"How am I supposed to get any research done with these crazy ponies wanting to make friends all the time?!”

As a rule pegasi are normally rendered catatonic at the idea of venturing underground. The tight spaces, lack of fresh are and more often than not darkness are not things we tend to prefer. Makes sense considering our kind are used to wide open skies and an abundance of fresh air. Oddly enough I was never bothered by this. I had on more than one occasion ventured below ground and felt perfectly comfortable. The tight spaces never even crossed my mind. I even found the lack of light comforting. Guess that just makes me an oddity among my race as Silverlux and I traversed down the seemingly never ending corridor.

I lead the way at Silverlux’s ‘suggestion’ since I had a powerful l lamp in my pipbuck. Honestly he just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t try to stab him in the back. I could almost feel his cloudy eyes boring into the back of my head. The tension in the air was palpable as we gauged each other. I had underestimated the damned ghoul and I wasn’t ashamed to admi9t I was more than a little irked that he had figured out that, to some degree, I wasn’t what I seemed. Still can’t believe he thought I was a freaking spy. Heh I almost laughed out loud at the idea of it all. As for him he was angry that I’d liead to him about my identity. Couldn’t really blame him hell in his position I’d be pissed too. Especially if said pony brought the world as they knew it crashing down around their ears.

My eyes flicked to the ghoul and locked with his stone cold gave. He was definitely looking for a reason to shoot me. Still don’t know why he’s holding back but I’m not complaining. A hole through the skull wouldn’t be comfortable. I had the horse sense to know when I was beat. The best idea was to wait for the perfect opportunity to ditch this guy. Silence reigned save for the click of our hooves against stone. My mind had the audacity to remind me that for the first time since I was sixteen that I was completely and hopelessly exposed. My very existence weighed on keeping up my aliases for the last, in my point of view, seven years. Hell my talent was wearing masks for pony’s sake. Since I had gained my cutie mark I had to hide who I really was. Watch, listen and learn from outside of society until I was ready to delve into ocean that was Equestria. After all, my real name was that of a wanted mare.

My motto, my mantra was, conceal yourself and you shall be safe. Hide who you truly are. It kept me alive. I trusted no one but plenty trusted me and that was my saving grace, my bread and butter. My masks were my livelihood. Now I had been ripped of my mask and left exposed to the world like a newborn filly. It was chilling to have someone know what I truly was and ironically my life had hinged on my revealing who I was. I glanced back again at the ghoul, my eyes matching his in cold hardness. Damn him to Tartarus. Him and his suspicions. I snorted a stream of hot air and glared back at the darkness ahead.

My ears perked at the sound of rushing water. It was faint but there and it came from further down the hall. Finally something to keep my mind off my current position. As we went the sound readily became louder until it was a deafening roar. We came to a large circular stone room. High above us a pipe, easily several yards across, spewed white rushing water into a basin down below. A rusted rail that looked ready to turn to dust with but a touch surrounded the edge. My pipbuck started a symphony of clicks as we entered. I peered over the edge at the water below. The water roiled and churned from the flow but just below the surface the water was black and murky. I shivered as if something was staring back.

“The sewers huh,” Silverlux plodded up beside me and clicked his tongue. He gazed around the basin,” This is an outflow basin I believe.” He pointed a hoof at the corridor across from us,” That should lead to a maintenance shed just outside the city by the outflow pipes.”

“Alright let’s get cracking,” I nodded,” All this radiation can’t be good for my complexion.” My lips curled slightly at the edges at the off joke I had cracked at the unicorn's expense. I glanced out of the corner of my eye at him as he turned to me with a deadpan look.

“Ha ha,” he snorted. I was about to smirk back at him when a massive serpentine head rocketed out of the water. I screamed as its fanged jaws latched onto the ancient rail. The rail groaned as the serpent pulled back until the metal snapped and it threw the section of rail away. A second head came out of the water aimed right at me its jaws open seeking an easy meal. Silverlux pushed me out of the way and it got a mouth full of slippery stone.

“Run!” Silverlux shouted as the head roared in pain and rage. That is a surprisingly good idea. I pulled myself to my hooves and we booked it around the platform to the corridor. Two more heads rose out of the water and one tried to snap at us. We ducked under its razor sharp fangs, hot drool dripping onto the stone floor. I suddenly felt very woozy and stumbled. I tried to get up and my pipbuck screen flashed a radiation poisoning warning. Wonderful timing.

