Fallout Equestria: Ice and Soul

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Chapter 1

Fallout Equestria :Ice and Soul

By Grahmcracker

Chapter 1: Awakening

I awoken with a gasp laying on the cold, hard floor of a cave. My whole body ached every movement, even my heart beat caused me pain, but none more than the pain in my head. It felt as if my brain was expanding about to explode out of my skull.

I looked around the cave. I saw the jagged walls of the cave and the stalagmites hanging from the ceiling. I slowly rose to my hoofs. My head was spinning as soon as I stood up. I slowly turned and saw the mouth of the cave. The light from outside was blinding. I shielded my eyes with my fore hoof causing me to lose my balance and sprawl forward onto my face. I groaned as I lay there on the cave floor. I looked around the cave confused. Confused as to where I was, how I got here and probably more important who I was.

I had no memory of who or even what I was. I looked at my fore hoof and saw that my coat was icy blue. I lifted my hoof and touched the top of my head and felt my mane, I turned my head to look at my body and I saw my tail, it was a ghostly gray color. I also noticed that I had wings sprouting from my back. I slowly unfolded my wings. They ached like the rest of my body. I flapped my wings to test them but stopped for the pain was too much, it nearly rivaled the pain in my head.

I looked back at the mouth of the cave and allowed my eyes to slowly adjust. I rose once again. I took a small step forward groaning from the aches and pains. I felt my knee wobble when I set my hoof down. Then I took another step forward then another. Soon enough I was slowly walking. I slowly made my way to the mouth of the cave, My knees and shoulders ached with each step.

I walked out of the cave onto a snow covered land. I was on the edge of a cliff looking over a dead forest. It was lightly snowing. I looked up at the sky and saw a thick layer of cloud cover the entire sky like a great gray ceiling. I looked to my right and saw a narrow path leading down the cliff face to I began to follow it.

I made it to the bottom of the cliff the path from the cave continued along the edge of the forest. As I followed along the path my body didn't ache as much, my headache was now just a throbbing pain. After walking a while I came upon gray building with some broken wagons in front of it. The building had at once two great plate glass windows for a store front they were now broken letting in all the wind and snow.

The building was just off of a road going north and south. The snow began to fall harder and the wind picked up. I decided it would probably be a good idea to wait for the snow to lighten up a bit before I continue wandering around in the snow. I crawled through the opening where the glass use to be. Glass cracked underneath my hoof as I walked into the building.

The building was a mess everything was knocked over or rummaged through. The walls were covered in writing. A lot of it was about some pony named Luna being fucked or raped and sucking a rooster for some reason. It was then that I realized that I could read. I didn't understand the words all the time but I could read them. I started thinking to myself, how can I read, why can I read, does this mean I have a life before the cave. That’s when my head went from a throbbing pain back the to the skull spitting pain from before. The pain was so intense that I had to sit down. As soon as the pain came it faded away.

I was cradling my head in my fore hoofs when heard some pony behind me say “Well it must be my lucky day another volunteer. Trapper get in here and bring another collar.” I turned around and standing just outside the window was a dirty orange mare with green hair. She had a horn sticking out of her head. On her flank was symbol of whip.

From around the corner came a large brown stallion with a rusty mane he didn't have a horn or wings. He had a symbol of a bear trap on his flank. He was carrying saddle bags. He looked at me and said with a twisted smile “A Pegasus, I bet Red eye will pay extra for a flier. Now get over here nice and easy or else we might have to hurt you.”

I didn't know what it was but something about these ponies that I didn't like. I didn't move I just stood there looking at them. The stallion started to look angry and shouted at me. “What are you slow or something I said get over here.”

“Maybe he is slow. Why else would a flier be down here.” The mare said turning to me. She gave me a sweet smile and said to me in a soft voice. “come here boy, it’s okay, are you hungry?” her horn began to glow a peach color and the saddle bad on her side opened up by itself and out floated a package. It too was glowing the same peach color as the mare’s horn.

My stomach began to growl and the mare smiled. “I think somebody’s hungry come on out and I will give you this.” She nodded to the package. My mouth began to water, they can’t be that bad if they are giving me food right? I thought to myself. I slowly began to walk towards them and the stallion said to the mare. “You think Red Eye is going to pay for a slow flier?”

“I don’t think Red Eye is all that picky.” She said as I came close enough to grab the package in my hoofs and ripped it open and took a bite of the contents. It was a pastry with a delicious sugary apple flavor. I looked at the wrapper and it read fancy buck cakes.

As I was enjoying the delicious cake I felt something hit the back of my head hard. I fell to the ground my headache started feeling a lot worst again. I heard the mare scream “what the hell was that?”

“I was trying to knock him out so we can take him to the others.” The stallion replied.

“I get that but what was that a fucking love tap. look he’s still awake.” The mare said.

I rolled over to look at the two ponies. They were standing over me the mare had a rifle hovering over me it was wrapped in the same glow as the cake before. “Let me do it.” She said as she took the butt of the rifle and slammed it into my face. The butt of the rifle hit me in my right eye it became difficult to see out of and I felt the right side of my face start throbbing. I instinctively covered my face with my hooves.

“Wow you sure showed me.” The stallion said sarcastically.'

“Shut up! He’s tougher than he looks. Just throw the collar on him and take him to the others. I’m going to see if there is anything good around here.” The mare demanded. I watched through my hoofs as the brown stallion pulled a large ring from out of his saddle bag. He walked over to me and stomped on my stomach causing me to grab my stomach leaving my neck exposed. The ring opened up and he put it around my neck. I heard mechanism move and lock into place when the collar closed.

“Now get up, and don’t even think about running cause if you get to far away that collar there will explode and you will be down one head.” The stallion said with a smirk. He looked down at me and his eyes went to my rear. “He’s a blank flank!” He yelled to the mare inside.

“What?” the mare yelled back from inside the building.

“Yeah, makes sense if he’s slow right.”

“I guess, you got the collar on him?” the mare asked.

“Yeah it’s on.” The stallion replied.

“Good lets head back.”

“Alright get up lets go.” The stallion commanded.

. I just looked up at him in pain, confused as to why they were doing this, they gave me food. The stallion grew angry and screamed at me “GET THE FUCK UP!!” he gave me a powerful kick to my stomach causing the snack cake to travel up my throat and out my mouth onto the ground next to me. The sugary apple flavor isn't as good tasting it the second time.

I slowly stood up and followed the brown stallion. The stallion called out to the mare still inside “You find anything cattails?”

The dirty orange mare jump through the broken window and said. “No this place must have been picked over a million times. Let’s hurry and get back to Mudpie before he gets bored and starts torturing one of the slaves.” We walked down the road for a few minutes. The stallion was leading the way as the orange mare followed closely behind me. As we were walking it became harder to see out of my right eye. After a few minutes we came across three other ponies. Two were wearing collars while the other was a bald green pony. He had a rifle attached to his side by some weird contraption on his back. The picture on his flank was a pie. He was balancing a knife on his hoof as he saw us walking up to him. He looked over at me with a wicked smile. He flipped the knife up into the air catching it in his teeth then sliding it into a sheath on his leg.

“You got another one.” He said then noticing my wings he said “and a flier to, well we got us the whole set. Sweet Celestia you two did a number on him.”

“He’s slow or something hasn't said a damn thing this whole time. We were going to just knock him out and save us a collar but he wouldn't go down.” Said the brown stallion.

“Enough chit chat chain him up with the others. The snow is lightening up, we can actually cover some ground.” Said the orange mare.

The green stallion brought me over to the other ponies. They were both mares and were wearing the same blue utility barding, each had a large bracelet on their left foreleg. One of the mares was young she looked like she was just entering adulthood. She had a light pink coat with purple mane her eyes were a soft green. She had a symbol of a Band-Aid over a heart on her flank. The other mare was a young filly. Her coat was white and her mane was rusty red and tied back in a ponytail. She had a picture of a wrench on her flank. There was something different about these two mares, for one they were a lot cleaner, they hardly had any dirt on their coats. Second was that they looked healthier like they had three good meals everyday of their lives.

The green stallion hooked the three of us together with a heavy chain and made us walk in single file down the road. The two stallions walked in front of use while the orange mare walked behind us. We walked for hours and it was starting to get dark. They made us stop in a building on the side of the road. The sign on the front of the building read Berry Punch’s Tap house. The inside of the building wasn't any better than the first place I was at. Graffiti covered the walls and stools and tables were flipped over.

The green stallion chained the mares and I to an exposed pipe in the wall while the brown stallion was searching all the cabinets and draws he could find. The orange mare levitated a hatchet out of her saddle bag and began chopping up tables and putting the wood in piles and lighting it on fire. Once the fire was big enough the orange mare and the two stallions went to huddled around the fire leaving us chained to the wall.

The two mares I was chained to were huddling together. The filly spoke in a shaky whisper “what’s going to happen to us miss syringe?” '

The older mare started softly petting the filly’s mane and said “I don’t know pipe but we are going to okay. Try and get some sleep okay I will figure something out.”

“But what about the stable we have to….”

The mare interrupted the filly and said “don’t you worry about that right now okay. Just get some sleep I’ll figure something out okay.”

“Miss Syringe, I’m cold.” The filly said weakly.

“I know pipe, just lay next to me I will keep you warm.” The mare said petting the fill’s mane. After a few minutes the filly was snoring lightly. The mare looked at me then down at the filly sleeping. “Her names Pipe Wrench she’s a brave little foal, practically begged me to take her outside the stable.” She said with a little smile that faded into a sad frown. “I shouldn't have brought her.”

She turned to me and said “my name is syringe I’m the nurse for stable 43. What’s your name?” I shrugged my shoulders. “You don’t know your name!” she said shocked. I just shook my head. “Can you speak?” I shrugged again, I never actually tried talking now that I think about it. She looked at my face and winced “does that hurt?” she said touching her eye with her hoof. I brought my hoof up to the eye I couldn't see out of and felt pain shoot trough the right side of my face. “Come here let me take a look at that.” She said beckoning me forward. I slowly inched my way towards her and she lightly grabbed my head in her hooves and pointed her horn at my face. I started to feel panicked, I didn't know what she was planning to do. Her horn started to softly glow green. I felt a tingling sensation on the right side of my face. I was starting to see out of my right eye again when I heard one of the ponies from around the fire scream “HEY we fucking told you no magic you stupid bitch.” We both turned to see the green stallion scowling down at us. The scream woke Pipe wrench.

“We warned you not to use magic you bitch.” The green stallion said.

“I’m sorry I was just trying to help him.” Syringe said meekly pointing at me.

“Are you talking back to me bitch, am I going to have to teach you a fucking lesson.” The other two around the fire just watched.

“No I’m sorry I won’t do any mo….” She was silenced by a kick to the face from the green stallion.“You just won’t learn will you bitch.” He said as he pulled out his knife.

The orange mare called over to the green stallion “Don’t cut her up too much, red eye might not pay for her as much.”

The green stallion took a step towards syringe. Pipe wrench jumped in front of Syringe and pleaded “No please don’t hurt her.” The stallion just knocked her back with a kick. He turned to look at me expecting me to do something. I scared when he looked at me, I didn't want to get beaten again. I don’t even know what’s going on, I have only been around a day. I took a little step back. The green stallion smiled with the knife in his teeth. He turned back towards syringe lying on the ground. She was looking at me and I saw fear in her eyes. She was terrified and it’s all because she was nice and tried to help me. She wasn't like these other ponies tricked me and beat me for no reason. She was actually nice right?

The green stallion turned his head reading to bring the knife down on Syringe. When I saw that he was going to hurt the only pony who showed me kindness the fear started to be replaced by something else something came bubbling up. I felt the intense urge to kill this green stallion before he hurt the only pony who has ever been nice to me. I rushed forward as fast as I possibly go. I bite down on his exposed neck as hard as I could and pulled away tearing a mouthful of fur, flesh and blood out of the green stallion’s neck.

