Fallout Equestria: Ice and Soul

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.

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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.