a huge pony with guns almost as big as me, he was asleep under his yellow cap.

At the front sat a pony with more armour plates than the rest of us and a full helmet with a skull face painted on the front of the black visor covering his face. He was talking with a griffin in similar armour. I could overhear them talking about grenades and explosives.

“Grenadiers...” My host sighed.

“Well they better not set anything off, or its my ass in the fire,” a pony in a huge set of armour said behind his huge collar. He looked almost as big as the pony beside Black Sword.

“Relax, Scattershot, we're trained professionals,” the grenadier griffin smirked.

My host looked out the back of the wagon at the one beside us. Inside sat a gathering of weird looking ponies with long ears. One playing a guitar as the rest sang along. I couldn't make out the song but the chorus was loud enough.

“And if that don't work?!” the guitar one yelled.

“Use more gun!!” The rest shouted, followed by chorus of laughs and whistles.

“Damn mules...” Sparky sighed, looking back at his comrades.

“You know mules are the best engineers the Coalition has, right?” A pony in glasses said from beside the heavily armoured Scattershot. This pony had a large machine gun on his battle saddle and was covered in ammo belts. He adjusted his glasses. “Probably got more skill than you do, Sparky.”

“Zip it, Sweet Water,” Sparky snapped.

“Oi. Calm down, Sparky.” the griffin in front of us barked.

“Sorry, its just all the redeployments are getting to me, where the fuck are we going now, anyway?” My host asked.

Black Sword spoke up. “We're headed for an emergency gathering up near Iron Town. The Zebra attack's got the General spooked. We’re to meet the Commissar and someone from Equestria.”

“Equestria...” Everyone moaned.

“Why did they have to drag us into this mess by annexing us?” The grenadier pony asked, I could make out a name stitched into his collar, Pvt. Valentine.

“Because they needed our resources.” Sweet Water replied. “They’re paying through the snout for them too.”

“Never the less,” Black Words interrupted, “we have our objective. Shouldn't be too long now, we're coming up on Dingle Berry warehou-” he was cut off by the assault griffin's shushing.

“Anyone else hear that...?” He whispered. I couldn't hear anything but my host did, seeing as he looked up out of the back of the wagon. I could see a large black shadow approaching us.

“Fucking dragon!!” Sparky yelled as the mule wagon exploded into flames. Mules, engulfed in fire, screamed and clambered out the sides, rolling in the dirt in a futile attempt to extinguish themselves. “Pile out! Go, go, go!” We jumped out the back and started running for cover. As I looked back to see figures on the horizon.

The recording fizzed and crackled with static and I only caught glimpses of ponies running towards the warehouse, some cut down while they ran. The screen burst into static as Sparky approached the doors.

It cleared once more. There were bullets flying all around; I could see some Coalition troopers lying dead on the ground. Sparky was firing an assault rifle through a window on the ground floor at the incoming Zebras.

“How the fuck did they get this far?” Valentine called out, pausing to reload his grenade launcher.

“Never mind that!” Black Sword yelled, “we've got a dragon to kill! Thunder, switch to flak ammo!”

“Gotcha!” The towering pony said, his battlesaddle clicked and whirred as large shells started to snake into his large guns. “Auto cannons online!” He yelled while approaching the large doors and began to fire his cannons. The sky around the dragon erupted in black clouds.

“That's not going to be enough, Sir!” Sweet Water shouted over the thunderous roar of his machine gun.

“Right, Sparky, get your launcher up to that window.” Black Sword shouted, pointing up to the cat walk. My host nodded running to the stairs and across the catwalk. He pulled out a tube and it extended into a launcher. A targeting reticule flicked over his eye and he traced the dragon with it. It slowly beeped before steadily speeding up until it became a long single tone.

“Got a good lock!” Sparky shouted down.

“Fire at will!” Black Sword yelled before going back to barking down his radio.

There was a loud hiss and a 'whoosh' as a rocket flew from the launcher and started following the dragon. It flew through the black clouds and impacted into the dragon's side. It roared and banked left before stopping.

“Direct hit!” Sparky yelled, followed by a small 'whoop!'.

“Nice hit!” The assault griffin shouted, grinning. He stopped grinning when the dragon started hurtling towards the warehouse. “Move!”

Sparky scrambled and tripped on the catwalk, sending the camera flying to the ground as the dragon landed beside his window. He was too late to move as the window erupted in fire, I could hear his screams of agony as the flames washed over him. The dragon stopped and fell to the ground as detonations danced across its side.

“Sparky!!” The grenadier griffin yelled. Sparky was little more than a flaming pile of bones. I could hear a loud roar nearby.

“Hauler's here! Let's go!” Black Sword shouted. Someone knocked the camera, as it was now facing the doorway. A long black machine was waiting for them, griffin-manned miniguns firing at the zebras from each side. Two ponies sat side-by-side in the cockpit, working the pedals that kept the rotor on top spinning. A door on the side slid open as a griffin waved the Coalition troops in.

“Come on! Come on!” He yelled into his headset.

The ponies scrambled in and fired from the open doors as it took off. All except Sparky.

The recording fuzzed, went to static and died.

I felt a pang of sorrow for the fallen engineer. To be fried like that... must've hurt like a bitch. I really regret trampling through his remains like I did. I leaned my head back against the bench and watched the clouds lazily float across the sky. I closed my eyes and listened to the drumming.

I heard hoofsteps and opened my eyes to see a bottle of Golden Harp wrapped in a brown levitation field floating in front of me. I swiped at it with my forelegs, with each swipe, the bottle would bob out of reach. I looked over to see Ace standing in the doorway. A grin on her face.

“You want it?” She asked, “It's the last one they got.”

“Yes, please.” I said, standing up, still swiping at the bottle.

“Well, ya can't have it.” She popped the cap off and took a swig. “Oh, that's the good stuff,” she sighed smiling at my torment.

“That's just mean., I pouted. Tallie laughed and continued munching on a pack of biscuits, crumbs falling from her beak.

“What is?” Stitches asked as he trotted up behind us with Snake Eyes and a pony I hadn't met. He looked a little odd without his helmet and fore arm bands.

“Oh, me tormenting Clover by drinking his favorite drink,” Ace smirked. I knew why she was doing it. I only hoped that made us even.

“Charming,” Snake Eyes nickered.

“Clover, this is the mayor of Iron City, Steel Pick.” He pointed at the black pony. Except, he wasn't black, he was white but covered in soot, except for around his eyes where the goggles resting on his head, had been.

“Howdy!” He said, cheerfully. “You're friend here said you have someone who needs a home?”

I had completely forgot why we brought Tallie with us, to find her a home. I turned to Tallie. She was oblivious to what was going on, concentrating on the last of her biscuits. I looked back at Stitches.

“But...”

“Clover, we have to. Have you considered the amount of times she could have been killed on our way here?” Snake Eyes said. “This is the safest place in the Ponave. She will be safe here.”

“It's fer the best.” Steel Pick said. Stitches nodded in agreement. I looked at Ace, she looked sad but nodded.

“Tallie...” I sighed. “This pony here is going to give you a home in Iron City.”

“W-what?” she said, her eyes went all big and watery as she dropped the packet of biscuits. I could feel my heart tearing itself apart.

“We can't take you with us. Its just too dangerous.”

“But I don't wanna stay here!” She bawled. I tried to hide my sadness as best I could. I had looked after her, given her hope when she had none, and now I was giving her up.

“I don't want to do this, Tallie, but I have to. Besides, we'll come see you loads. We're here for a week anyway.”

“But I...” She looked into my eyes. “...O-okay.” She sniffled and climbed off Ace's back. I picked her up and put her on Steel Pick's back.

“Alrighty then, you can see her tomorra afternoon.” he said.

“Why tomorrow afternoon?”

“Because,” Stitches interjected, “she needs to go through checkups and vaccinations at the Iron City hospital.”

“Quarantine,” I grumbled. Stitches reluctantly nodded.