I spit the chunk of stallion out of my mouth and looked at him. His eyes were wide in shock the smile he had from before faded away as blood poured out of the hole in his neck. Then he collapsed on to the floor a pool of blood expanding around him.

The other two ponies around the campfire looked at me in shock and horror. The orange mare was the first to react as she floated up her rifle, pointed it at me and fired. I felt the bullet rip through my unprotected hide into my chest.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Departure

The bullet tore through my body. I fell to the ground as the bullet lodged into my chest collapsing into the pool of blood from the green stallion. Out of the corner of my eye I saw syringe laying on the floor a look of horror on her face as she stared at me. Pipe wrench ran next to syringe asking her if she was okay.

The orange mare told the brown stallion “go get the collar off the flier.”

“Fuck that.” Said the brown stallion his voice trembling. “Did you see what he did to mud pie? I’m not going anywhere near him.”

“I’m not buying another collar because you were to chicken shit to pull a perfectly good one off a dead body.” The orange mare said agitated.

“Are you sure he’s dead?”

“Yes im sure, now get the collar and you two,” she said pointing to Syringe and Pipe “Back away and no funny ideas.” Said the orange mare.

I heard the brown stallion walk towards me. I closed my eyes and tried not to move or breath. I heard him jumbling with something inside his saddle bag. I heard a click and the collar fell off my neck.

Opening my eye slightly and saw the brown stallion’s back towards me with the collar in his mouth. The orange was staring down at syringe and pipe wrench with her rifle pointed at their heads. I saw the knife still in the green stallion’s mouth. This would is my chance I thought. Rolling towards the green stallion I grabbed the knife out of his mouth, Standing up I charged the brown stallion. The stallion turned around eyes wide in shock. I plunged the knife into one of his eyes. He screamed as the knife pierced his eye, I twisted the knife and he stopped screaming and fell to the floor with the knife stuck in his eye. I kicked his still body in the stomach as hard as I could. That what you get for making me throw up the snack cake I thought to myself. There was another loud band and a pain in my side.

I turned towards the orange mare, her rifle was pointed at me now, and she reloaded another round and fired again the bullet hitting me in the shoulder. That last bullet knocked me down. I laid on the floor at the orange mare walked up to me sticking the barrel of the gun against the side of my head I felt the hot barrel burn my coat. She looked down and said “fucking die.” Her voice was full of hatred and anger. Pressing the gun even harder against my head I watched as the trigger was slowly being pulled back with magic. Then out of nowhere a rock wrapped in green magic struck the orange mare in back of the head. The glow around her horn and the rifle disappeared, the rifle fell clattering to the floor. The orange mare and I looked to Syringe, she was levitating another rock to throw at the slaver mare. “You fucking cunt!” the orange mare screamed as she magically picked up her rifle and pointed it at Syringe.

Syringe dropped her rock and backed away putting herself between the slaver and Pipe. I watched as I laid on the floor in pain and covered in blood. The Orange mare struck syringe with the butt of her rifle knocking her over. The Slaver pointed the gun at Syringes head, Pipe wrenched screamed for her to stop. I looked at the orange mare, that lying, deceitful, evil bitch. I felt that same bubbling feeling from before. Hatred that’s what it was I hated that orange mare, I wanted her dead, I wanted her to suffer. The pain from the bullet wounds faded. I stood up and screamed “BITCH!”

The slaver turned to me swinging her rifle towards me. I charged at the slaver, she looked panicked as she tried to shoot me. The gun went off but I didn’t feel it hit me. The orange mare tried to reload another round when I got close to her. I slammed into her sending her sprawling backwards causing her to lose her magical grip on the gun. She was laying on her back as I stood over her. She looked up at me with the same look in her eyes syringe had before. “Please, please don’t kill me. Im sorry please don’t kill me.” She begged pathetically. I didn’t care I placed my hoof on her throat and put all my weight on it.

Her eyes bulged and she started flailing her limbs. Soon her eyes rolled back and her body went limp. I looked down at the broken body of the orange mare and felt drained of energy, falling backwards I laid down on my back staring up at the ceiling. I was exhausted and sticky from the blood on my coat. After catching my breath I rolled over looking at the two fear stricken mares. “Are you okay?” I asked. They nodded their heads. Rolling over back onto my back I closed my eyes and said “good, that’s good……My body hurts.”

“If you get these collars off of us and we will give you a healing potion.” Pipe wrench said boldly.

“Pipe! Shush.” Scolded Syringe. “Let me handle this.”

“Miss Syringe if we trade him a potion for getting things off, every ponies happy.”

I pushed myself to my hoofs “okay how do I get them off?”

“You have to get the transmitter from him.” Pipe wrench said rejoining the conversation, pointing at the brown stallion. “I saw him put it in his saddle bag after taking your off. It should be in the right bag.”

I went over to the dead stallion and opened his bag when pipe wrench yelled at me “No his right.” Switching bags I started going through it. It was mostly filled with bullets and extra collars. There was some strange items too, like a cloth bag filled with bottles caps I took it out and threw it into a pile of junk. I pulled out a glass bottle filled with a dark liquid, the faded label read Sparkle-cola I set it down next to me. After digging through the bad some more a came across a flat metal rectangle with a small glass panel and a bunch of plastic squares with letters and numbers on them. I pulled it out and showed it to Pipe Wrench.

“That’s it!” she exclaimed “give it to me.” I walked over to her and set it down in front of her. She pushed a button on the device and the screen lit up with a green glow. She tapped the squares with her little hoofs and the collars unlocked and fell to the ground.

“Wow that’s amazing how did you do that?” I asked astonished looking at the strange glowing device.

“I used terminals all the time back in 43. Easiest way to find out what was wrong with the system.” She said proudly tapping her chest.

“You did a very good job Pipe, but we should get going.” Syringe said patting the white filly’s head. She stood up stepping around the bead bodies in front of her and walked over to the fire.

“Where are you going, it’s still dark out.” I pointed out. “Wouldn’t it be better to leave once its morning?”

“It would be better but,” She looked over at Pipe wrench who was sitting by the fire warming her hooves over the flames. “I don’t think Pipe needs to stay here any longer. It’s not good for a filly to see such things.”

“Im okay Miss Syringe, really. We can wait till morning.”

“No sweetie you shouldn’t have to look at that.” Referring to the gory scene behind them. “Plus we have to make up a lot of lost time.”

“I know but it’s just a few more hours till morning can’t we just rest?” Pleaded pipe.

“No this isn’t up for discussion.” She said sternly. Then her voice softened. “I know your cold and tired pipe but the stable is counting on us. Now go see if you can find our things while I tend to our friend here.”

Did she just call me their friend? I never had friends before. At least I don’t remember any friends, I must have had friends right. Everybody has friends even those slavers where friends right. I thought to myself. I must have been thinking hard because I didn’t notice Syringe walking up to me. She coughed getting my attention. She was sitting right in front of me staring at me. I looked into her soft green eyes. She’s kind of pretty, for a unicorn, there is something familiar about her. My thought were interrupted this time by a painful headache. It was like somebody pounding nails into my skull. I clenched my eyes shut and held my head in my hooves.

“Are you okay, what’s wrong?” Syringe asked alarmed.

“Yeah, no I’m okay just a headache.” The pain faded and I opened my eyes to syringe looking worried.

“Are you sure, maybe you have a concussion. Pipe have you found my medical bag yet.”

“I got it right here Miss Syringe.” Pipe Wrench ran up to us carrying a white saddle bag with a red cross on it. She set it down next to syringe who opened the bag with her magic and levitated out a small black tube. She pointed the tube at my eye and a bright light shone from the end of the tube. She pointed the light into each of my eyes. She turned off the light and put it back in her bag.

“Well it doesn’t look like you have a concussion, how’s your bullet wounds?” she asked examining the small holes in my body. “I can’t if this is your blood or not. Are you feeling light headed or dizzy?”

“No just hurts a bit, I’m kind of getting use to the pain.”

“Well you’re lucky, it doesn't look like it hit anything vital. Here drink this.” She levitated out a small vial filled with a purple liquid. She uncorked it with her magic and floated it in front of me. I grabbed it between my hooves and took a sip. I didn’t care for the taste, it just tasted chemically. I swallowed the vile and felt the pain fade away. I looked down at my chest and watched the bullet wound start closing.

“So I thought you couldn't talk?” syringe asked closing her bag.

“I guess I could after all, I must of just forgot how to. I don’t remember anything before today.” I explained.

“You must have some sort of amnesia, I’m sorry but I’m not trained in memory spells.” The bullet wounds were now completely healed.

“Feel better?” She asked. I nodded lightly touching my chest where the hole once was with my hoof amazed that such a small vial of purple stuff could do so much. “Good, well we will be going now, be careful out there.” She turned away from me and walked to the door were pipe wrench was waiting. “Did you find everything sweetie?”

“Yes Miss Syringe, at least I think so.” Pipe was wearing a strange saddle bag with several pouches filled with all kinds of tools of different shapes and sizes.

“Good now stick close to me and keep an eye on your EFS this time.” She went to leave when I called out to her.

“Wait! Do you think I can go with you two? I mean maybe it would be safer for us to travel together.” I asked hopefully.

“Pipe why don’t you go wait outside I will be out in a sec,” pipe looked from Syringe to me then quickly stepped outside turning back to give me a small wave goodbye. “Look Sir, I appreciate you getting us out of those collars but I don’t know who you are or what kind of pony you are and you scare me after what you did to those slavers. I am responsible for pipe and I’m not going to put her at risk traveling with a dangerous stranger, I’m sure you understand. Now good bye and may Luna protect you and Celestia guide you.” She turned and walked out the door and disappeared into the darkness.

I stood in the empty building next to the dying fire feeling very much alone. I sat and watched the fire slowly dwindle into a pitiful pile orange embers. When the last of the embers died it was morning. Large snowflakes slowly drifted down from the sky. Stepping outside and felt to cold air on my face and body. I saw two snow filled tracks of hoof prints following the road. They were slowly being filled by the falling snow and would soon disappear.

Standing there I started thinking about what I should do. Should I follow them? I have no were else to go, I don’t want to stay here that’s for sure. Maybe I could go in the other direction? Although that was the way the slavers were taking us. It would probably be best not to go where the slavers were going. My thoughts were interrupted by a large growl and an empty feeling from my stomach. So I decided I should eat first, I went inside and walked over to the body of the orange mare and dug through her saddle bag finding another snack cake. I ripped open the package and took a bite of the delicious pastry. It was carrot flavored I ate the whole thing in two bites not even savoring the flavor just the feeling of something in my belly. I found and ate two more cakes before I felt satisfied.

I pulled of the orange mare’s saddle bags putting it on myself. The bags were uncomfortable clearly not meant for a pony with wings. After some adjusting I was able to shift the bags behind my wings. I scavenged as much food as I could which didn’t amount to much. Thinking that I should probably have a weapon in case I met another slaver. so I went over to the brown stallion and tried to pull the knife out of his eye. I gripped the handle in my teeth and gave it a tug. The blade wouldn’t budge from the stallion’s eye socket. So I placed a hoof on his neck and grabbed the handle with my mouth and pushed the buck away while pulling on the handle. I heard a snap and fell backwards landing on my rump. I spit out the handle and saw that the knife broke at the hilt leaving the blade in the eye of the slaver.