The world became starkly clear and the hydra’s roars went from loud to deafening. Mixed with the roar of the water and my insides feeling like they were on fire I wasn’t even able to scream as I felt fangs dig into my leg and drag me backwards inot the water. A bright pink beam lanced past me and struck the head’s eye. It let me go and roared in pain. I was surrounded in a greenish telekinetic glow that sent my pipbuck into alpha levels of annoyance with its clicks. I groggily brought it to my face.

“Shut up,” I slurred at the annoying super computer fully thinking it would do so. But alas it did no such thing.

I flew through the corridor at breakneck speeds...wheee...until we came to a greyish door. It looked metal or like cheese. I squinted at the gibberish on the surface until it became clear.

'Maintenance'

Huzzah the zombie was right. Yay!

“Well wadda ya know,” I reached out and gave his smooshy noggin a rubbing,” You bucking called it.”

The door opened to his expert hoof skills and we flew in, well I did. I felt cold stone floor under me and I stared at the ceiling. How do they make stone boxes I wonder? I looked at Silverlux to ask him. He pulled a very big needle out and my poor foreleg was stuck by it. Didn't hurt but the buzzing in my head was getting right annoying. The buzzing in my head slowly faded and after a bit he replaced the bag. Thankfully my brain started to reboot. I started to sit up but he eased me back down with a hoof.

“Easy,” he said, his voice hinting on concern,” You need to rest.”

My legs burned and I started to feel extremely tired. Stupid stubbornness wouldn’t do anyone any favors so I complied.

“Not that I’m complaining,” I croaked, my throat feeling really dry,” But why did you save me?”

“We I couldn’t just let you die could I?” He sighed,” That’d be just wrong. Sides I owed you.”

True. He pulled a bottle from his bag and uncapped it. He brought it to my lips,” Drink slowly.” I did just that. I was incredibly thankful for the drink despite the fact that it was lukewarm. He pulled it from my lips.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

“To quote a certain cocky mare,” he said, the ghost of a smile on his decayed lips,” You are quite welcome.”

Holy crap he even got the look right. I collapsed into giggles at his facial expression. Okay yeah he got me there. I wiped a tear from my eye and yawned.

“I think it’s time you got some rest,” he said as he stood up,” I’ll take the watch.”

I shook my head, trying to stay awake. Unbidden my eyes started to close and before I could stop it I nodded off into a deep sleep.

oooOOOooo

“Man,” Codekey grumbled from behind me,” This damp is gonna fry my equipment.”

I snorted and slowed down a bit. My trademark light zebra barding clung to all the right curves which I knew the earth pony stallion was staring at. “Quit your bitching we’re almost under the point.”

He sighed and swore under his breath. I smirked at the buck. He had come into my employ some months ago and had even proven to be somewhat useful. We traveled down a dank smelly sewer to a mark’s house. The security system of the house we were going to ‘liberate’ some stuff from was beyond anything I could get past and the only way to get in without having the Royal Guard on my tail was go under the system. Codekey had found an old sewer tunnel that ran under the foal’s house. I insisted we use that route and well here we were.

I stopped abruptly as his pipbuck chimed. The devise was jury-rigged with several other accessories and gadgets that covered his foreleg. “Here we are,” he said as he tapped the screen. A small blowtorch sprouted from his armored foreleg and he started burning a circle above us. We stepped back as a red hot circle dropped. I jumped with ease through and found myself in our mark’s cellar. Codekey was pulled himself through moment later after he waited for the stone to cool.

“Pussy,” I smirked.

“Well excuse me for not having wings,” he snorted.

“Oh you know you like ‘em,” I giggled as I ran a primary up his back. He was more on edge than I thought cause he scooted away.

“C-come on,” he said, not looking at me,” Let’s get this over with.” I shrugged it off; the earth pony had a tendency to be nervous in the field. We climbed the stairs and carefully opened the door. Soft blue light hung above the floor. Codekey handed me a small grey disk and pointed to a small red box with a yellow lock emblem.

“Think you got enough wing-power to attach this to that Sercurum modem?”

“Yeah,” I grabbed the disk and took wing. I’d never been a very good flier so I could only stay airborn for a few minutes at the most. I hovered as I placed the disk on the box. A second later the disk emitted a spark and the blue light disappeared from the floor. I smiled at the cute buck and sidled up to him once my four hooves were on hard wood floor.