“Well then if y'all don't have any questions, just come find me. I'm either at the mine or my office.” I slowly nodded. “Alrighty then, ah'll see you folks later. Come on, young'un.” He said and trotted off. Tallie gave us a feeble wave from his back. I watched as they disappeared down the road. I looked down at my hooves and Ace put her foreleg around me.

“She'll be fine,” she whispered. I knew she would, but I still felt that I had just torn a part of me away. I knew I shouldn't have gotten attached. My head was starting to pound while Trailblaze laughed. “Here.” Ace handed me the rest of the Golden Harp bottle.

“I don't feel like drinking...” I muttered. Ace gave me a small hug and finished the beer.

“Know what might take your mind of things?” Snake Eyes asked. I raised my eyebrow. He pointed to his and Aces saddle bags, which were filled with all sorts of things we scavenged from the raiders. “I just happen to know where to offload all this junk.”

“Welcome, comrades!” The red pony with the golden hammer on his flank bellowed as we entered his store. “Welcome to the Bazaar! What can Comrade Hammer do for you today?”

“Hi!” Ace beamed, “We need to sell a bunch of stuff! Weapons and ammo mostly.”

“Then you have come to the right place. Let’s see what you have!” Ace displayed all the guns and parts we had scavenged on the counter and started haggling. I couldn’t muster any interest and decided to take a look around.

The walls were covered in all sorts of gear, from gas masks to camping equipment.

One of the walls of the bazaar was covered in weapons and ammo boxes. I took my sweet time checking out everything. They had guns custom fitted for earthponies, with mods such as shock absorbers on the grips of revolvers and stocks on rifles that allowed for easier maneuverability. Some had been fitted for the talons of griffins, like pump action shotguns and scoped battle-rifles. Two particular guns caught my eye, they were twin SMGs, side loaded, adjustable stock, custom sights and a silencer on each. The grips were made for griffin talons but maybe an earthpony could carry one in his mouth?

Other guns looked like they were built for something completely different, the stocks were weird and the sights looked a bit off.

“These weapons,” Snake Eyes said, creeping up behind me, “are built for Diamond Dogs.”

“Diamond Dogs? I thought they went extinct.” Or, at least, all got transformed into Hellhounds.

“Not all of them. Some of the miners here are Diamond Dogs. I met one earlier who claimed his great-great-great-great-great grandpappy was one of the mine operators back during the war.”

“No shit...” I whispered, still admiring the gun. My attention was drawn to Snake's hat and I looked over at the far end of the store where clothes were on display. I shoved him over to the hat racks.

“Pick a hat.” I said, nudging him. He took off his hat and looked at it.

“But I-”

“You are getting a new hat, that's final.”

“Fine.” He grumbled and looked over the hats. He tried on many, an orange one made out of wool with flaps and fuzzy bauble, a green military cap, a black fedora with a green band around it, all sorts of hats. He eventually went bright eyed at a black desperado hat. He tried it on and looked in the mirror.

“There's something missing...” I said, looking around at the rack of clothes. My eyes caught on a thick looking poncho with a cool pattern. I gave it to Snake Eyes and he wriggled it on. He looked into the mirror and grinned. He drew out his pistol like a flash and pointed it at the mirror.

“Go ahead, make my day,” he growled before laughing and holstering his revolver, “me gusta,” he chuckled.

Ace had finished clearing Hammer out and joined us, bags full of caps. “Looking pretty badass there, Snakey.” She laughed.

“I guess I do, eh?” he said, turning in the mirror. “How much does this cost, anyway?”

“Two hundred and seventy three caps.” A smaller red pony said in the doorway. He had a golden sickle on his flank. “Greetings, I am Sickle, of Sickle's clothing and amenities.”

“I thought this was the Bazaar” Snake Eyes nickered, taking the poncho and hat off.

“Yes well my brother, Hammer, takes care of weapons, armour and other gear. I mostly cater to the civilian. Is there something I can help you with sir?” He said, turning to me. I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable.

“Honestly, I don't feel like shopping. I'm going to get some fresh air,” I said and walked out the door while Ace and Snake Eyes were still looking through Sickle's wares. Stitches was tinkering with his new energy rifle on the Bazaar's work bench.

I walked out into the evening air. The sun had started its descent and everypony was clocking out for the day and heading home or to the Iron City pubs and food houses. I sat on the bench I had sat on earlier. The drummer pony had packed up and disappeared; all I could hear now was the hustle and bustle of the city. I couldn't help but think about how sad and alone Tallie must have been feeling I had an urge to seek out the mayor and spend the evening with her.

“Forget about her!” Trailblaze boomed through my head, forcing me to hold me head between my hooves. “We could be marching right up to Double Down's door and kicking him into the dirt! But you're just sitting there, wallowing in pity and despair.”

“Shut up,” I muttered as I sat cradling my head.

“Never! Why are you sitting here?! We don't have a week to wait! You want to avenge your brother, don't you?! Then lets go.”

“Go away!” I growled.

“Do you really think that Double Down will wait? Do you feel that lucky? Luck didn't stop that bullet to the brain from killing you. Luck didn't stop you suffocating from your collapsed lung. If I went away, you would be dead! Do you think you have enough luck to get Double Down if we wait?!”

“Shut up!” I whimpered.

“Clover, what’s the matter?” Ace asked as she trotted to me, her saddlebags full of things she had bought.

“N-nothing!” I shouted and ran into the nearest public restroom slamming the door behind me.

Ponave was right, the restrooms were spotless, cozy even with the red velvet walls and fancy mirror. It was as if the bathroom belonged to a restaurant. I plugged the sink and ran the water, shoving my face under it.

As I rubbed my face and stared at my reflection while water dripped from my mane and nose I took a moment to steady myself, my ragged breaths slowly steadying.

I put my hoof up to the mirror as I gazed at the reflection. “What is going on?” I asked myself. “I used to be happy. Now...now I have no idea.” I dropped my hoof and sighed, “I will get to the bottom of this. I'm not going to give up.”

“Do you really think that?” The reflection asked. My coat Slowly started to turn black, black smoke started to seep from my scars, my eyes turning a glowing red, my mouth twisting into a deformed grin. “Do you really think you were happy?”

“You! You're just in my head! I'll close my eyes and every thing will go back to normal!” I yelled at him.

“We both know that is not true,” Trailblaze hissed, seeming to melt off the mirror and bleed into existence. “I am much, much more than that.”

“You're just a figment of my imagination! You aren't real! This is just a nightmare, I'm just going to wake up and everything will be how it was!”

“I fear that this isn't a nightmare, friend. I am very much real and I am here to stay, and I will be here long after you're gone,” he whispered as the laughter danced at the edge of his words.

“You can't! I am in control, not you!” I yelled, taking a step forward.

“You can't control yourself forever. Each day you will feel me chipping away your soul until I am complete As you slowly lose yourself.” he smirked.

“You need me to stay alive! I don't need you!” I took another step.

“I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE!” Trailblaze howled, I fell to the ground and scrambled to the wall.

“NO!” I yelled, covering my hears with my hooves.

“And I know that they will never be able to separate you from me!”

“They won't if I can stop this madness right now!” I pulled out my pistol, held it in my hooves and pointed the barrel at my head, working my fetlock onto the trigger. “THIS ENDS NOW!!” I yelled.

“Maybe for you!” he laughed. Tears were now streaming down my face as the overflow from the sink lapped at my hooves.

“If I die, I take you with me!” I whimpered.

“You're the only thing standing between me and complete control.”

“Just leave me alone!” I screamed.

“Can't you see? You can't escape me. You are me!”

“NO!” I yelled. “I know that deep inside-”

“I am you, you are Trailblaze!” He roared.

“NEVER!” I yelled and threw the pistol at the mirror, shattering it and ending this nightmare. I curled up on the floor and began to cry as the puddle from the overflowing sink encircled around me.