I saw the rifle strapped to the green stallion’s side. I unhooked from the contraption it was connected to. I held it in my hooves and thought out loud “How the hell am I supposed to use this without magic?” after looking over the rifle for a minute I got the general idea of how it might work. After some awkwardly shuffling the rifle between my hooves I got the trigger in my mouth and the butt stock resting against my shoulder. I had to hold the front part of the rifle up with one of my hooves. I pulled on the trigger with my tongue but nothing happened. I pulled on the trigger harder and harder but to no avail. Stupid piece of shit I thought to myself flinging the rifle across the room.

I found the ax the unicorn used to chop the tables with. The ax head was chipped and rusty but better than nothing. I put the ax into the saddle bag and left the building walking down the snow covered road

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I followed the direction Syringe and Pipe Wrench were walking towards, I passed where the slavers captured me. I the snow was falling much harder now and the wind was blowing the loose snow around. I held my wings on either side of my head trying to keep the snow out of my face. I’ve been following the road for a while when I came to a cross roads. All of the signs where either knocked down or covered in snow.

Feeling lost and hopeless I sat down in the snow. What the hell am I doing I don’t know where I’m going. Plus she probably wouldn't like it if she knew I was following them. I sighed as I watch the snow fall. I guess I will just wonder around in the snow until I remember who I am. Standing up a looked around at the three branching roads. I pulled the ax out of my saddle bag and threw it up into the air. The ax twirled in the air and landed in the snow, the ax head roughly pointed to the road going right. “Right it is then.” Scooping up the ax I followed the road going right.

I eventually came across a small neighborhood with a dead end. The houses were arranged in a horse shoe pattern around a circle that ended the street. I’ve been wandering around all day and my legs were tired and my back hurt from the improperly placed saddle bags. Going over to one of the nearest houses. The house like the others on the street were run down, they were missing siding and shingles, a few of the roofs were caved in and some of the windows were broken. I tried to open the front door but found it locked so I went to the next one and the next one each locked. Finally at the last house I turned the knob and the door opened. I smiled relieved to fine an unlocked door. I looked across the street at the first locked house and followed my path from house to house and groaned in frustration. It had to be last one I check. Thinking as I pushed the door open and walked into the abandoned house.

The inside of the house was orderly and neat, nothing was knocked over, there was no writing on the walls unlike the last places I was in. the only indication that nobody has lived in the house for a long time was the thick layer of dust that covered every surface. The font room of house was the living room with stairs going up to the second level. A hallway on the right side of the house led to some back rooms.

I shook my saddle bags off and threw them on a nearby chair. Stretching out my wings I looked around the living room. There was a few chairs with small tables next to them and a sofa. On one of the little tables was a faded old newspaper picking it up the paper was from the Whinneapolis times and the head line read Victory on the Horizon. The rest of the paper was faded. I tried to open the paper but I crumbled in my hooves. Setting the ancient paper down I saw a picture frame on the table, picking it up I wiped the dust away. It was a picture of a family of three. The picture showed of an earth pony colt standing between an earth pony mare and stallion. This must have been the family that lived here. I wonder what happened to them? I thought as I set the picture back down on the table.

I headed down the hallway to the back of the house. I walked past the bathroom into the kitchen. The floors were a black and white checkered tile. The white paint on the walls and cupboards was peeling and chipped showing the brown wood underneath. I opened one of the cupboards to only find it empty. After searching all of the cupboards I only found a box of salt and a variety of dishes. The fridge was empty as well the only thing inside was an empty mustard jar. The place must have been picked clean but why wasn't it destroyed like everywhere else I thought looking at the tidy kitchen. As I was walking out of the kitchen I passed a silver cylinder with a black pedal at the base. I inspected the metal cylinder wondering what it was for I cautiously stepped on the pedal and the top flipped up. Looking inside the metal tube I saw crushed cans and flattened boxes. “Well that explains were all the food went.” I thought out loud. I left the empty kitchen and walked back to the front of the house.

Back in front of the house I climbed the stairs up to the second floor. There were three doors on the second level. I opened the door on the right and peeked inside. It must have been the colt’s room because there were toys strewn across the floor. I walked inside careful not to step on any of the toys. The room at one time must have been colorful, but now the layer of dust and time dulled the brightly painted chest with the word ‘Toys’ written on it.

Against the far wall was a small bed, the bedding was tattered and decayed. The blanket was covered in pictures of ponies in strange and funny costumes around big words that read ‘Power Ponies’. The blanket was pulled up to the very head of the bed covering something. I pulled the blanket back and resting on the pillow was a small skull starring up at the ceiling.This must be the colt from the picture, he doesn't look like he was killed, I wonder how he died. I thought as I looked over the small skeleton. I threw the blanket back over the colt’s skull and left the room.

I check the remaining two rooms, the middle door was just to a small broom closet with nothing of interest. The last room is where I found the parents. They were just a pair of skeletons sitting on top of the sheets, a snub nosed revolver was next to the larger pile of bones. I picked the gun up in my hoofs and blew off the thick layer of dust. The revolver seemed to be in decent condition. Tucking the gun under my wing to continue searching the room. On the table next to the bed was a weird device with four buttons on it. The first was a red circle, then a black square, two vertical black bars, a green triangle pointing right and one with two triangle pointing one way and another button like it but pointing the other way. I slowly pushed the button with the black square and nothing happened, then the one with the two black bars and again nothing. When I pushed the green triangle. The button went down with a click and stayed pushed down. Thinking that I probably broke the thing, the machine started to speak. I took a step back in surprise when the voice of a stallion erupted from the device.

“I don’t even know why I’m doing this, it just makes me feel better,” the voice from the thing was old and sounded tired. “Hopefully whoever you are listening to this you don’t judge me and my wife too harshly. My name is charcoal, my wife is Honey stick and our boy Buckle. It’s been about four maybe five weeks since the bombs fell. It’s hard to keep track of the days since the pegasi closed the skies. Anyway we ran out of food two days ago, I haven’t eaten in about eight. I gave my share to buckle and Honey though I’m sure she’s was giving buckle most of her food too. We still have water but who knows how much longer we’ll have that for not that it really matters. We are all starving, Buckle didn't complain he was a good kid like that, never complained but I saw it in his eyes. We didn't want to see him starve… and I know it wasn't right but it just seemed kinder,” the voice was shaky as it continued. “Last night when buckle was asleep we went into his room and we smothered him with his pillow. I made sure that I was the one to do it, a mother shouldn't have to kill her foal at least not like that. He didn't struggle much he was to weak,” the voice was crying now, after a minute the voice composed itself. “There is nothing left for us now, we are just going to end it now at least we will all be with celestia. Good bye whoever you are.” The voice ended and the green triangle button popped back up. The room was silent as I thought about what I just heard. The two dead ponies had taken their own lives after they killed their young colt just down the hall. And what was that about bombs and pegasi closing the sky. What happened here and why don’t I remember anything. I left the room heading back down stairs.

Downstairs I put the revolver in my saddle bag and laid down on the couch. It was getting dark out and the wind was picking up. I laid back on the couch listening to the wind howl outside. I don’t know why but it was comforting listening to the wind blowing just outside. I quickly drifted off to sleep.

I awoke the next morning my throat and mouth were dry, I smacked my lips feeling the dryness, and I licked my dry lips with a dry tongue. I guess I haven’t drank anything since the cave but where am I going to find something to drink I thought. Rolling off the couch on to my hooves, I opened my saddle bags hoping that I had something to drink. I dumped the contents of the bags on the floor. Out fell the revolver, the ax, and the few remaining snack cakes. Looking at the small pile in the middle of the floor I fell on my ass sighing in defeat. How could I forget to bring something to drink? I bet those slavers had water or something. Suddenly I remembered what the voice from the machine said ‘We still have water but who knows how much longer we’ll have that’ it was a long shot but I jumped up and ran to the bathroom. I went to the sink and twisted one of the knobs, and nothing happened. “No, no, no, no.” I said panicked turning the other knob. Slowly a small trickle of brown water started to come out of the spout. Turning the knob more the water started to pour faster. The brown water gave way to clear water, I stuck my head in the sink and slurped up the falling water. I gave a sigh of relief, I licked my lips and tasted iron. I looked down at the sink and saw red drops fall from my face.

I looked at the mirror above the sink, the mirror was covered in dust and grim. Using my foreleg I wiped the mirror clean and saw myself for the very first time. My coat and mane were dyed a reddish brown, matted down with dried blood. The area around my mouth was the thickest with blood. My eyes they were an icy blue they contrasted with the blood. Looking at my blood stained coat and main I can understand why Syringe said I scared her. I grabbed a nearby towel and wetted it in the sink and cleaned myself off.

==============================================================================

I left the house following the road out of the neighborhood. Eventually I got to a highway following it I had to weave my way pass broken down carts and carriages. The cart and carriages I passed looked ancient and rusted some even looked burnt, like they were set fire to. So I was surprised when I came across a small intact cart filled with boxes of different shapes and sizes. The cart seemed to be abandoned, I cautiously walked up to the cart expecting slavers to jump out. I reached the cart scanning the nearby wagons, when I was sure it I was alone I started going through the cart. I opened the first metal box, inside was a bunch of twisted scrap metal. Pushing it aside I opened another, inside was a leather jacket. I held it up and admired it. It was made out of brown leather, and the inside was lined with the soft black fur. The jacket had two slits fashioned into the back for wings to poke through, clearly it was made for Pegasus’s. I set the jacket aside and started looking through another box when I heard from front of the wagon ‘ker chak’. I looked up, poking out from under some blankets a large barrel was pointed at my face. “You raiders are going to have to wait till im cold in the ground before you can get your dirty little hooves on my wares.” Said a pile of blankets with a drawl.

“Look I’m sorry, I thought it was abandoned.” I said slowly walking backwards.

The blankets rose up sliding off the old stallion with the shotgun. His coat was black peppered gray with age, his mane was black with streaks of gray, and he had a picture of two coins on his flank. He was wearing a puffy faded blue jacket with the hood pulled up over his head. He held the shotgun in his mouth still pointing at me. He looked me up and down before he spit the shotgun out and said. “You don’t look like a raider. What you are doing out here in the cold naked as the day your mama birthed you?”

I shrugged “I don’t know, I’m just out walking around.”

“So you’re just out wandering around in the snow,” he chuckled. “They told me you Whinneapolis pony were weird but I didn’t think you were stupid.”

“Whinneapolis, what’s that?” I asked.

“Whinneapolis, the city this road leads to. You’re not from around here are you?” the old buck asked.

I shook my head. “Well then where are you from then” he noticed my wings and with a look of realization said “Ahh you must be a dashite then huh, you know I met another dashite down south in New Appleloosa. Calamity was his name, don’t suppose you know him.”

“what, no I don’t know him. Whats a dashite?” I asked confused. Dashite, Whinneapolis, New Appleloosa, what’s with all these new words, why don’t I know any of this, did I use to know what all these words mean. Maybe I am this dashite thing. I though as the old buck looked at me in concern.

“What’s your name son?” he asked taking me away from my thoughts.

“I don’t know, I don’t even know where I am. I woke up in a cave on a mountain two days ago. I don’t know how I got there or even who I am. I’ve just been wandering hoping to remember something.” I said.

“Its okay son, let’s just calm down. Let me introduce myself, my name is Wooden Nickel. Sorry about the shotgun, but can’t be too careful with raiders and what not,” Wooden Nickel said with a kindly smile slinging the shotgun over his back. “I’m on my way to Faribuck, it’s about half a day’s trot north of here. If you help pull the cart I will give you that there jacket you were eyeing.”

“Okay, sure.” I said looking at the old Stallion. I probably shouldn’t trust him. The memory of those slavers acting kindly to me only to beat me was still fresh in my mind. On the other hoof he could have just shot me. Plus I kind of want that jacket. I thought to myself.

“Wonderful, now the cart is a bit stuck but I’m sure we can free it if we work together. Now why don’t you strap yourself in a pull while I push.”