“You know I love it when you know what you’re doing,” I said with a sultry tone. He gave me nervous grin as I batted my eyelashes at him.

“T-thanks,” he muttered,” C-come on.” He started toward the stairs and I followed. Soon we came to the master bedroom and I started pulling jewelry from the dressers. My stars this stallion’s wife loves her rubies. Once I was stocked up with every bit of priceless jewel I spotted Codekey in the next room in front of a terminal tapping away at the keys. I trotted into the room.

“You were right to set this job up,” I giggled,” We are so rich. We can take that trip to the Baahamas and you can take me out on a real date.” He looked over at me, his eyes tired. I blinked,” You alright?”

“I’m sorry.” He pushed a key on the side of the keyboard and an alarm sounded.

“What are you doing?!” I screeched. What is going through his thick head?!

“My dirty work,” a voice chuckled. A grey coated unicorn stallion with an auburn mane walked into the room. His black suit was in flawless condition and he had a tiny balloon pin on his lapel. A fucking M.o.M. agent! My jaw clenched as I glared at Codekey. My face showed anger but all I felt was pain. He…he used me…

“I’m sorry,” he pleaded,” They needed me to get close to you so they could find out what you knew about-“

“That is quite enough Mr. Key,” the unicorn chuckled, a hoof raised to stop Codekey from saying anything more,” Your payment and your records are hereby expunged.”

“You double-crossed me,” I hissed, my eyes narrowed. Didn't the last few months count for anything...

“They had me over a barrel,” he sighed,” What was I supposed to do?”

“Maybe drown in a pool of your own blood?” I sneered and turned a glare at the M.o.M. agent,” Your precious Ministry Mare still after my head? Thought she would have keeled over by now from all those illegal chems she snorts.” I was double-crossed by the one pony I had come to trust…I liked him and he…

The buck turned a glare of his own at me,” You will watch your mouth. Though it is strange you say he’s a back stabber when you yourself are a traitor as well.” Oh wow they still believed that. I resisted the urge to groan. Didn’t they get the fact that I was only sixteen when they…you know what I don’t have time for this.

I glanced at the window from my peripheral vision then at the terminal and a plan formed in my head. I relaxed, much to both stallions’ surprise, and smirked, “So I’m guessing you have a team on the way hmmm?”

“Coming into the house as we speak,” he matched my smirk, thinking he had won.

I tapped a hoof against my chin,” So that would be 17, no 26 seconds.” I smiled and glanced at the now very confused buck,” Yeah that’s plenty of time.”

He arched an eyebrow,” 26 seconds? What are you-“He didn’t get to finish due to my hoof colliding with his throat. He stumbled back from a mix of shock, pain and complete lack of air. I slammed my hoof against the side of his head then slid under his guard. With a tight flip my back hoof slammed him under his chin and launched him into the bookcase at his back. He was out cold before he hit the ground. I whirled on Codekey, a look of pure shock on his face.

My eyes felt the unfamiliar sting of tears as I rushed forward. He cowered with a yelp but I just grabbed the terminal and threw it through the window. I put my forehooves against the windowpane ready to launch myself through. Like a fool I looked back at Codekey. He looked at me with a sorry look. A single tear ran down my cheek. I-I loved you…

“I-I’m sorry I-“A team of ponies clad in black S.W.A.T. armor burst through the door. My eyes hardened and I launched myself out of the window into the night sky. I had never flown so fast and so far before but all I wanted was to get away.

Why...

oooOOOooo

I sat up in a rush my chest heaving and feeling like someone had set an anvil on it. I found Silverlux at my side in an instant.

“You alright?!” He said a little too loudly.

I pushed him away,” I’m fine!” I stopped myself before my emotions ran too high. Damn it Masque that’s in the past. I put a hoof to my throbbing skull,” Sorry. Bad dream.” Yeah you could say that. Why the fuck had I dreamed that?

The ghoul backed off. “It’s okay,” he gave me an understanding look,” I’ve had my fair share of those.”

I bet. I stood up with only a little shaking in my legs,” How long was I out?”

“Most of the night and well into the morning,” he chuckled,” It’s around noon. You have a hell of a kick by the way.”

“Huh?”