“Clover?” Ace said while she knocked on the door. I couldn't say anything, just sob. She opened it and saw the carnage.

“Clover!” She gasped before sitting down beside me and holding me in her fore legs, not saying a word as I cried my eyes out. She gently stroked my mane as I stared at the mirror, gibbering like a lunatic. We sat in the puddle for I don't know how long before I fell silent. She gave me a squeeze and helped me up.

“Come on, lets get a drink,” she whispered and walked me out of the bathroom. Two armed guards stood to greet us. They did not look happy.

Ace dropped a bag with 500caps written on it at their hooves. “He's had a tough day, this should cover the damages.” The guards looked at one another, at the bag, back to Ace and smiled.

“Thank ye kindly,” one of them said as the other picked up the bag and trotted off. I spotted a pub across the street. By the looks of it, it was relatively empty.

And I needed to get drunk.

The bar was just as I had suspected, almost empty. Save for a few ponies in the booths watching the live performance. A unicorn sat on a stool at the stage and played the guitar. Snake Eyes and Stitches had gone up to the hotel where we had rooms.

Ace sat and listened to the music with a glass of whiskey. Me? I sat with my head on the table, amongst several alcoholic beverage containers. Pint glasses, bottles, shot glasses, you name it. Ace was gently patting me on the back as I mumbled and grumbled.

“I'm a monster,” I grumbled.

“No, you're not and you have proved that to me. I was wrong to think you were becoming one,” she reassured me. I didn't know if she meant it, but it made me feel a little better. Though that could have been the copious amounts of alcohol raging through my system.

“You just don't understand,” I sighed, “there's a demon living inside me and I need to cut him out, but I just don’t know how.”

“We all have our demons, Clover,” she said surprisingly clearly considering she was almost as drunk as I was. “You just have to fight them. With your hooves. And booze,” she giggled. I looked up at her and saw her smiling at me. I couldn't help but grin like a schoolcolt. “There ya go!” She giggled before giving me a light shove. “I'm drunk,” she snorted. Well, no duh.

“This next one goes out to all of the lucky ponies out there.” The musician said, and stared to play.

“Dust whirls on the plain,
Making patterns as we walk down lovers lane,
Seems that each new step is somehow preordained,
I've not traveled this way before.“

I don't know if it was the lighting or the amount of drink in me, but Ace was stunning, the way her hair fell across her face and the way her eyes sparkled.

“Green clouds in the sky,
Seem forever but we know by-and-by,
they fadejust like caravans passing by,
Love seemed like that before.”

Ace continued to stare into my eyes, smiling. She slowly blinked and giggled a little, I couldn't tell if it was the booze making me see these things but I hoped not. I felt butterflies in my belly and my heart fluttered gently.

“Since I found you there's no doubt left in my heart,
I've cleared all the raiders away,
I see it clearly so we don't need any chart,
No prospectors, no mercs,
No brahmin-baron jerks.”

The butterflies in my stomach were threatening to erupt. I reached out a hoof and brushed the hair from Ace's face. Fuck it, I thought. I closed my eyes and leaned in.

The Star's lights in the night,
Shining down upon our love as it takes flight.

Our lips locked. She didn't pull away and kissed me back. Fireworks exploded in my head, this was the first truly happy feeling I had felt in a long, long time.

Of course, the night was still young...

Footnote: LEVEL UP! New perk: “Horrors of The Mind:”
Compared to what goes on your head, reality is a breeze. You have a increased resistance to fear effects and intrusions into your mind.

BONUS!!!!
The broadway rendition of the Clover and Trailblaze confrontaion:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14AfafdGHZ6fmppiv5W4ijp777MRFgBCEGpBnszyAR7M/edit?hl=en_GB

Have a question for me? ask away!

http://afriendlyhobo.tumblr.com/

Special thanks to Kal and Errantindy (welcome back) for the edits and everyone on the protodoc!

And Kkat for creating the world I have so gingerly implanted myself into.

Introduction

Note from the Author:

Dear reader,

First off, thanks for taking the time to read my story, I really hope you enjoy it!

Now, the first few chapters of the story loosely follow the starting events of the Fallout New Vegas plot but the story will fairly quickly split from NV until it becomes 120% more awesome.

The grammar at the beginning is not perfect but this too will get better.

Thanks and enjoy,

A friendly hobo.

Fallout Equestria: Tales of a Courier.

Bodies litter the battlefield around me, soldiers from both sides of the river whose lives have been taken by patriotic rage and the imperialistic greed for power.

War. War never changes.

Even 200 years after the megaspells blanketed the world in balefire, war still rages. Some say that this war is being fought over one of the desert’s last power supplies. Others say that there is a higher cause, a cause that we mortals cannot begin to comprehend.

What ever happened to the days where love and peace stretched over Equestria? What ever happened to law and diplomacy?

Love and peace have now been replaced with hatred and never ending conflict, fueled by the overwhelming need to draw blood in the name of clean water, money, power or a simple delight in violence. The rules of law and diplomacy have been forgotten in the winds of time, washed away by the fire that once rained from the sky.

The battle still rages around me, blood turning the once golden sand a dark brown. The head of a soldier rests a few meters from me, its empty stare asking “Why? Why is this happening?”

The screams and shouts from the trenches fill the air along with the crack of gunfire, the screech of metal as swords cut deep through armour and flesh of hapless beings, the sounds of artillery detonations nearby and the unnatural wails of those fallen long ago.

The clouds above me are dark and ominous. I wish they would burst and wash away the blood that now stains my attire. My blood and the blood of friends and foes alike pools in the crevices of my armour, seeping through the cracks and filling my soul with a crimson lake.

The shadows of countless pegasi and griffins flit across the ground as they maneuver in the sky, trying to gain an advantage as they fight for air superiority. I see some falling from the heavens engulfed in flames, yet graceful like falling angels.

I can feel the wet sand under me as I lay on my back. My gun is out of ammo and my knife lies out of reach. The visor of my helmet is shattered and blood streams down my face. The large figure standing above me stares down implacably, his iron mask spattered with blood, his look judging whether I am worth the effort needed to raise his sword and send me to the gates of oblivion.

He has judged my blood worthy of being drawn by his sword.

“Why am I here?” I think to myself. “What have I done to deserve this?” it’s been weeks since entered the Ponave desert. And since then everything has changed, I have been plunged into war.

And war, war never changes.

Chapter 7: Dust, Feathers and Amateur Gunmen

“There are no dangerous weapons, there are only dangerous ponies”

The waves crashing against the beach was so very soothing; I felt all of my fears and worries just melt away. Where was I? How did I get here? I didn't care. Wherever 'here' was, I didn't want to leave. The beach stretched for miles and there was nothing to be seen but the waves and palm trees, more beautiful than the ones I had seen in books.

I picked up a small sea shell, and traced the edge with my hoof. It was a beautiful pearly colour that shimmered in the warm sun. The wind blew through my mane as I sat the shell down. I looked up at the beautiful blue sky, dotted with fluffy white clouds. Could this get any better?

looked right and saw Ace's flowing brown mane flowing down over a beautiful white dress. Goddesses she looked beautiful. She left the tiniest hoof prints in the golden sands as she looked out over the deep blue ocean. I guess this could get better.

She stopped beside me, and I got to my hooves. I looked into her deep brown eyes; she looked into my emerald eyes. Neither of us spoke. She smiled with her flawless white teeth. Her mane covered her face; I brushed it away and made my move. I leaned in; she put her hoof on my lips and opened hers.

“Clover...” she said in her smooth, luscious voice. I could have died happily right then and there. “...I'm pregnant,” My jaw hit the floor, “And it's yours.”

I shot up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily.

“Morning, Stinky.” Ace said from her hospital as she munched on a carrot stick. “Nightmares again?” She was still pretty, but she was bruised and had a large bandage around her head. She smiled at me, and I was relieved to see that she was still very not pregnant. Why would she be?