He jumped out of the back of the cart while I walked up the front crawling into the harness. After tightening it I looked back and wooden nickel. “Okay on three,” he said. “One…Two….Three!” I felt him begin pushing the cart. I pushed off with my legs the straps of the harness digging into my skin pulling it back as I tried to move forward. The cart begin to move forward as I felt the snow holding the cart give. Wooden Nickel whooped in joy as the cart began to roll forwards. “Yee-haw I knew we could do it.” Wooden Nickel said catching up to me.

We walked in silence for a while before I had to ask. “what happened here?”

“What do you mean son?”

“This,” I swept my hoof across the landscape. “What happened here? Why is everything destroyed?”

“Ah that, well there was this war about two hundred years ago against the zebras. It lasted for decades before the zebras destroyed the world with balefire bombs. Whinneapolis isn't even that bad compared to other parts of the wasteland. Canterlot is just plain inhospitable unless you’re a ghoul, and Hoofington is a monster unto its self.” Wooden Nickle explained. “Its all trivial really, the reasons why. What about you? Ya said you woke up in a cave.”

“Uhm yeah I woke up in a cave, I couldn't remember anything and i was in pain.” I said. Then I told him about slavers capturing me, and meeting Syringe and Pipe Wrench and killing the slavers.

“Well you had a busy first day I would say. What happened to the other two ponies?”

“They left, Syringe the one that helped me said she didn't trust me and didn't want me around Pipe Wrench.”

“It’s the wasteland after all, it’s a gamble just to trust a pony. Most shoot first and don’t bother asking questions after.”

“Why are you trusting me then?”

“I suppose I could ask you the same question, how do you know I’m not leading you into a trap?”

“You could have shot me earlier, and I really like that jacket. So I guess I’m taking a gamble.”

He just smiled and said. “I knew you weren't no raider. My nickel sense told me you meant me no harm. I suppose that’s how I lived for so long and have traveled so far.”

“Nickel sense, what’s that.”

“it’s just a feeling in my gut, it told me that you weren't no danger. It also told me to wait in my cart when it got stuck.” He said. “So, what happened next, after killing those slavers?”

“Well after Syringe and Pipe Wrench left I hung around the place until morning. Then decided to head in the same direction they went, but I lost their trail and then just started wandering around until it got dark out. That’s when I found an empty house to sleep in. Turns out the house I slept in use to belong to this family. The parents killed their Colt then themselves when they ran out of food.”

“Yeah still happens to this day. There’s this place down in Hoofington. Chapel if I remember correctly Ponies would go there to kill themselves when life became too hard. Lovely little place Chapel, too bad it has such a dark part of it. No place in the wasteland is pure.” He said looking down sadly.

“Yeah…” I said unsure on how to respond to that last part. “Anyways I left the house this morning and found you. So what’s Faribuck like?”

“Nice little place right off the interstate, small town folk of course haven’t been up this way in a few years but things don’t change much in the waste. I’m sure old drunk Sheriff Longmare still running the place.”

We finally reached Faribuck around midafternoon. We followed a green sign pointing up a hill. We walked up the hill careful not to slip on any ice for fear of sliding down the hill with the cart. As soon as we reached the crest of the hill there was a battered old sign with faded paint welcoming us to Faribuck.

The town was one road with old brick buildings on both sides of the street. The streets and sidewalks were cleared of snow. The place was surprisingly busy with ponies. They all were wearing coats or jackets of different kinds, some were wearing scarves or hats, and I even saw one with fluffy pink things over their ears. They were walking in and out of buildings, crossing the street and even a few ponies pulling carts larger than the one I was pulling.

As we walked down the street many of the ponies stopped and watched us, some were whispering to each other and pointing at me. Wooden Nickel paid no attention to the ponies but I felt exposed and vulnerable I looked down at the cracked road trying to avoid the eyes of the town ponies. Wooden Nickel had me pull the cart over to the side of the street and unstrapped me from the cart.

“Well son, deals a deal the jacket is yours.” He said taking the jacket out from the back of the cart and holding it out to me. I took the jacket from him and held it up in front of me. “Well put it on let’s see how it fits.” I wiggled my saddlebags off and put the jacket on fitting my wings through the holes in the back the coat fit perfectly. I felt the soft fur against my coat, I smelled the leather it was such a pleasurable smell, and I swear I could smell it all day. “Well now I would say that coat was made for ya.” He said fixing the collar.

“Thank you Wooden Nickel.”

“Just call me nickel son no need to be so formal. Now I got to go sell my wares why don’t you go take a look around town for a while and meet me in the greasy trough later, I’ll treat you to a hot meal.” He said pointing down the street to a building with a sign hanging above the door.

“You don’t need to do that.” I said.

“Nonsense it’s my way of thanking you.”

“For what?”

“For not being a raider. To be perfectly honest with ya, my shotguns empty. So its my way of thanking you for not being a raider and calling my bluff then slitting my throat.” He said with a big grin on his face as he turned to enter the store.

I threw my saddle bags back on and started walking down the street. As I walked down the street I could feel the eyes of the other ponies on me. Walking down the sidewalk I passed a mare and a stallion walking the other direction, as I got close to them the mare scooted closer to the stallion. After we passed each other I heard the mare whisper “That’s was the blank flank.”

I looked back at them they were looking at me out of the corner of their eyes. Feeling more eyes on me I looked across the street and more ponies were staring at me, I even saw some looking at me from out of windows. I didn’t like them staring at me I felt scared. It wasn’t like when I walked in with Nickel now I was alone and nopony to help me. I had to get away from their eyes I walked to the nearest door and entered the building.

I pushed my way through the door, slamming it behind me. As I leaned against the door catching my breath I heard a small voice behind me say “Welcome to the office of Doctor Suture how may we treat you?”

I turned around and saw that I was standing in the reception area of a small office with chairs lining the walls and a large desk in front of me. Sitting behind the desk was Pipe Wrench, she was sitting on a pile of books to be able to look over the desk. She recognized me saying “You’re that pony that was captured with us!”

“Yeah I am, what are doing here?.”

“We didn't have enough supplies so Miss Syringe got a job here as a nurse so we can earn some money, apparently the money we used in the stable doesn't work out here.” She explained.

Behind the desk the door to one of the rooms opened a pink unicorn with a purple mane stuck her head out from behind the door “Pipe sweetie I thought I heard the door is somepony here?” she asked looking at Pipe before her eyes moved to me when she saw me her body tensed.

Pipe turned around to look at the nurse pony while pointing her little hoof as me saying. “Look Miss Syringe it’s that pony that killed those slavers.”

“Yes I can see that Pipe,” she said pushing the door all the way open and walking up behind where pipe was sitting. Her mane was tied up in a bun, she was still wearing the blue barding from before but now with a stained tattered lab coat over it. She glared at me and asked in a calm voice “What are you doing here, what do you want?”

“I.. uh, I just came in here to get away from the other ponies, I didn't know you two were in here.” I said looking down at my hooves avoiding her stare.

From behind the desk another door swung open and out trotted a middle aged yellow Unicorn stallion with a brown comb mane, the symbol on his flank was a needle and thread, he was wearing a lab coat similar to Syringe except more stained with dried blood. “Nurse that will be it today,” he said before noticing me. When he saw me he seemed to examine me before saying “The office is closing and since it doesn't seem like you’re about to die you will have to come back tomorrow, oh and to save us both our time I don’t sell chems so you’re going to have to get your fix somewhere else.” He said irritated.

“I am sorry Doctor he was about to leave, weren't you.” She said the last part sternly. I nodded my head feeling like I was in trouble for something.

“Well good, I will see you two tomorrow, its going to be a long day Misses Dandelion is due to give birth so get some sleep.” The Doctor said putting on a wool cap and wrapping a scarf around his neck as he walked out the front door.

Syringe and Pipe Wrench were putting on hats and scarves as well. We left the building Syringe locking the door behind us. It was dark now, a pony holding a torch walk around the street lighting barrels on fire illuminating the street. We were standing in the middle of the street when Syringe asked me fiercely “Why are you here, where you following us.”

“No,” I said defensively “well kinda, I was just following your tracks but then they got covered with snow, then I just kind started wandering around then I ran into this pony who needed help pulling his cart and that brought me here.” I explained.

“Why were you following us?”

“I don’t know, I’m new here didn't know what else to do I wasn't going to keep going in the direction the slavers were taking us.”

Syringe eyed me up and down she was clearly thinking about what I said. She seemed to believe me. “Okay just don’t follow us anymore ok. Let’s go pipe.” She turned away from me walking down the street towards another one of the buildings lining the street with pipe following behind her.

Pipe looked back at me and called “Bye Mister Blank Flank.”

“Pipe that’s very rude.” I heard Syringe scold the little filly.

“But it’s true.” She defended.

“There’s the truth, then there’s being nice.”

I watched them walk down the street before going into one of the less ramshackle buildings. Blank flank that’s the same thing the slavers, that one mare called me. So what if I didn't have a picture on my ass, what’s the big deal? I thought to myself when I remembered Nickel wanted me to meet him at the greasy trough. I headed down the street towards the building he pointed out earlier.

The Greasy trough was a large room with a long counter on one side of the room with shelves full of different color bottles. A light grayish indigo stallion was behind the counter serving ponies sitting on stools in front of the counter. The rest of the room was filled with tables of varies size. The whole place was crowded full of ponies eating, the air was filled with the sound of conversation and plates clattering together, and music coming out of a small box sitting on the counter. I looked around the room spotting Nickel sitting alone at a small round table in the back he saw me and waved me over. As I made my way through the crowd ponies would stop talking and wait for me to walk by then would mummer to each other. I quickened my pace getting to Nickel’s table faster. I sat down across from him on a wobbly stool.

“I’m sorry I didn't know how much longer you were going to be so I ordered for you is that okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” I said still feeling some strange eyes on my back. “Nickel, what’s with all these ponies? Why do they keep staring at me?”

“Probably just cause they never seen a Pegasus before. Not a lot of your kind down here, they tend to stay up above the clouds.”

“It’s not just that I’ve heard one call me a blank flank, and the slavers called me that too. What does it mean?”

“Well I didn't want to bring it up, but since you asked. You don’t have a cutie mark son and that isn't normal for a pony your age, most ponies get theirs when they are still young. A not pony getting theirs is quite strange.”

“What’s a cutie mark?”

“This,” he twisted on his stool showing his back leg tapping the picture of the two coins. “That’s a cutie mark, is symbolizes your talent, or personality, even character.” He explained readjusting himself on the stool.

“So what’s the big deal, maybe I just haven’t found my talent yet. I mean I don’t even remember anything before three days ago.” I defended.

“Perhaps but cutie marks are a strange magic, I don’t think a simple case of amnesia going to make it go away,” He said before leaning towards me his face becoming serious. “Plus to some ponies, particularly the more superstitious ones, a Stallion or Mare with no cutie mark is an omen, sign of bad things to come.” He leaned back and he smiled. “But enough of that lets have a drink.” He raised his hoof up pointing down at the table. A Tired older mare walked over to us, she had a light amber coat with a light crimson mane with streaks of gray. She had wrinkles around her eyes and an unlit cigarette in her mouth.

“A bottle of whiskey and glasses darling if you don’t mind.” Nickel said sweetly to the old mare. She just nodded and walked over to the counter. She came back a minute later balancing a tray on her back with a brown bottle and two small glasses. She set the tray down on the table. “Thank you darling.” Nickel said laying several bottle caps on the table. The old mare scooped them up and walked away.

“What was that?” I asked amazed that the mare took the old bottle caps.

“What was what son?” he asked uncorking the bottle and pouring a clear brown liquid into the glasses.

“Why did you give her bottle caps?”

“I had to pay for the whiskey, they don’t just give this stuff away.” He said as he finished pouring the liquid and slid one of the glasses over to me.