“Stinky?” I gave myself a quick sniff, “I don't smell bad at all.”

“Well, let’s just say, I've never helped give a sponge bath before.” She giggled before giving me a wink. I quickly realized I wasn't wearing anything. I went bright crimson as I pulled the bed covers to my face.

“Please tell me this is just another dream...” I muttered as buried myself deeper into the bed. “How long have I been out?”

“I woke up a few hours ago, and you were out cold. You are a very heavy sleeper, you know that?”

“Well, if I managed to stay asleep while being bathed...let’s not get into that.” Ace couldn't help but laugh, music to my ears after what she's been through. “Where are my clothes?”

“Your barding was torn to pieces.” Said Driftwood as he entered the ward. “But I think we have a suitable replacement.” He opened his saddlebag and placed some light body armour on a nearby chair. “See it as a token of our appreciation for helping us. Drop Shot also wanted me to give you these,” he set a wide brimmed hat and a pair of large sunglasses on top of the armour. “Hope you like them. As for your coat, we managed to save it but its still being cleaned.”

I reached over and picked up the light armour. It was a decent weight but still quite protective. 'CPD Riot Squad' was written on one of the protective plates.

“Canterberra Police Department...” How do I know that? I thought to myself.

“Your Ghoul friend has been adequately rewarded too.” Driftwood muttered. I could tell he really didn't like Snake Eyes, which made me laugh.

I put the armour and other gear on and stood in front of a mirror, I have to say, I looked pretty damn good. I noticed my ear was still clipped but my leg had healed just fine. It didn't hurt and it looked pretty bad ass so I just shrugged it off. Not like it would make much of a difference.

“Speaking of which, where is that rot bag?”

“On the roof with your medical pony.”

“Don't you go anywhere.” I said to Ace. She threw a carrot at me.

“I can't, doctors orders.” She pouted. I stifled a laugh and went upstairs.

It was a beautiful day and the sun was still rising. Snake Eyes and Stitches were asleep on deck chairs when I found them. A few bottles of alcohol littered the floor around them as they snored loudly. I gave Snake Eyes a light kick.

“Somepony turn off the lights...”

“Get up, Snake.” I laughed before I shoved him. He rolled over and lifted his odd hat.

“Oh, it’s you. What's up, Amigo?”

“You're from before the war right?” he nodded, “and you said you met the regal sisters but not as yourself...” He nodded again. “Well, we aren't being shot at, care to elaborate?”

Snake Eyes gave a short sigh, “It’s a long story...” I gave him a nod to continue, “Fine, during the war I was a spy. I was sent behind Zebra lines to gather information, that was until one mission. I was sold out and was hunted down and took a bullet to the knee. After that, I found it harder to run and sneak around like I used to.” He looked up to the sky and closed his eyes. His knee twitched. “When I got home I was approached by Applejack of the Ministry of Wartime Technology and hired to keep some of her secret projects locked up tight. Of course, I also managed to get into just about anything hooked up to the mainframe, like the other ministries. Had to check their encryption and...stuff...”

“That's unexpected, to say the least.”

“That was how I got to meet the Princesses; they just thought I was a noble or something, which meant I was doing something right. It was about that time I took the name ‘Snake Eyes’ too. One of the perks of being one of the heads of security was that I was always invited to the Great Galloping Gala.”

“So your name isn't Snake Eyes?” I leaned up against the wall behind me and gave him a skeptical look, “Then what is your name?”

He looked back across the desert and his face scrunched up in thought, he put his hoof to his chin then fiddled with his mustache. “...I don't remember. It was more than two hundred years ago.” he chuckled. I rolled my eyes, of course he wouldn't remember...

“So these secret projects, are they still secret?”

“No, not really. The only one I can remember right off the bat would be the Anti-Dragon Cannon. Too many ponies were loosing their lives to Zebra controlled dragons, and MWT needed a way to stop it. Of course, after the whole Anti-Machine Rifle fiasco, it was kept under tight security. They were almost done too! Just needed to transport them from the western factories and set them up, then the bombs dropped.”

“So they were developed in NCR territory? Have they found them yet?”

“Of course, it wasn't like they’d just leave cannon parts in the Vladivostrot ruins. It was only a matter of putting them together with the blueprints and done.”

“How did they get the blueprints if it was a closely guarded secret?”

“Simple, I happened to be in my command bunker under Fillydelphia when the bombs dropped and as each major city camera winked off I realized it was the end of the world so I sent the blueprints of all of my projects to their development centers in hopes survivors could use them to build a better society. It worked too; the NCR used the cannons to open up the sky!”

“Open up the sky?” I looked up to the big blue sky. “What do you mean?”

He looked at me and raised him eyebrow, “What do mean 'what do you mean?'? It wasn't that long ago the NCR kicked the Enclave out of the west.” I looked at him like he was a mad horse. “When the sky was always cloudy? You must have been an oblivious kid... here...” He handed me a holotape, “I got that off an old NCR veteran about three years ago.”

I popped it into my Pipbuck and a video began to play. It was like I was looking over the soldier's shoulder. There was intense fighting happening all around, the soldier I was watching was mounted on a large anti aircraft gun with four machine guns, firing at black armoured pegasi as they poured out of large flying fortresses, black against the gray cloud cover.

“Keep firing, hold your positions!” a gruff voice bellowed over the communications channel, followed by a war shout from the ponies around my host. My host watched a NCR tank roll up beside us and fire at a cluster of pegasi taking cover on the ground. One of the large turrets of the flying machines turned towards us; we stopped firing and leaped from the AA gun as the tank went up in a plasma fueled explosion. My host’s helmet flew off and landed in the dirt. The recording went dark for a few seconds before my host picked it back up, dusted it off and put it back on. We were back in the fight.

We jumped into a crater beside a group of other ponies, one loading a missile launcher,

“How the fuck are we supposed to combat those things, Sarge?” one called out to us as we slid down beside them.

Before my host could say anything the gruff voice burst in over the com, “ADC rounds loaded; hold on to your helmets!”

I heard a dull thump, and a moment later a ball of fire flew across the sky, punching a hole straight through the flying machine. Some of the others started to turn before they were hit by more fiery rounds.

We looked to the horizon, “The tower!” my host shouted and pointed to a large needle like tower reaching up to the sky. Three more fiery rounds impacted it, and it started to crumble. The sky around it started to break and dissipate as it crumbled. The large flying machines started to fly away.

“All units, Canterberra tower has fallen; retreat to rally point 04/7...” I heard from a nearby dead pegasus's helmet.

We watched as the pegasi flew after their large machines as the clouds parted overhead, one more round from the Anti-Dragon Cannons crossed the sky and rear-ended one of the flying machines, the back of it bust into flames and started crashing down to earth, followed by a long smoke trail. My host pumped his hoof in the air.

“That will teach you to mess with the NCR!” he shouted.

“All units, we are receiving reports that the Enclave has abandoned San Fransiscolt and are retreating. Mission accomplished.” the gruff voice said over the com. The air filled with cheers and shouts as NCR troops all around me flung their hooves to the air as they watched the flying machine hit the ground and explode.

“Raptors ain’t got shit on us.” A nearby soldier called out.

My host looked up to the clearing sky, and the recording ended. I stared at my Pipbuck's screen in awe.

“And that is how the skies were cleared.” Snake Eyes said. “I can still remember when the clouds started to roll back. I hadn’t seen the sun in almost two hundred years. Made me proud to see that my ideas aren't useless.”

“That was...intense...I guess I never really cared much because I don't remember it being permanently cloudy.” Snake Eyes gave me a hard stare, as if I was a madpony. He squinted at me.

“Okie dokie lokie...” He muttered. “Anyway, that's about it from before the war. There are some parts that are a little fuzzy but, hey, its been two hundred years, anyone who has lived as long as I have has the right to forget a few things.

“Wait, you had access to the other ministr-”

“Good morning.” Stitches moaned, cutting me off, as he got to his hooves. “How much did we drink?”