“Why bottle caps?” I asked.

“It’s how we pay for things. They are the only thing to survive and there are loads of them. Sure some ponies will accept prewar money, but most of the wasteland uses caps.”

I guess I just have to go along with it, it’s not like I know how the wasteland works. I thought to myself while raised his glass with a hoof and said “to friendship.” I mimicked him although I seemed to have more trouble balancing the glass on my hoof. He brought his glass forward and tapped mine causing a barely audible clink over the sound of the other ponies and music. He brought the glass to his lip’s tilted is head back and poured the brown liquid down his throat. “AAH that’s good stuff, worth every cap.”

I sniffed the brown liquid, the fumes burned my nose. I brought the glass up to my lips and tilted my head back like Nickel and let the contents of the glass pour into my mouth. The brown liquid hit my tongue it burned and just tasted nasty. I spit out the brown liquid onto the floor and started coughing. Nickel laughed placing a hoof on my shoulder. “You’re supposed to swallow it my boy. Don’t worry it gets easier.” He poured two more drinks. “It helps to breath out first, empty your lungs before tossing it back.” He demonstrated for me exhaling through his mouth before drinking another glass. I took my glass and breathed out through my mouth like him until I was sure there was no more air in my lungs. Tilting my head back I poured the whiskey into my mouth. The whiskey passed over my tongue. Instead of spitting it out I swallowed the burning liquid feeling it travel down my throat in to my stomach. I still didn't like the taste, it must have shown on my face because Nickel chuckled and said “Well Whiskey isn't for every pony.”

Soon after the Old Mare returned carrying a tray of food. She set a bowl down in front of me. The Bowl was filled with a thick brown liquid with cubes of orange and green. “What is this?” I asked poking at the floating cubes with a spoon.

“Vegetable soup, I wasn't sure what you liked to eat, and thought soup was the best bet.” He said as the Mare set a bowl of vegetable soup in front of him. I scooped up an orange cube with some of the thick liquid and slowly tasted it. It was good, not great definitely not snack cakes.

We finished our meal and sat at the table for a while having a few more glasses of whiskey. The music from the box, or radio Nickel told me stopped and the stallion behind the “bar” yelled over the crowd telling eveypony to quiet down. A voice of a mare came over the radio it was soft and seductive. “Hello all of my mares and gentlecolts this is mistress Lacey dream with some news. It looks like it might get cold here next few days so best to cuddle up nice and close to your very special somepony. In other news some mean old slavers have been reported around the southern area of Whinneapolis. Stay safe out there all my darlings. Now back to the music with an old regional favorite Lyra Heartstrings, with my sweetest bon-bon.” The music started but was quickly drowned out by conversation.

“What was that all about?” I asked wondering why everypony was so incessant on listening to the mare on the radio.

“That was Lacey dream, she’s the local radio figure, she gives all the ponies in whinneapolis their news and weather and up here that could mean life or death,” he said pouring another glass of whiskey and draining it. “I mean she’s no DJ Pon3 but she sure is easy to listen to.” He said giving a dirty little grin.

We sat there for a little while longer emptying the bottle of whiskey as the place began to empty out. I couldn't get use to the taste but Nickel was right it is getting easier to drink. My face was warm and my head felt light when Nickel poured the last drop of whiskey in to my glass. Nickel swayed a bit on his stool.

“ahh Luna dammit were all out, well let’s call it a night shall we. Come on son I got us a room at the hotel.” Nickel said his word slightly slurred. He got off his stool and headed to the door Nickel stumbled a bit as he walked.

“Are you okay Nickel, you’re walking funny.” I asked concerned for my new friend.

“I’m okay Sonny, just can’t seem to be able to drink like I use to. What about you how you doing?”

“I’m fine I feel a little warm.” I said noticing how warm my new jacket felt. I opened the front of the jacket exposing my chest to the cool night air. Tiny flakes began falling from the sky.

“Ahh youth, tis wasted on the young. When I was your age I was able to down a whole bottle of wild Pegasus and run from appleloosa to manehattan.” He said chuckling as he stared off into the distance. “So I’ve been thinking son. I’m heading gonna be heading to Whinneapolis tomorrow and was wondering if you would like to join me?”

I immediately answered “Yeah I would.” I felt happy even a little giddy but a questioned was eating away at the back of my mind. “But you don’t really know me why do you want me to come?”

“I know you well enough my boy. I know you’re a good kid my Nickel sense just tells me. Plus I’m getting too old pull that cart by myself,” He said giving me that kindly old smile nudging my shoulder. “Now let’s get some sleep. It’s along way to Whinneapolis.”

We entered one of the buildings across the street and climbed the stairs up to the second floor. Our room was the last down the hall. Nickel unlocked the door, the room was small with two narrow beds, a small closet and door to a bathroom. Nickel unslung his shotgun propping it against the wall next to his bed. He took off his puffy jacket and climbed under his sheets and was soon snoring. I tossed my saddle bags into the corner and laid on the bed. I didn't take my coat off or get under the blankets like Nickel. I just laid awake on the bed listening to the sound of Nickel snore thinking about tomorrow. I felt happy, I met a new friend and we are going to travel together, maybe he can help me find out who I am, and what happened to him. The wind outside picked up I could hear the wind whistle as it blew through the gaps in the building. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and I was soon asleep.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Meat

I was sleeping comfortably in my bed when I heard a loud bang and my eyes shot open, the room was bathed in an orange light coming from outside. There was a crash and screaming from down the hall. I looked over at Nickel sitting up in his bed.

“What’s going on?” he asked. I shrugged when another crash was heard from the hallway. Nickel rolled out of bed grabbing his shot gun and heading towards the door. I jumped out of bed and followed him.

The door suddenly burst open and standing in the door was a ragged looking pony, he was covered in dirt and grim. His barding was made out of mismatched clothes and materials, he was holding a knife in his mouth. Nickel took one look at the pony and fire his shot gun right into the ponies face. The ponies head flew off his shoulders and splatted on the wall behind him. Nickel pumped his shot gun and stepped over the headless body of the pony. “Celestia dammit, fucking raiders.” He said stepping into the hall.

I stepped into the hall behind him. There were three more raiders in the hall. One was an earth pony mare was trying to kick down a door, while another unicorn stallion was standing next to her magically holding a sledge hammer. The last was an earth pony stallion dragging a mare down the hall by her mane with his teeth.

Nickel took aim and shot the raider dragging the townpony, the buckshot hit the raider in the side. The town pony crawled into a nearby room and shut the door behind her. He loaded another shell into the chamber and turned the gun the other two raiders. The raider with the sledge hammer ran towards nickel swinging the large hammer. Nickel ducked under the swing placed the barrel against the raider’s chest and fired. The raider fell with a large hole in his chest, the last raider gave up trying to break down the door and headed towards the opposite end of the hall jumping through a window to escape.

Nickel went to the door the mare was trying to break down and gently rapped on the door. I went to the broken window and looked out. The mare who jumped out was hobbling away her back leg broken. But it was what else happening that drew my attention. Some of the buildings were on fire. The streets were filled with raider ponies dragging off town ponies while others were in a shootout with a couple of town ponies.

Nickel was still knocking on the door calling for somebody to answer. “Hello is anybody in there, it’s okay the raiders are gone now.” He said.

“Go away I’m warning you I have a gun.” Said a shaky voice from the other side of the door.

“It’s okay im not a raider.”

“I said GO AWAY!” screamed the pony in the room.

“Fine stay in there. Come on son let’s see if we can find the sheriff.” Nickle said running towards the stairs.

I caught up to him and asked “What’s going on, who were those ponies?”

“Raiders, probably just a bunch of drug fueled psychos.” Nickle said as we ran down the stairs.

The lobby of the hotel was destroyed the pony behind the desk was dead her throat slit. Two more bodies laid on the floor. We stepped around the bodies out onto the street. It was utter chaos. The street were littered with the bodies of raiders and town ponies. The town ponies who were fighting back had retreated into a building firing at the raiders through the windows. I could hear the screams of ponies being carried off into the night.

A bullet hit the ground at our hoofs. Across the street a raider was shooting at us. I jumped behind a newspaper dispenser while Nickel fired back while taking cover behind a blue mailbox. The raider began reloading when nickel peeked over the mailbox aimed and fired killing the raider. He smiled at me with his shot gun in his mouth. I was about to smile back when out of nowhere a raider carrying a shovel with a sharped edge ran up behind him and slashed at his side. Nickel dropped the shot gun and fell to the ground. I saw the white snow turn crimson red around Nickle’s fallen body.

Time seemed to stop as I saw the raider raise the shovel for the killing blow. It was like looking through a tunnel all I could see was that raider. I must have screamed because the raider looked at me. I charged forward ready to tear the raider limb from limb I felt my wings extend and with one flap I was launched forward like a rocket.

I tackled the raider and was on top of them. I just started stomping on their face until it was a bloody pulp. When I finally stopped the face was caved in their face now just bones and meat. I looked down at the lifeless form of the raider that killed my friend and felt cheated. They didn’t suffer enough, but it’s not just this one raiders fault is it, it’s all their fault the Nickel died. I thought to myself. I saw another group of raiders dragging off and mare into the darkness. I ran after them I was going to make them all pay.

There were about five ponies including the one they captured. The raiders were carrying all sort of different weapons, knives, pool cues, baseball bats, and one had a rifle. I ran towards the nearest one jumping on his back. I wrapped my foreleg around his neck. The raider tried bucking me off but I just squeezed tighter and pulled up on his head and twisting it resulting in a loud snap the raider’s body crumbled. I got off the body when I was struck in the face with a bat. I didn’t feel the pain I was too full of rage and hatred to feel such things. The unicorn mare with the bat was reading to strike me again while the stallion with the knife circled me. The raider with the rifle grabbed the town pony in their teeth and started dragging her off.

The unicorn with the bat swung at me, I ducked under the bat and used my wings to propel me forward slamming into her knocking her over. I grabbed her head between my hooves and smashed her head into the cracked pavement several times. The raider in with the knife was slashing at my back and sides. I reared up my back legs and bucked the raider in the face knocking backwards. Turning around to face the raider he ran at me slashing at my face. I caught the blade with my teeth biting down on the blade as hard as I could. The raider and I fought over the knife with our mouths.

I felt the blade cut my tongue and cheeks as we struggled over control of the knife. The raiders twisted the knife prying it from my mouth. Gaining control of the knife he jabbed the knife towards my face I threw up my foreleg. The knife stabbed me in the foreleg between the hoof and the knee.

Out of the darkness a blaring siren was heard of in the distance. The raider I was fighting let go of the knife and ran off into the darkness. The sound of fighting died, there were still a few shots could be heard coming from a few of the town ponies shooting into the distance. The world seemed to come back to me. I was in so much pain, my back was covered in deep cuts and my head hurt, and of course my leg was in excruciating pain. I grabbed the knife with my teeth and yanked it out of my leg, a small trickle of blood started leaking out of the deep wound. I saw the red liquid and remembered Nickel laying in the street. Nickel, maybe he’s okay, maybe he wasn’t hurt as bad as I thought! I thought to myself hopefully, turning around running back to where I saw him fall. As soon as I put weight on my injured leg it gave out as if it my knee was made of water. I got back on my hoofs and hobbled to the hotel.

The cold air and wind must have numbed my body cause my others injuries bothered me less and less. I reached the spot in front of the hotel, Nickel was gone but I could still see where the snow was turned red by his blood. I started to panic looking around for any sign of him. What if the raiders took him? What if he died, I shouldn’t have left him. I probably could have saved him or at least keep the raiders from dragging him off like they did with those other ponies I saw. I thought to myself.

In front of the doctor’s office was a group of ponies huddled together. I quickly hobbled towards them hoping they could tell me where Nickel is. I stopped when a bullet kicked up gravel and dirt in front of me. Several town ponies with guns surrounded me, An old unicorn mare magically pointed a strange rifle at me and said “Don’t move you fucking raider, and drop the knife.”

I didn’t realize I was still holding the knife I quickly spit the knife onto the ground and kicked it away. “I’m not a raider, I’m looking for my friend. He was hurt I don’t ….” I was interrupted by the old mare who looked to be the leader of the town ponies. She demanded that I lay face down on the ground. I lowered myself to the ground and put my head down like she told me. I really wasn’t going to argue with a group of angry frightened ponies with guns.

Out of the crowd in front of the doctor’s office a little voice screamed out “Stop he’s not a raider.” I looked up and saw Pipe Wrench run out of the huddled ponies up to the leader. “He’s not a raider, he’s Mister Blank Flank.” She told the crowd.

“You know this pony little one?” the mare asked.

“He’s the one that save Miss Syringe and me from slavers.” She explained.

“Okay, you can get up now stranger. Sorry about that but with all that blood we didn’t know whose side you’re on.”

‘Blood’ I looked at my hooves and jacket and saw them covered in drying blood. “its okay, Im looking for my friend Wooden Nickel have you seen him?” I asked trying to wipe the blood off my hooves.

“Old Nickel, yeah he’s fine the docs looking at him right now.” I felt very relieved knowing that my friend wasn’t dragged off by the raiders. “Buckle you take some others do a perimeter check, if you find any raiders don’t kill them if you can help it. I want to know where they took are people,” She commanded the other ponies. “I will stay here and help this one.” She said hooking her leg undermine pulling me up.

The old mare had a light caramel coat with a light green mane streaked with gray her cutie mark was a bronze six pointed star. She had deep lines in her face to show her age. She was wearing a heavy wool coat. She magically slung the strange rifle and turned to head to the Doctors office. I followed her with Pipe wrench walking besides me. I wasn’t limping as bad as before as we made the short distance to the Doctors office.

The mare slowed her pace to allow me and Pipe to catch up. “My name is Longmare I am the sheriff and mayor of Faribuck. What’s your name?”

“I don’t have a name.” I explained.

“What do you mean you don’t have a name?” Longmare asked suspiciously.

“He doesn’t remember anything.” Pipe said. “I just call him mister blank flank. But Miss Syringe says it not polite to call him that.”

“Blank flank huh, how do you feel about that stranger?” she asked. I could feel her eyes on my bare flank. I shrugged but honestly I was starting to feel a little self-conscious about it.

Sheriff Longmare must have noticed my limping or most likely saw all the cuts because she said “You should probably have the good Doctor take a look at you before seeing old Nickel.

“I’m fine, I will see him after I know Nickel is okay.” I said sternly.

“How do you know old Nickel anyways stranger?” she asked.

“We met on the road yesterday. He needed help pulling his wagon.”

“If you only met him yesterday why do you care about that old buck so much?” she asked.

"Because, he’s my friend.” I stated flatly. I didn’t think there was a need for anymore explanation. I didn’t have any other reason he was simply my friend.

We got to the Doctors office and the crowd moved aside so the Sheriff, Pipe, and I could get into the office. When we got inside there were ponies sitting on the chairs lining the walls or sitting on the floor, some were drinking the purple potions while others sat quietly parts of their bodies wrapped in bandages. Syringe was petting a young colt whose foreleg was bandaged. He was crying asking were him mother was. She petted and reassured him that his mother was alright and she would be back shortly. It was the same tone she used for Pipe when we were all captured by raiders. This time I could tell she was lying this, the colts mother was probably dragged off by the raiders.

The doctor came out of one of the rooms his white coat covered in blood. The sheriff called out him. “Doctor I got another patient for you.”

“I have enough patients Sheriff, if they are about dead I’m sorry but I can’t do anything I’m just about out of healing potions and on my last roll of healing bandages. And the nurse and I are about tapped out of healing magic.” The Doctor explained sadly.

“What about Nickel, is Nickel okay?” I asked the doctor.

“I don’t know who that is. Nurse who’s the next patient?”

“Nickel he’s an old earth pony stallion. Wears a puffy blue jacket.” I told the doctor.

“I don’t know, I’m busy.” The doctor said brushing me off as he inspects the bandages of a town pony.

“Which room is he in, I just want to check to see if he’s okay.” I started limping towards one of the doors when the Sheriff stuck a hoof out blocking me.

“The doctors busy right now. Let’s just take a seat and wait for the doctor.”

“But what about nickel, what if he needs help.” I protested.

“Nickel was one of the first ones brought in. I’m sure he’s fine now let’s just take a seat.”

The Sheriff walked me over to a bare spot on the floor and had me sit down. She left to go outside. Pipe sat next to me as I waited for I don’t know long. Time seemed to crawl in the office it probably didn’t help that I couldn’t stop thinking about Nickel.

Pipe and I sat there on the floor for a while watching ponies being treated by the doctor or for more minor Injuries by Syringe. She finally got to us and saw Pipe sitting next to me. “Pipe what are you doing here I told you to go back to the room and to wait for me.”

“I was Miss Syringe but then I saw Mister Blank Flank, the Sheriff thought he was a raider and was going to shoot him.” She explained.

“Pipe Wrench what did I say about calling him that,” she said scolding Pipe. “I’m sorry about that,” she said turning to me. “Now what are your injuries?” she asked. I twisted so I could better show her the cuts on my back and side. The cuts stung when I twisted, I hissed at the pain a little bit. She gasps when she saw how many of them there were. I then rolled up my sleeve showing the stab wound in my foreleg. “Sweet goddess.” She whispered. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“I’m okay it doesn’t hurt that bad, I’m more worried about Nickel is he okay?”

Syringe seemed to ignore me as she called out to the doctor. “Doctor we have a severely wounded pony here.” She pulled me to my hooves and asked if I could walk. I nodded my head as he led me to one of the back rooms, Pipe followed us into the room where the doctor was finishing with another pony who was sipping on a tiny vile of healing potion.

“Drink the rest of that and change your bandages, come back to me if you have any problems.” The doctor told the other pony as they left the room. “Now what is it nurse.” The doctor asked slightly annoyed.

“The patient has a deep stab wound on their right foreleg and multiple deep cuts on back and side.” She said as she had me sit on a table in the middle of the room.

The Doctor walked over to me and took my right foreleg in his hooves and examined the wound. “It’s amazing,” he said astonished. “The ulnar Artery has been punctured, you should have bled out long ago, but it seems the bleeding has stopped on its own.”

“So I’m okay then.” I said hoping to get out of there to find Nickel.

“Not yet you’re not, the wound needs to be cleaned, closed up, and you should take some healing potion to prevent infection. Nurse I am going to need disinfectant and the sewing kit, some bandages, magical won’t be necessary, and about half a vial of healing potion.” The doctor said letting go of my foreleg as he prepped to close the wound on my leg.

Syringe left the room coming back in a a minute later levitating a brown bottle, a small white box, and a small vial of purple healing potions.

The Doctor magically took the supplies from Syringe and laid them down on the table next to me. “I’m sorry but we ran out of pain killers earlier.” The doctor said apologetically as he magically lifted the brown bottle and unscrewed the white cap. He grabbed my leg and held it up as he poured a clear liquid from the bottle into the wound.

“It’s okay doctor I’m sure I will be fineeeee.” I nearly screamed as the liquid touched my flesh and started to foam the liquid burned my flesh. I have been shot and beaten but this has been the worst pain I have felt so far.

Pipe Wrench jumped on the table next to me and watched the foaming liquid with fascination. The doctor screwed the cap back onto the bottle and set it down. He magically opened the white box and levitated out a needle and thread. He threaded the needle and looked at me and said ominously. “Here comes the painful part.” I stuck the needle into my skin next to the cut. I clenched my teeth as he started sewing the wound close. I looked over at Syringe who had looked away holding a hoof next to her face blocking the scene. Pipe looked away as well and looking a bit green. While I won’t say that it was more painful than the liquid from the brown bottle it was a different kind of pain.

The doctor finished stitching my wound close, with tiny scissors from the white case. “There we go, worst parts over.” He said returning the scissors and thread to the white case throwing the used needle into a nearby trash can. “Now drink this while I look at the cuts on your back.” He said magically uncorking the small vial and floating it up to my lips. I drunk the potion remembering the taste from when Syringe gave it to me. It wasn’t better the second time I thought to myself. I could feel the small amount of potion already going to work. The pain in my leg disappeared and the sting from the cuts in my back dulled. “Well the cuts aren’t too serious. Nurse clean and dress the wounds while I get started on the next patient.” The Doctor said leaving the room.

Syringe found a rag and filled a bucket with water and started wiping away the blood on my back. When she was done she dressed the wound with some bandages. Pipe had fallen asleep next to me on the table. I sat there silently while Syringe worked the only sound was Pipe’s light slow breathing. “So,” I said breaking the silence. “How did you and Pipe escape the raiders?”

“We were staying in the same house as the Doctor and the Sheriff. The sheriff heard them trying to break in and protected us and some others.” She said finishing with the bandages. “There all done, how are you feeling?”

“Good can I see Nickel now?” I asked hoping to finally see my friend.

“You should probably go back to bed and give your body a chance to rest and heal.” She said as she cleaned up the room and poured out the bloody water in a nearby sink.

“I’m fine. I just want to know if my friend is okay.” I felt irritated all I wanted was to make sure Nickel was okay and no pony would let me see him.

“Well its late, he’s probably asleep right now. You can see him tomorrow morning when the clinic is open. Now if you would please leave I’m sure the Doctor is going to need this room soon.” She said clearly annoyed with me.

I don’t get this mare yesterday she was suspicious of me and it seemed like she preferred never to see me again. Then when I was in line earlier she seemed all worried about me. Now she doesn’t want anything to do with me again. I hoped off the table and made my way out of the room. I heard Pipe yawn and say “Mister Blank Flank where are you going?” I looked back at the filly sleepily rubbing her eyes. “Are you going to see your friend now?” she asked.

“He is leaving, his friend is sleeping right now and is going to visit him tomorrow right.” That last part she said sternly glaring at me.

I looked at her glaring eyes then to Pipe who was now practically eye level when standing on the table. “Actually I think I will pop my head in and see if he is okay.” I turned around and walked out of the room.

The main room of the doctor’s office had emptied out a bit. The doctor was talking to some of the ponies in line. I went to one of the other rooms and slowly opened the door and stuck my head inside. A small desk lamp was the only light in the room. There were several mattresses laying on the ground. Several of them were occupied by ponies. Nickel was laying on the mattress closes to the lamp. He laid on his side reading an old magazine. I slowly tipped hoof into the room trying not to wake any of the other ponies. I loudly whispered to Nickel to get his attention. He looked up from the article he was reading and saw me. A huge smile spread across his face.

“Hey there son, glad to see you alive. I was worried about you didn’t know where you went.” He said in a normal volume.

“You were worried about me, I was worried about you. Are you okay, what happened to you, why are you in here?” I asked whispering.

“Why are you whispering?” he asked me at a normal volume. I pointed to the ponies sleeping around us. “Oh don’t worry about them son, the good doctor has most of them drugged up pretty good nothing short of an earthquake will wake them. And I am good son, after that raider got the jump on me I saw you run off after a couple of them. The sheriff found me and brought me here for the doc to patch me up.”

“Why are you still here then?”

“The good doctor want to keep me here under watch because he fears infection or something. Something about my old age and not being strong enough or some bullshit.”

“I’m sorry I left you. I thought you died and I was just angry I wanted to make the raiders pay.” I said ashamed that I left my only friend alone bleeding in the snow.