“Driftwood gave us a bottle of Tequila and several bottles of... something alcoholic. We drank all of it.”

“Son of a... you sir, are a fun person to drink with.” Stitches hoof-bumped Snake Eyes before turning to me, “Look at you, thought you would never get up.”

“How long was I out?”

“What time is it?”

I looked at my Pipbuck's clock. “Ten.”

“A day and a bit.” Stitches held his head, “I'm a doctor, I should know better than this. I need an IV.” he muttered before heading downstairs. I occupied his deck chair.

“Now that we are alone,” Snake Eyes started. Was this about to get weird? “What the hell happened to you last night? That wasn't natural.”

“Snake Eyes,” I sighed, “If I had any clue, I would tell you, so far all I know is that whatever is living in my head... isn’t right...”

“mhmm...”

Snake Eyes was about to say something before one of the doctors walked up the stairs, “Gentlecolts, Ace's prognosis is ready, if you would like to come with me?”

I got up, “You go ahead, Amigo, I'm going to enjoy this rest a bit longer before I head out, got places to be, places to see.” Snake Eyes said. He sunk further into his chair, lit a cigarette and tipped is large straw hat over his eyes. I chuckled at the old stallion, two hundred years and he's still traveling.

I went down the stairs and found Ace wriggling into her leather barding, I couldn't help but let my eyes drop to her flank. I turned my head and blushed. Did I just check her out? Damn right I did. Got to control myself...

The doctor started to unravel her bandages and handed her a mirror. She shook her mane and looked into it, she ruffled her mane with her hoof before smiling, seeing me in the reflection. “Hows the old coot doing?”

“H-hes fine.” I stammered, what was going on? She turned around and grinned at me. Even with the bruises she was pretty...well, hot! Was I starting to get a crush on Ace?! She doesn't swing that way Clover, just get over it. I thought to myself, and mentally punched my brain. I was burning a bright red before the doctor spoke up. I could have hugged him for bringing up a new topic.

“Okay then,” he picked up a clipboard, “judging from your examination...you should be perfectly fine. If your friend hadn't brought you here that fast, that would be a completely different matter.”

Ace walked over to me and wrapped her forearms around me. I stood shocked before I returned the hug. Down boy. I thought to myself before I mentally punched my brain again. She finally let go.

“Thank you, Clover, for saving me. You're the best friend anyone could hope for.” My heart both sank and rose at the same time. I wasn't surprised. I gave her my best smile before she walked back to the doctor, who started doing a few final checks.

“Good to see she's up and about.” Stitches said as he shuffled in next to an IV stand. “Perfect hangover killer.” he nodded his head at the bag of liquid that was slowly seeping into his veins. He curled up on one of the empty beds. Most of the beds were empty now, only two patients left, and they seemed to have hurt themselves while rebuilding.

“I guess we aren't going anywhere yet?”

“Not while we have a bunch of stuff to sell.” Ace said as she strapped her saddlebags on, after the doctor gave her the go ahead. She picked the box up in her magic and left out the front door. I was tempted to follow but right now...well I didn't know what to do...

I picked up my saddlebag and decided to rummage through it. I pulled out the package I found in the factory. I was certain I left it in my coat pocket, I guess somepony put it in my saddlebag when they took my coat for cleaning. I opened it and found a helmet camera. I opened its side panel and found a cable that would fit into my Pipbuck. I looked around and shrugged. Why not?

My Pipbuck screen fuzzed and sparked as static swept over the screen. It slowly cleared and I was sitting on somepony's shoulder again, watching everything they were. We were walking into a small office, it took me a while to realise it was the office I had found the package in.

A small pink mare in large glasses was sitting at a desk, going through files and slowly falling asleep through utter boredom. She perked right up and fixed her hair.

“Hello Sergeant, what can we here at Crab Apple Guns West do for the Coalition today?” She asked.

“Good afternoon miss...” He looked at the plaque in front of the mare's desk, “...Honey Dew, I've been sent to check up on your emergency procedures.” My host said in a deep dark voice. I must have been watching from Sgt. Black Sword's perspective.

“Emergency procedures? Like escape routs etc.? Why do you need to check them?”

“Do you ever listen to the news?” Honey Dew shook her head.

“Never, its always so depressing, its always about the war in the east and it just bores me. As if the Zebras would attack...” Her sentence was cut short as she stared at the sergeant. “...would they?” she squeaked.

“Ma'am, as of seventeen hundred ours yesterday Fort Desperado was attacked by Zebra strike teams. Its all over the news, I’m surprised you hadn't heard.”

“Then we have to get the hell out of here!” Honey Dew said as she started to scramble for her belongings.

“Now, miss Honey Dew, there is no need to panic. Canterberra and San Franciscolt bases are on alert along with the south Ponave garrisons. The Zebras won't even get close to here, but orders are orders. About those procedures...”

The following few minutes were boring and tedious, mostly just going over lock down procedures and escape and evacuation routes. The sergeant put his helmet down hard on the table, the camera shook.

“These aren't enough, you have one evacuation route and very light lock down security. What do you think will happen if the Zebras DO get past our southern forces?” The black stallion said as he walked in front of the camera and slammed his hoof into the stack of papers on the desk. Honey Dew let out a squeak and seemed to shrink. “I don't want to alarm you but there is no way these plans are up to Coalition Standards. Crab Apple Guns West was given fifty thousand bits to use on security like all the other factories in the area. What did you use it on?”

“I-I-I d-didn't...”

“You didn't receive the bits...” He picked up his radio, “Command, this is Black Sword of Fire Team Hammerhead, Ponave Contingent, we have a possible code zero-four-one at Crab Apple Guns West...Yes sir...roger that, Black Sword, out.”

“W-w-whats a code zero-four-one?”

“It seems your higher-ups decided to pocket the cash at the risk of your safety. The Coalition will look into it.”

He picked up his helmet, “Miss Honey Dew, I'm sorry for any inconvenience, but please consider changing jobs or moving further north. Never know how hairy things will get.” With that we left. We passed a secretary and faced the wall. The sergeant smacked his helmet against it, the camera fell off his helmet and landed with a soft thud on top of something soft, I couldn't see what, might have been a pillow?

A dark green pony in a similar yellow and brown uniform, but with a cap and headset instead of a helmet, walked up behind the sergeant, “What's up, chief?”

“These checks are bogus. We should be reenforcing the southern garrisons, not playing inspector. Its frustrating. They don't even know that three up and two down is Gunnery Sergeant, not just Sergeant, at least the other foremares had the common courtesy to....gah!” Black Sword grumbled.

“Forget that Gunny, Valentine and Rolling Thunder say they saw a few Griffin Chaser Gunships and Haulers fly overhead to the south. I think somethings gonna go down soon.”

The sergeant looked into the green buck's eyes and sighed. “I sure hope not, Sparky...”

“Thinking about Dainty?” The sergeant nodded, “Don't worry about her, there is no way the Zebras are going to get to your family in Mustang, that place is like a fortress. Maybe not like Hoofington, but Hoofington is just plain ugly. Did you see the postcard the Scorched Earth Regiment sent? Don't envy their transfer, that's for sure.” this seemed to raise Black Sword's spirit.

“Something about you Engineers makes me smile. Maybe its that goofy hat.” Black Sword laughed. Sparky rolled his eyes. They started to walk back down the cat walk before the recording fuzzed and finished.

I decided to step outside for a bit after somepony had dropped off my coat. It was lovely and warm outside, reminded me of the beach in my dream... best I not think about that. I turned on the radio as I passed the shacks and buildings of Rust.

“and that was Sweet Water with 'She's Gone'. Now for the news.

“Reports indicate that the storm recently was not cause by Enclave guerrilla fighters. There is no such thing and any panic or rumors should be put to rest.

“Remember yesterday morning when I said that the old Crab Apple factory went kablooie and all the raiders slaughtered? Well, its been confirmed that three ponies are the ones to thank. Rust's own Drop Shot assisted a ghoul and, get this, the courier from Good Sands in torching those raiders. That's right folks, back from the dead and kicking ass out there. Good job, guys.

“Not much happening in the ways of war out by the dam, a few Legion scouts here and there but nothing more, oddly enough.

“Another bit of good news! It seems the Tumbleweed slaver den has been cleared out, and the slaves freed. Reports indicate a mysterious mare valiantly destroying the slaver scumbags. Good job, Mysterious Mare-do-well.

“last item on the agenda. Anyone tempted by the thought of scavenging in the old Neighgas Industrial ruins, be careful, something ain't right out there, ponies seem to go missing out there regularly. Don't say I didn't warn ya.

“That's it for the news so here's Octavia and the Canterlot Symphony Orchestra, with 'Requiem for Peace.'”

A slow peaceful piece of music started to float through my earbloom, I found it so very boring. I clicked off the radio and found my way back to the clinic. Hold on a second, I was just on the radio! Again! It felt awesome.

“Where'd you run off to?” Ace said as I entered the clinic.

“A walk. How much did you get for the junk?”

“Five hundred and thirty-two caps.” she jangled a bag of caps in front of my eyes. I was impressed. “So are you ready to start the next stage of our grand adventure?!”

“You mean walking to Iron City?” Ace nodded. “Sure, if Stitches is ready.” I looked over to see Stitches glaring at me between his hooves with a frown. I guess that was a no...

“You heading to Iron City?” Snake Eyes said as he appeared down the stairwell.

“You can come with us if you'd like.” I extended my hoof.

“Its on my list of places to be, so I don't see why not.” He shook my hoof.

“Aren't we just one big, very dysfunctional family?” Ace shouted as she swung her forelegs around Snake Eyes and I and brought us in for one big hug. We just smiled and nodded. Stitches groaned and collapsed on his bed.

“Whose bright idea was it to leave Rust and walk straight into a dust storm?!” I shouted out over the howling winds and swirling dust. We had only been out of Rust for an hour before we managed to get caught in the storm. Good thing I had goggles and a bandanna, regardless how scratched and dirty they were getting.

“Yours!” Ace shouted before giving me a hard poke on the flank. I could barely see my comrades through the brown haze that surrounded us, even with the goggles. The only thing keeping us from getting lost was my handy dandy EFS with its objective tick thingie.

One feature I had never noticed were the tiny black arrows under my compass. Right now I could count two black ones in front of us and one white one behind us. Another mystery of the Pipbuck I was yet to figure out, but this was no time to go tinkering with it.

We kept trudging in single file against the strong winds lashing out at us across the Ponave, where we were could only be determined by my Pipbuck. We were miles from our objective. I sighed and kept moving along the old road until a single white tick appeared on my EFS.

“Ace, we've got friendlies over there, could be lost?” she nodded and followed me and my EFS, we couldn't see a thing a meter farther than my hoof. I could just hear Stitches and Snake Eyes chatting about something or other a few meters behind us.

“Hello? Anyone there?” I called out. Of course there was someone there, my EFS said so! “Can we help you?” no response. According to the EFS, the person was right in front of us, but we saw nobody. “Something aint right...” I muttered.

“What's that?.” Ace asked as she trotted up beside me, I looked down and saw something that seemed to be half buried under a layer of dirt and dust. It was a small griffin, blood streaked its wing.

Ace pulled out her shotgun, “Medic up front!” I called out into the dust storm, Stitches came galloping out of the sheet of brown as we dug the griffin out. it was barely breathing.

“I can't see a thing, we have to move her!” Stitches shouted. I looked around and spotted one of the black ticks on my compass. Time to find out what it is. I took off my coat and bundled the small griffin in it, and started towards to black arrow, there had to be something there that can help.

It seems luck was on my side, we managed to stumble across the remains of a destroyed cottage. It wasn't the cottage that was the good part, but the intact basement. My Pipbuck marked it as 'Ruined Cottage'. Yeah, I could see that. Why it did things like this is way over my head. None the less, a swift stomp and the rusty lock snapped, allowing us access to the basement.

The basement reeked of damp and decay, but it was better than the dust storm. I lit a match to give us light. Snake Eyes promptly took it off me to light a cigarette. Ace took it with a roll of her eyes and lit a hanging lantern. The basement was a cold cement room with rows of tinned food stuffs, some small containers, three cots a table and some chairs. How it hadn't already been looted was beyond me. I unraveled my coat and placed the griffin on one of the cots. Stitches immediately began work cleaned its wing wound. It looked like it had been shot through. I sat down at the table with Snake Eyes and Ace.

“Seems a better place than any to ride out the storm, isn’t it?” Ace said as she shuffled a deck of cards she found in one of the containers and started to deal them between her and Snake Eyes, she offered me a hand, but I refused. I decided to take this time to think about the hazards we had faced so far.

First thing that came to mind was the bandits. The sort of scum that can make any day a bad one. Stealing from innocents, giving to no one. Its that sort of thing that deserves a punch in the throat, I plan to be the one doing the punching.

Secondly, Legion. Those slimy bastards are capable of destroying a whole town because it doesn't suit their regime. In my opinion, anyone associated with the Legion should be burned at the stake for what they did to Lipton.

Next we have the alicorns. According to Knick Knack they came from a place out east and were created by some sort of Goddess and were sent out west to capture unicorns and return them to her, only after they crossed the Great Barrier Mountain Range to the east did they loose contact. Apparently they were extremely powerful but with their release of the goddess' influence they became weakened. Knick Knack says there would have been no way I would have survived the fight with the alicorns if they were at full strength.

Lastly, Raiders. Just thinking about them makes me shiver. The fact that they rape, murder and desecrate ponies just for sport. It makes me feel rage like never before, there is no reason for raiders to be, therefore they must be swept away and forgotten.

This reminds me of what happened at the factory, how I lost control and how Trailblaze slaughtered the raiders without even batting an eyelash. Was having Trailblaze in my head a good thing, or would it eventually bite me on the ass and rip a large chunk out making me slowly bleed out and die? Only time could tell.

“Clover, snap out of it.” Stitches said as he slapped the back of my head and sat down. Ace dealt him a hand of cards. “What're we playin'?”

“Blackjack.”

“So, Doc, what's the deal with the griffin?” Snake Eyes asked.

“Shot through the wing and out cold from exhaustion. She should be fine though.” I looked over at the small creature sleeping on the cot. Her wing had been wrapped up in a bandage. The tips of her head feathers burned a dark crimson. She looked adorable, curled up on the cot. I turned and joined the card game, fumbling with the cards in my hooves a little, but eventually getting it.

I had played blackjack with Shamrock back on the Plains so I knew how to play, just trying to beat Ace was a problem, I could see why her cutie mark was an ace, she was great at blackjack.

After an hour, Ace and I were at another stalemate. Snake Eyes and Stitches had gone bust and were watching intently. Ace sat there with her best poker face on, staring at her cards. I flipped my cards over. A ten and a queen, hells yes! I gave the smallest smirk as I put my cards down. Ace gave a wide grin. I flipped my cards and revealed my awesome pair, she flipped hers and revealed a king and an ace. I would have been cool with that if the ace didn't give a slight shimmer.

“Cheater!” I shouted.

“Am not!” she shouted back, before standing up.

“That ace was shimmering. Magic I tell you, you little cheater!” I got up and saw a three of spades in her mane, I went to grab it but she pulled away and got defensive. “Gimme that.” I pounced to grab the card, now, I don't know how this happened but we ended up brawling and, for some reason, giggling. Being a better fighter she managed to pin me to the ground and no matter how much I struggled I could not get free. She started laughing, which seemed to be contagious, as Snake Eyes and Stitches started chuckling. I just stared at Ace before smiling.

We all fell silent after a foreign moan cut in. It started as a squeak but grew louder. We looked over at the small cot to see the griffin stretching out before sitting up.