“Don’t worry about son I understand how you felt. I’m just glad to see that you’re okay.” he said patting me on the shoulder. “You didn’t happen to see my shotgun around have you?” I shook my head he looked slightly disappointed. “Goddesses Damn it. I liked that shotgun. Oh well why don’t ya go back to the hotel and get some shuteye we might have to postpone our trip north a few day until the doc lets me go.” I bide him good night and left the room.

I quietly shut the door behind me and turned around nearly running into Pipe who was standing right in front of me. “Did you get to see your friend Mister Blank Flank?” she asked looking up at me.

“I did, what are you doing here?

“Miss Syringe told me to go back to our room but I wanted to help you find your friend.”

“Oh, well thank you but why. Why would you want to help me?” I asked.

“Because you helped Miss Syringe and me, and you’re nice I can tell.” She said looking up at me. I smiled down at the little filly. Perhaps I had more than one friend.

From outside I could hear shouting. Are the raiders attacking I thought when I heard more shouts from outside. I waited for the sound of gunfire but none came. I ran outside to see what was going on. Outside a group of town ponies were calling for the sheriff they were dragging a pony behind them. The sheriff met the other ponies in the middle of the street.

“What is it what’s going on, what did you find?” Sheriff Longmare asked the group of ponies dragging the raider.

“We found a raider hiding in a hollow log just outside of town.” One of the other ponies said. The ponies threw the raider down in front of the Sheriff. By now a crowd had gathered around the scene. I felt a small figure standing next to me. I looked down a saw Pipe standing next to me.

The sheriff levitated out her strange rifle and cocked the weapon. I recognized the captured raider, it was the raider mare who was trying to kick down the doors of the hotel room and jumped out the window. The Sheriff pointed the rifle at the mare’s head “Where did you take our people?” she demanded to know.

The raider looked up at the sheriff in contempt. “Fuck you whore.”

The sheriff nodded to one of the ponies who had captured the raider. The pony stomped down on the mare’s broken leg causing her to scream in agony. “ Where did you take our people.” The Sheriff demanded again.

“FUCK……YOU……WHORE.” The raider screamed emphasizing every word. This time the town pony stepped and leaned on the raider’s broken leg causing her to scream writhe in pain. “ok, ok, ok I will tell you just stop,” The pony let up on the mare’s broken leg. “We took them and shoved them up your ass.” The raider said smiling wickedly.

The sheriff didn’t even blink she leveled her rifle and magically pulled the trigger and a bust of bullets riddled the raiders body full of lead. The raider collapsed she laid in the middle of the street coughing choking on her own blood. “Okay then how about this,” the sheriff said pointing the rifle at the raiders head. “Why did you take our people, tell me and your death will be quick and painless.” She said.

The raider started chuckling and her mouth twisted into a sadistic grin showing her teeth. They were all filed down to sharp points and she said through laughter and choking she said “ For their meat.” She coughed once more to never move again.

Sheriff Longmare slung her rifle and turned to one of the other ponies. “Deputy Spur get every pony you can and have them meet at the Greasy trough by order of the Sheriff and or Mayor.” The deputy nodded and ran off to do what he was told. “You all here that,” Longmare said to the small crowd that had gathered. “Meet at the Greasy trough in one hour for a town meeting."

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Rescue

An hour later every able bodied pony Remaining in Faribuck had gathered together. All the tables had been pushed up against the back wall and the chairs and stools were arranged in rows facing the bar. Pipe Wrench and I got there pretty early with a couple of other ponies who had watch the raider die. We sat in the middle off to one side as we waited. The last of the residents had finally filtered in among them were Syringe and the doctor. When the last few ponies had been seated and the murmurs had been hushed Longmare jumped up on the bar and addressed the crowd of ponies.

“So here is the situation everypony, earlier tonight we were attacked. At first we thought it was just an attack by raiders, but about an hour ago we captured one of the raiders and we discovered their true intentions. They were cannibals and they attacked and dragged off our people for food.” a rush of whispers and talking erupted from the crowd.

“what’s going to happen to my son?” screamed out a voice from the crowd. “What are we going to do?” screamed another. “What if they come back?” screamed a pony from the back.”

The Sheriff raised her hoof to silence the crowd. “I know many of you are scared and we have lost many tonight. I lost two good deputies but we have to keep calm. Now over the last hour I have spoken with my deputies and we have organized a rescue plan, but we are short on hooves and ammo so I’m asking everypony to spare what they can of either or both.”

A few stallions and a couple of mares raised there hooves to volunteer to go along on the rescue. A shop owner offered to supply all of the weapons, barding and ammo that was needed. “Thank you everypony for your help. Now by our count they took about seven of our people, but we don’t know where they were taken or even what direction. Does anypony remember anything about where they might have gone?” The sheriff asked.

I remembered back to when I was fighting the raider or cannibal with the knife. I remembered hearing a siren off to the north and the knife pony running north when the siren when off. I stood up and raised my hoof. “uhm sheriff.” I said quietly as all of the ponies turned to look at me.

“What is it Stranger?” the Sheriff asked. A bunch of the town ponies started whispering to each other when they realized that I was a blank flank.

“I remember hearing a siren to the north right before the raider I was fighting ran away.” I said before quickly sitting back down hoping the ponies would look back at the Sheriff/Mayor.

“Which direction did this cannibal run when you heard this siren?”

“North sheriff same direction as the siren.” I said.

“Did any pony else hear this siren he spoke of?” asked Longmare to the crowd as she pointed to me.

“I didn’t hear anything.” A pony said. “I think I heard it but I think it was from the south.” Another pony from the crowd blurted out. “I think I heard a bell Sheriff.” Screamed another. The crowd erupted in ponies talking about which direction the raiders left in. The sheriff tried screaming over the crowd to calm them down but her screams were drowned out by the rising voices of the crowd. I watched her magically upholster a pistol from under her coat and fired into the air. The room fell silent, Longmare stashed the pistol away.

“This arguing is getting us nowhere and we are running out of time. Now I need you all to think real hard cause if we don’t hurry our loved ones are going to food for a bunch of crazy eyed cannibals.”

Pipe stood up on the rickety stool she was sitting on and raised her hoof waving it back and forth to get the sheriffs attention. Longmare saw the little filly frantically waving her hoof. “Yes little one what is it?” the sheriff asked.

“Where did you find that cannibal you killed?” Pipe asked loudly and confidently. She clearly wasn’t afraid of ponies staring at her. I thought to myself as I stared at the brave little filly.

Sheriff Longmare turned to one of the ponies who was probably one of her deputies standing next to the bar. “We found her hiding in a hollow log just outside of town.” The deputy said.

“Which side of town, she was probably trying to head back home but had to hide when she was left by the others.” Pipe explained.

The deputy thought it over for a few seconds and said “The north side. We found her hiding north of town. I remember because we had to pass between the burnt out book store and the collapsed ice-cream shop.”

“Alright we will start out by searching the area north of town, hopefully we will pick up their trail as long as it doesn’t snow. So we’ve got about five hours till dawn, all those who are coming get some sleep and meet up in front of my office in the morning. Meeting adjourned.” She hopped of the bar heading towards the door. The other ponies began filing out of the building. Pipe and I were about to get up and leave when syringe stomped over to where we were sitting.

“Pipe Wrench what are you doing here. I told you to go back to the room.” She said scowling down at the now scared little filly.

“I’m sorry Miss Syringe I was but then the cannibal showed up and the Sheriff Longmare told every pony to go to the meeting.” She said timidly looking down at the dirty floor.

“Go back to the room now Pipe Wrench.” Syringe said firmly pointing a hoof out the door. Pipe climbed down off the stool and quickly ran out the door not wanting to get in anymore trouble. “And you,” She said pointing the hoof at me. “You brought her here didn’t you, what is wrong with you?”

“The sheriff said for every pony to come here for a town meeting.” I explained to the furious mare. I don’t know why she was angry with me I didn’t do anything wrong.

“Foals don’t count, when they say every pony they don’t mean every pony. Foals don’t go to town meeting to talk about rescue missions and cannibals.” She screamed at me. “And how did she know that the sheriff found and killed one of the cannibal ponies?”

“Because she was there with me when Sheriff killed the cannibal pony.” I explained to Syringe. When she heard this her face showed shock then immediately went to anger.

“You were there and you let her see that. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?” her screams caught the attention of the few remaining ponies left in the building.

“Look I’m sorry but she must have followed me when the ponies brought the cannibal to town.” I said trying to explain that it wasn’t my fault Pipe was there.

“Just stay away from Pipe Wrench. If I see you near her again I will… I will…” her horn started to glow and spark. “I don’t know what but it won’t be good.” She said turning around the tip of her tail whipped me at the tip of my nose as she stormed out of the building. I rubbed away the stinging sensation on my nose as I watched her leave.

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The next morning I woke up and threw on my saddle bags. As I walked out of the hotel onto the main street. The townponies had already been cleared away the dead bodies and were boarding up broken windows and cleaning up the mess from the night before. It had been light for a couple of hours and I heard my stomach growl so I reached into my saddle bag and pulled out the last snack cake I unwrapped the pastry and bit into it and a fruity flavor spread over my tongue. I looked down at the wrapper and read that it was berry flavored. Throwing the wrapper into a burning garbage can I trotted towards the doctor’s office to go see how Nickel was doing.

I entered the office and saw that neither Pipe nor Syringe were sitting at the front desk. I could hear the doctor talking to some pony in one of the rooms. The door was closed so I couldn’t hear what he was saying. I walked to the room Nickel was staying in and pushed the door open.

Many of the beds that were occupied last night were now empty. The ponies who were still there were either sleeping or laying in their beds listening to the radio that was playing soft music. I saw Nickel laying on his bed with Pipe wrench sitting next to him neither of them looked to happy. I remembered the look on Syringes face but before I could decide what to do I heard Nickel call out to me. “Hey there son we’ve been waiting for ya.”

Pipe ran over to me, she was clearly troubled. The image of Syringe’s face flashed in my mind and I said to her. “I’m sorry Pipe but Syringe doesn’t want me to be around you anymore.”

“I know she told me to stay away from you too but I need your help. Miss Syringe went with the Sheriff Longmare to help rescued the ponynapped ponies.” She said.

“What why?” I asked shocked to hear that Syringe would go on a rescue mission.

“Last night she said that if anypony was hurt she needed to be there to help them. She left this morning with Sheriff Longmare and the other townsponie. I need to go help her.” Pipe said frantically.

“But why me?”

“Because you’re the only pony I know and trust. Please Mister Blank Flank she needs my help.” Pipe said pleading.

“Syringe will be okay Pipe she is with the Sheriff and the others. I’m sure they can handle it. Plus Syringe got really mad when I brought you to the meeting last night I don’t think she would be any happier if I brought you to a place full of cannibals.” I watched the look of betrayal and pain spread across the young filly’s face.

She walked past me and stopped before leaving the room. She slowly turned to me and said “I thought you were my friend.” She turned away from me and walked out of the room slamming the door behind her.

I felt like I got kicked in the stomach again, it felt like I might throw up the snack cake. “Don’t worry about her son she just worried about that pretty nurse friend of hers.” Nickel said behind me. I walked over to his bed and sat down next to him.

“How are you feeling today Nickel?”

“Oh im doing alright be better in no time.” He said but he looked tired.

“Are you sure? Maybe I should get the doctor.” I moved to stand up but Nickel stopped me.

“Sit down boy there is no need to bother the good doctor. This is nothing, why I remembered one time I was down near Manehattan when I got stung by this manticore.”Over the next few hours Nickel told me stories of his travels and the places he visited around the wasteland. He told me about Friendship city, a city built inside a statue. Then he told me of a place called tenpony tower which was filled with rich snobby ponies. Then he told me about the place called hoofington and how it was a prewar city that was sealed off becoming a impenetrable fortress. He then went on to talked about Whinneapolis and where we would be going when we left.