“Mommy?” She yawned as she rubbed her eyes, her eyes went wide before bursting into tears. I shoved Ace off and went towards her. She scooted back to the wall and covered her face.

“We aren't going to hurt you, little one.” I said in an attempted soft voice.

“You killed mommy and daddy, you aren't going to kill me!” she shouted.

“If we had wanted to kill you, wouldn't we have done it?” Snake Eyes said as he leaned back in his chair. The griffin lowered her arms and looked me up and down through tear filled eyes.

“W-who are you?” She whimpered.

“My name's Clover, what's your name?” I slowly moved closer and sat on the edge of the cot. She moved to the far end.

“T-t-t-Tallie.” she was trembling. I dug into my saddlebag in search of some of the food we hadn't given to Rust, I pulled out a Pinkie's Pie.

“You look hungry, Tallie, here, eat.” I offered it to her but she just blinked at it, and didn't move. I placed it in front of her and smiled at her. Snake Eyes sat in his chair and blew smoke rings at the ceiling, Stitches seemed like he was about to fall of his chair, he wanted to give her a check-up quite badly now that she was awake. Obsessed with medicine, that one. Ace sat on the floor in awe, why? I had no idea.

Tallie slowly picked up the small pie, looked it once over and slowly nibbled on it. I handed her one of my canteens. I noticed she was wearing a pretty ruby pendant around her neck, there were three gears carved into the gem, each interlocking, but I put that thought further down on the list of things to think about, now wasn’t the time, we had to figure out what happened.

“Can you tell us why you were out in the storm by yourself?” I asked quietly. She looked at me as tears started to roll down her face.

“Clover, she has to be in shock I doubt she's going to t-” Stitches started but was quickly cut short,

“I flew into it to get away from the bad ponies. The ones with spikes.” I looked to Snake Eyes, who fell backwards at those words.

“Wraith Scar is still after that griffin kid” I remembered one of the raiders in Crab Apple Guns say.

Tallie gave a small giggle at Snake Eyes then looked sad again, “The ponies who...who killed...” she burst into tears, I patted her back before she flung her avian legs around me and cried into my riot gear. I looked to Ace, who just shrugged. Stitches was scribbling something down on a note pad. I looked down and put my forelegs around Tallie to comfort her, remembering how Ace had done that for me and how I felt a little better after.

She looked up at me with her dark red eyes that looked as if they had lost everything they held dear and were thrust into a world they weren’t prepared for. She was someone like me. She pulled away, sat down next to me and continued to eat her pie. Stitches started to walk towards us, Tallie flinched and scrambled behind me.

“Its okay, Tallie. This pony's name is Stitches. He's a doctor and won't hurt you. He's the one who fixed your wing.” I chuckled. Tallie climbed out from behind me and looked at her bandaged wing, then to the doctor. Stitches walked towards us slowly.

“I just need to give her a check-up now that she's awake...” He whispered. I nodded and got up. Tallie looked to me then Stitches. She looked like she was about to cry.

“And if you do try anything,” I started, “It will be the last thing you do.” Stitches' eyes were the size of dinner plates. I gave him a wink that said 'not really', he understood that I only said it to comfort Tallie. I walked up to Ace and Stitches at the table and sat down.

“What's the story?” Ace said.

“Her parents were killed by raiders, the same raiders we obliterated, and she flew into the dust storm to get away from the raiders we missed, that's about it for now.”

“How do you know it was those raiders who killed them?”

“How often do you see a pair of flayed griffin corpses on a raider base wall?” Snake Eyes muttered.

I looked back over to the quivering griffin, trying to sit still for Stitches' exam. “She's lost everything...” I whispered.

Ace put a hoof on my shoulder, “Remind you of anyone?” I nodded as I fought back the memories of the past few weeks, how I too had lost everything to this desert wasteland, lost everything to Double Down and his cronies. I felt a rage spike thrust through my body, brushing Ace's hoof off my shoulder.

“Someone go check on the storm.” I muttered. Ace gave me one of her worried looks before climbing the old stairs to the cellar doors. She opened them and poked her head outside. I couldn't hear anything except the quiet whimpering of Tallie and Snake Eyes' snoring, who had of course drifted off.

Ace came back down the stairs with a smile, “All clear!”

“Great. Lets move out, already.” Snake Eyes snorted as he got on his hooves and trotted towards the cellar doors.

Ace bushed up beside me, “What about the griffin?” she whispered.

“We take her with us.” What else could we do? Leave her here for whatever lurks in the wastes to get? “If we take her with us to Iron City, we can figure out what to do with her when we get there.”

Ace smiled. “Alrighty then, shall we?”

I picked up my saddlebag and took what food I could get off the shelves, Ace did the same. Snake Eyes had already gone through the containers and looted them, giving anything medical to Stitches and keeping all the small, practical items to himself, like a lighter, a pocket mirror, stuff like that.

“Amazing how no pony has looted this place yet...” Ace nickered.

“Must be out lucky day.” I smiled.

I climbed into the sunlight and saw the windswept land in front of me. I could see the walls of Rust on the horizon, just before Black Mountain Pass. The road we had been following was barely noticeable under the dirt and grime of the dust storm, the same road that stretched into the horizon behind us, dotted with smaller buildings and hills.

Snake Eyes was standing on top of a mound of rubble behind me, looking over what seemed to be the ruins of a small village of ten houses, few still standing. I saw another black triangle on my EFS and followed it for a few seconds before 'Happy Homes Village' popped up.

“What? Why would you put two locations so close together?” I said to my Pipbuck.

“Who are you talking to, Mr. Clover?” Tallie asked from her perch on my back. Her wing wasn't in any condition to fly, and I doubt she wanted to walk anyway. Who would pass up the chance to ride on the back of a pony instead of walking in the dirty...dirt?

“Call me Clover, and this little machine is as annoying as it is complicated.” I chuckled.

“Lets get to marchin'!” Ace said as she bounced out of the cellar door a few minutes after Stitches. I brought up my EFS and searched for the objective marker.

I faced east down the road and looked up. There was something coming, something weird and metallic. As it got closer I could make out its features. It seemed to be a shoddy rig mounted on wheels with three head lamps, it was rusty and dirty, just like the ponies clinging off the sides. It stopped a few meters ahead of us.

“What is that thing?” I asked Snake Eyes

“That there is a very unreliably jury rigged remains of a motorized vehicle.” He snorted. Obviously the level of maintenance offended him, I gave him a confused look. He sighed. “Back before the Ponave and the western territories were annexed, they were renowned for their advancement in vehicle technology, with all this free space, why not? One of these advancements was the motor engine, similar to the ones used in tanks. They run on a small array of spark batteries and not much else. This made transporting goods and ponies much easier and faster. Haven't seen many out here, almost no civilians own any. Most are owned by the NCR or mercs.”

The ponies clinging to the sides and back jumped down and raised their weapons. I was unimpressed. The weapons were rusted and chipped and their armour was covered in duct tape and patches of wonderglue. The only competent looking one was the unicorn in shades who hung back with his rifle.

“Amateurs.” Ace snorted.

The unicorn who was driving the wreck-on-wheels stepped forward and held up a poster. “Target: Courier. Description, light gray coat, black mane, green eyes and four leafed clover cutie mark. Alive: two thousand caps...” He called out, I raised an eyebrow at him, signaling how unimpressed I was. He grinned, “...dead: one thousand caps.” that got my attention.

“So are you going to come quietly?” He asked.

“Um...” I started and put my hoof on my chin, “...no.” I turned and galloped back into the village, my comrades following close behind. I heard some shouts before shots started ringing out.

I dove behind a large rectangular blue box for cover in a front yard and was met with an odd skeleton wearing a fez and bow-tie. I cocked my head at the oddly fashioned skeleton before a bullet exploded its skull, sending bits of bone flying at me and Tallie, most of the fragments bounced feebly off of my riot vest but some struck home along my forelegs. I looked down to see Tallie unscathed but quivering in a ball.

I looked around to find my cohorts, Ace had set up in the house behind us and was firing out one of the windows along with Stitches and Snake Eyes was behind a low wall firing blindly over it from his large revolver.

They stopped shooting. Everypony stood still. Snake Eyes started to slowly snake his way to me. I looked up to see nopony in the windows of the now bullet riddled house. Ace's head slowly poked up, followed by Stitches'. I looked over the box as Snake Eyes slithered up beside us. They were all still aiming, except for, what I presume to be, their leader. He slowly laughed, which quickly spread to his band of misfits. All except the rifle pony in the shades. None of whom had been hit by our fire.

I took the opportunity to scoop Tallie up and sprint into the house behind us. The rifle pony took a shot, just missing me and gazing Tallie's hind leg before embedding itself into the wall. I blew through the door, placed Tallie behind cover and wrapped up her bleeding leg in one of my healing bandages before glaring out the window. The rifle pony looked back at me and smirked.

“They've got us out numbered by two combatants, but not out gunned.” Snake Eyes said, analyzing the situation, “Rifle pony has a heavier caliber rifle, possibly armour piercing rounds but the rest have regular lead rounds and their guns look like shit. These ponies might be amateurs but not that rifle one.” he sat down beside me. “I do have an idea though.”

Ace and Stitches brought themselves in closer, carefully avoiding the windows and door. “Kinda simple really, Clover, you keep 'em talking, while Ace, Stitches and I slip out the back and...”

“Sneak round the sides and take em out by surprise. Just like The Blammo Bunch plan.” Ace said. Are we seriously going to use the same plan we used a few days ago again? Talk about repetition...

Everyone knew their parts and slid out the back door. All but me and Tallie. She was sniveling in a ball and holding her grazed leg. I patted her head feathers to calm her. She looked up at me with her pretty red eyes; I couldn't help but smile.

“No matter what happens, stay here.” I said. She nodded and sniffed. “Lets get this party started...” I muttered.

I looked out the window to see the ponies slowly making their ways toward me. I couldn’t see my friends, which I considered was a good thing.

“You want me alive?” I called out.

“Preferably. Your bounty is worth a few caps.” someone put a bounty on me? Why would they do that? Could've been a vengeful raider, or a Blammo. They're the only ponies I've managed to piss off so far...

“Who put up the bounty?”

“Dunno. The bounty just says 'DD' and the pickup says 'The Star' on the strip. Who did you piss off anyway?” Double Down... good to see I'm getting to him. I looked out the window and caught a glimmer from the barrel of a revolver. My friends were in position, take the ponies out dammit...

“Holy shit! Look out!” A pony with a shotgun said before shooting at a window of the house next to them. I heard Stitches shout, and a loud crash before the shotgun pony was taken out with the bull stopping power of Snake Eyes’ revolver. I reflexively pulled out my pistol and started firing at the ponies as I jumped out of cover. The firefight had started again.

Ace started to let rip with her shotgun, pinning two more ponies down as Snake Eyes picked off another from his high powered revolver. That left four. They was no fire from Stitches' weapon.

I ran at one of the ponies who had taken cover on the opposite side of the street. He raised his assault rifle at me but before he could fire, I brought my hooves down on the rusted barrel, smashing it to pieces. These guns were flimsy as fuck. We looked at the shattered remains of the rifle and back to each other. I smiled, he whimpered. I brought my hoof down on his face, effectively punching him. He rolled back but recovered, bringing his hoofs up.

“Oh please...” I muttered, he flung his hoof forward but narrowly missed, as he followed through with his failed punch, I took the opportunity to punch him in the gut, then a swift kick to the head. He doubled over but got back up, rage building in his eyes.

“Oh, come on! Just stay down!” I moaned before he pounced at me, knocking me over and brought his hoof down on my face, I tasted blood. He was grinning at me, thinking he had won, but one thing he didn't know was that I wasn't keen on loosing. I spat the blood that was building up in my mouth into his eyes, causing him to roll off of me and wipe away the blood. I punched him in the head and held him against the wall. His rage starting to make him froth at the mouth, he was clearly not healthy.

“I didn't want to do this.” I said as I pulled out my knife and shoved it into his throat. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. He went limp as the froth around his mouth started turning red. I dropped him and placed my knife back in its sheath and loaded a fresh mag into my pistol and got back in the fray.

Now it was Ace's turn to be pinned behind cover, one of the remaining ponies had caught her while she reloaded. Snake Eyes was concentrated on the boss pony and I couldn't see the rifle pony. Ace was calling out for help from behind a wall that was slowly chipping away from the merc's assault rifle. The merc really didn't seem smart, seeing as her back was completely unguarded.

I flicked the switch on my sniper and sneaked up behind her. “Hey.” I said as he turned. His eyes went wide before he screamed. As she opened his mouth a shoved the barrel of the rifle down his throat. “Buh-bye.” I pulled the trigger and watched as a red mist burst out of the merc's mouth and butt. I pulled the bloodied barrel out of her mouth, followed by a steam of blood. I looked over at the almost perfect outline of a pony that remained of the wall as Ace poked her head around it and smiled.

Boss pony was dumbstruck now that his gang was dead and was now receiving fire from two ponies. Wait, his gang wasn't all dead. Rifle pony was still around, but where? I took the opportunity of boss pony being distracted to scan the area for him.

I quickly found him in a bush with his eye down the rifle's sights but he wasn't aiming at me or anypony else. Maybe he was just a silly pony... or maybe he was aiming at the tiny griffin head poking out of the doorway of the house down the street. FUCK.

I rushed at him, hoping to get that rifle out of his hooves before he took the shot. The world went silent around me and all I could hear was my heart beating with every hoof fall, the mechanics of the rifle starting to click as the pony started to pull the trigger. I heard a primal roar as I launched myself through the air at the pony.

The shot rang out. I fell to the ground and skidded to a halt. What happened? I looked at the house and at Tallie's look of shock that was shared by the rifle pony as they stared at me. I looked down to see blood leaking from a puncture in my armour. I struggled for breath.

Everyone was staring at me, Ace, Snake Eyes, rifle pony, Tallie. The boss had taken the opportunity to scamper, climbing into his vehicle and starting to drive off before Snake Eyes started to shoot at him again. Ace sprinted to me, smacking the shocked rifle pony in the head with her shotgun, knocking him out and stopped next to me. I was fighting for air that wouldn't come.

I heard an explosion as Snake Eyes hit a critical component on the vehicle with his revolver, sending it up in flames. Blood spattered onto the dirt with each cough.

“Medic!” Ace called out. No answer.

The world was starting to feel cold as I choked on blood, trying to get air into collapsed, blood filled lungs. Blood started to pour down my riot gear. I looked over to the house to see Tallie cautiously running in my direction. I looked back at Ace, her eyes tearing up.

Snake Eyes appeared beside me and started to put pressure on my wound. I coughed blood over his hooves and dropped my head to the ground, the world started to spin and my vision was turning black. The shouts and calls from my friends were distorted, like I was hearing them through water.

Then I couldn't hear, see or feel anything.

The world turned black.

Footnote: Level up!

New perk: “Super Slam” all Unarmed and melee weapon attacks have a small chance of knocking down your opponent.

VERY special thanks to Errantindy for editing the first quarter, No One for her awesome help with dramatic effect and editing, Damhoof for the pre-read and the awesome people over on the FoE sidefic protodoc. You guys are awesome.

And Kkat for creating the world I have so gingerly implanted myself into.

Reviews, feedback and comments are welcome. As in, please comment. Please.

Tales of a Courier: Reloaded RELEASED!

Hey everyone!

The new revamped Tales of a Courier has been released and you can find it here:

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/12244/Fallout-Equestria%3A-Tales-of-a-Courier-Reloaded

Hope you enjoy it!