“Now we are gonna be heading north of here towards a place called laketown that would be the next stop. From there it on towards the Mall of Equestria.”

I stopped Nickel to ask “Uhm Nickel what’s a Mall?”

“A Mall was a prewar place filled with shops and restaurants for ponies to spend their money at,” He explained. “Then once we are done up here we can head on down south. Show you a little bit more of the wasteland than just ice and snow.”

Just then Doctor Suture burst into the room. “Has any pony seen that filly Pipe wrench? Misses Dandelion is about to give birth and I need some help.” He said frantically looking around the room.

“We haven’t seen her in a while, not since this morning.” Nickel said to the frantic doctor.

“Celestia Dammit where did that little brat go.” The doctor said scowling as he left the room.

I sat there thinking to myself. She didn’t go after Syringe by herself did she? Nickel laid there looking at me and confirmed my fears. “She went after that pretty nurse didn’t she?”

I nodded my head. “I have to go make sure she’s okay.” I told Nickel.

“I know son. You go get that silly filly. I’d hate to think what that pretty nurse would do to you if she knew you let that filly go off on her own.”

“Yeah but she also told me that if she saw me with Pipe again she would do something.” I said remembering the scary face Syringe gave to me the night before.

“I wouldn’t worry about that too much, but you better go after her she has short legs so she can’t travel that fast but she’s got a few hours head start.”

I looked at my ailing friend he had gotten paler since this morning. “Are you going to be okay?” I asked worried.

He waved his hoof and said. “I’ll be fine just go find that little friend of yours and bring her back safe and sound.”

He gave me a reassuring smile and I smiled in retuned then headed out of the doctor’s office. I ran to the center of town and tried to figure out which way Pipe must have gone. I started asking some of the ponies around town if they saw her at all. A pony who was boarding up windows said he saw her a few hours ago heading north. I asked him why he let her go and all he said was “What do I look like a foal sitter. Now leave me alone I have a lot of shit to do.” I left in the direction he pointed me in. As I headed north I soon found little hoof prints in the snow. Thankfully it hadn’t snowed all morning so the track were still easily visible.

I followed the hoof prints for about an hour. The snow was deep about up to my knees as I trudged through the snow as quickly as I could. I found Pipe sitting on a fallen tree. Her saddle bags were lying next to her as she sat on the tree looking at the thing on her left foreleg.

“Pipe!” I said running up to her. “You’re okay.” I said happy to see her unharmed.

She looked up at me and said “What are you doing here?” her voice was bitter.

“I came here looking for you.”

“Well you found me. Now if you will excuse me I have to go help Miss Syringe.” She said stepping down from the log and putting her saddlebags back on.

“She’s fine Pipe. Plus how are you supposed to find her I don’t see any tracks around here except for ours.” I said pointing out the undisturbed snow.

“With this,” She said holding up the large bracelet on her foreleg. ”I have Miss Syringe’s Pip-Buck tag I can find her anywhere.”

“I’m sorry Pipe but I can’t let you go. I don’t want to risk I don’t know what If Syringe finds out I let you go on your own.”

“Then come with me. Please Mister Blank Flank please.” She said as she held her hoofs together pleading.

“No Pipe, I’m sorry but we have to go back.” I was cut off when I heard snow being crushed under hoof. I looked into the wood and saw one of Sheriff Longmare’s deputies walking through the snow. He was swaying as he walked and would stumble every few steps. His barding and coat was covered in splotches of blood.

He saw us and quickened his pace then collapsed before us. “Help them please.” He said weekly. I prop him up against the fallen tree pipe was sitting on and asked him what happened.

“Ambushed, they somehow knew we were coming and attacked us in the trees. I ran but I think the others were caught. Help them please.” His breathing was becoming labored.

“Its okay, we will get you back to town.” His body was riddled with bullet holes and he was shacking violently.

“No, I’m done for. Please help them, please you got to help them.”

“Is Miss Syringe okay?” Pipe asked worried. The Deputy nodded his head then closed his eyes and exhaled. He became still as life left his body.

I got looked at Pipe and said urgently “Come on pipe we have to get back to town and get help.”

“Didn’t you hear him he said there was no time. We have to go save Miss Syringe and Misses Sheriff Longmare.”

“What are we, just the two of us going to do against a group of cannibal ponies?” I asked trying to convince pipe to come back to town with me.

“But we just can’t leave them. They are going to die if we don’t do something. What are you scared or something?”

Of course I was scared, what pony wouldn’t be scared of cannibal ponies. I thought to myself. I looked down at the young filly and said sadly. “I’m sorry pipe but I just don’t think there is anything we can do not just the two of us.”

“But...but I just can’t leave Miss Syringe,” years began to fill the little filly’s eyes. “Please Mister Blank Flank I just can’t leave her. I got to try if not then my stable, my friends will die.”

I looked down at the Pipe Wrench with her big sad eyes and sighed clearly this little pony would do anything for her friend it kind of reminded me of my friendship with Nickel. “Okay we’ll go after Syringe and the others do you still know where she is?” I asked.

Her eyes immediately lightened up and she looked at the pip-buck and pointed to where Syringe and the other were. I quickly looked over the fallen deputy’s body and found some ammo but no gun to go with it. I put it in my saddle bag hoping it would fit my revolver.

We set of in the direction Pipe’s pip-buck told us to go towards. The snow was too deep for pipe to walk through so I made her sit on my back and just point me in the direction to go. She was a bit heavier than I expected her to be but she didn’t slow me down in any way.

I ran through the snow covered forest with Pipe sitting on my back till Pipe told me to stop. We came to a large clearing in the woods. Pipe jumped of my back and stood next to me.

“Okay my pip-buck says that Miss Syringe is right across this lake.” She said pointing across the large open area. In the direction she was pointing I could see on the other side of the lake a large building sitting just of the lake.

“Okay lets go around the lake hopefully we can sneak up on them.” We slowly walked around the lake. Other smaller building were in the wood around the lake as well. As we got closer to the large building Pipe had us stop and hide behind a fallen tree. I was going to ask her why we stopped but she just shushed me. That when I heard voices not too far off and they were coming closer.

“Ugh it starting to get cold out.” One of the ponies said.

“Not as bad as the last place we hunted at, remember I had icicles hanging from my nose whenever I went outside.” Responded a second pony.

“This is bullshit, why does the chief always have us do patrols? I would like some fresh meat every once and awhile.” Said the first pony. There only seemed to be two of them out.

“It’s because you complain about going on patrols. And don’t worry there will be enough for us plus probably a second and third helping.” Answered the second pony.

“Yeah I don’t ever remember having so much food at one time.” Said the first pony.

“Ever since that Black pony showed up thing have been great.” I could hear them just on the other side of the log. I held my breath and slowly reached for my axe when the second one continue to speak. “You know we can probably head back now and if we are lucky we could still get some warm meat.”

“Sounds good to me.” The first pony said as I heard the snow being crushed under hoof fade of into the distance.

I let out the breath I was holding and heard Pipe do the same. “How did you know they were coming?” I asked Pipe as we slowly and as quietly followed the direction the two ponies head towards.

“My pip-buck,” she said holding up the device on her leg. “It has Eyes Forward Sparkle it’s a spell that lets me know who friendly and who’s not before they can see me.” She explained.

We made our way to the large building that Pipe said was holding Syringe and the others. It was a large rectangular building made up of whole logs stacked on top of one another with a steep roof. The front of the building had large windows overlooking the lake. We could see lights and ponies moving inside. We circled around to the back of the building and found an unguarded door. I tried to push the door open but it was locked.

Pipe came up next to me and nudged me out of the way. “Let me try something,” She said as she pulled out a screwdriver and a bobby pin from saddle bags and inserted them into the lock. “Back in the stable my friend and I would sneak into the cafeteria after bed time to steal snacks. He was teaching me to pick locks before I came outside with Miss Syringe.” Pipe said as she used her hoof to adjust the bobby pin while holding the screwdriver in her teeth. She fiddled with the lock for a few seconds then I heard a little snap as the bobby pin broke off in the lock. Pipe tried again and broke another bobby pin. She sighed and fished more bobby pins out of her saddle bags. After a few minutes and several failed attempts to pick the lock she sat down in the snow defeated.

“I’m sorry but I couldn’t get the lock. It’s too hard.” She said tears welling up in her eyes.

“It’s okay we’ll find another way in.” I said trying to reassure the little crying pony.

“But how I'm out of bobby pins and we are running out of time.”

I looked around the back of the building looking for maybe another way in. there were some windows broken windows to what looked like the second floor of the building. I pointed to them and said. “Maybe we could find some way to climb in through there.”

“Yeah that could work, or you know what could be better if we knew some pony who could fly up there.” She said sarcastically.

I looked back at my wings then down Pipe unsure. “Uhm… yeah about that I never actually flew before or don’t remember flying.” I said somewhat embarrassed.

Her eyes grew wide and nearly screamed. “YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO FLY!” I quickly hushed her by sticking my hoof in her face and listened for any pony coming to check on the sudden screaming. After a while once we were both sure nopony heard I removed my hoof and pipe continued at a lower volume. “What do you mean you don’t know how to fly? You’re a Pegasus all you do is fly.”

“Well I don’t ever remember flying and I haven’t really had the chance to learn since I woke up.” I explained.

“Try now it’s not that high and maybe a Pegasus never forgets how to fly.” She said encouragingly.

I nodded and had her back up to give me some room. I extended my wings and flapped them as hard as I could. All that I ended up doing was blowing snow up into my face. I closed my eyes and tried flapping harder. I felt my hooves leave the ground I opened my eyes and saw the ground start to fall away from me. Flying felt good, no not good awesome. It felt right flying and it started to feel familiar. Suddenly I felt a twinge of pain in my head. My wings faltered for a second causing me to slam into the side of the building and fall to the ground.

I fell into a snow bank holding my head. “Are you okay what happened? You were almost there.” She asked as she helped pull me out of the snow bank and onto my hooves.

“I don’t know my head just suddenly started hurting.” I explained. The pain had left as quickly as it had arrived. “I don’t think I should try that again. We should try and find another way in.” I suggested.

Pipe inspected the side of the building and pointed out a small grate right above the locked door. “There, I bet I could squeeze through that vent.” She said running towards the door. “If you boost me up I could get up there and unlock the door from the inside.” She said hopefully.

Pipe climbed onto my head as I got up on my rear legs and propped myself up against the door stretching my neck out as far as I could getting pipe as close to the grate as possible. She pulled a tool out of her saddle bag and started removing the grate. My neck started to ache from the stretching and Pipe’s weight.

“Hurry up Pipe I don’t know how much longer I can hold you up like this.” I said urging her to go faster.

“Imph goimhp, imph goimph.” She said with the tool in her mouth. She finished and placed the tool back in her saddle bag before grabbing the grate and throwing it into the snow. She climbed into the metal tube and said “Okay, wait here I’ll unlock the door.”

“Okay, just be careful in there.” I said.

“Don’t worry I will.” She said reassuringly before crawling deeper into the vents.

I stretched my neck relieving the pain caused from having a filly stand on my head. I suddenly heard a click and the door opened inwardly. I fell forward caught off guard from the sudden disappearance of my support. I fell on the hard tile floor my front legs sprawled out in front of me. Pipe couldn't have been that quick could she I thought to myself before realizing that there were three sets of hooves in front of me. I looked up as three cannibals looked down at me in surprise.

“I told you I heard something hit the back wall I told you.” One cannibal said to the other two. I quickly tried to reach for my revolver when one of the cannibals grabbed something off a nearby table and smacked me on the side of the head. My head started spinning I shook my head trying to compose myself when something dark and round came at me smashing into my face.