“You started mumbling then tossing and turning in your sleep,” he explained, “I tried to wake you up,” he gave his check a rub,” But you kicked the living crap out of me for my trouble.”

I chuckled weakly,” Well don’t try to wake me next time.” My smile faded at the still sore memory. Can’t believe I’m still hurting from that. Its been what three years?

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I glanced at the ghoul and shook my head,” It’s not worth the trouble. It’s in the past.” I started to the front door,” Let’s get outa here.”

I was grateful that the ghoul chose to drop the subject as he picked his bag up and followed after me. Outside I was greeted by a river of foul looking water, a barren dirt wasteland, burnt trees here and there and grey overcast skies. Man when Silverlux called it a wasteland he wasn't exaggerating. And what the hell is with the clouds?

“Hey Silver,” I pointed to the sky,” Why is it still cloudy?”

“Oh the pegasi or Enclave as they call themselves closed up the sky when the bombings started. Haven’t started coming down to our level until recently.” He said all that like it was normal. I gaped at the stallion. This is officially fucked up.

“You kidding,” I said with a shake of my head,” Tell me your pulling my leg here.”

“Nope,” he looked at the clouds,” We haven’t seen the sun in over two hundred years.”

Okay they have officially given pegasi everywhere a bad name. I mean you can’t just up and leave everyone behind like that. It was cowardess plain and simple. “Great to add to the list having wings will probably get me killed alone.”

He gave me a look like I was crazy.

“Well people are probably pissed at the pegasi being complete fucking cowards so it stands to reason they’d get a kick out of killing one,” I clarified.

“The only ponies that really remember those days are we ghouls and the Enclave,” he chuckled,’” No one’s gonna kill you because you have wings.” Oh good. “They’ll kill you because you have a pulse.” Oh okay...wait what? I looked at the ghoul in confusion as he trotted away humming a very catchy song.

“What do you mean they’ll kill me because I have a pulse!?” I shouted after him.

I really didn’t want a bucking example. I ducked behind a burnt up tree just as another shot whizzed past me. Silverlux and I had come across a group of ponies that looked like punk rockers with the way they styled their manes. They wore spiked armor and brandished weapons that looked ready to fall apart. On top of all that they had a serious disregard for any semblance of hygiene. I mean look at those teeth so gross. I was thanking Celestia we were upwind of them so I wouldn’t have to smell them. One of the unwashed bastards even got a few shots in thank fully it was only buckshot. Still stung like fuck though.

Okay so plan time. I looked over at Silverlux who was taking shots at them from his tree a few feet away from me. There were a grand total of six of the unhygienic ponies. They stayed close together. Time to divide and conquer. I pulled my hunting knives out,” Think you can get them to scatter?”

He looked at me as I started to scale the tree then got what I was gonna do. He jumped out from behind the tree and sent a flurry of shots at them. They scattered laughing as they did so.

“Fucking retard!” one with a shotgun shouted.

“Yeah,” a mare with a 9mm pistol in her magic grinned," Can’t wait to cut your dick off fucker!” Okay ewww on so many levels.

I launched myself into to the sky and slipped into S.A.T.S. Now I have never taken a life before but when you have a bunch of psychos shooting at you one tends to throw morals to the wind. I targeted Shotgun and 9mm and let loose the hunting knives. The unicorn mare got a second horn while Shotgun took the other knife to the side. He looked up a moment too late as I was all he saw, that and the dagger in my muzzle. I slashed a gash across his face, blood spraying form the wound. He dropped the sawed off with a yell.

I picked the gun up with my telekinesis. I painted the dirt with his brains but the shotgun flew out of my telekinesis from the recoil. The mental backlash was more than a little painful. Okay so guns are a nono got it. The remaining three ponies turned on me. I glanced at the weapons in their grips. A pool que (seriously?), another shotgun, and a machete huh? Well lets get this over with. Machete took a few shots from Silverlux’s pistols and was transformed into a pile of ash. Not a fun way to go I gather.

The unhygienic ones had to have had a low attention span cause they whirled on the ghoul completely forgetting about little ole me. I took my chance and jumped onto Shotgun the 2nd’s back and slid the dagger in my mouth into the side of his throat. A gurgle later, another red blip disappeared from my sight.

Pool Que snarled at me, her teeth a gross mix of yellow and black,” Bitch I’m gonna fuck yer skull!”

With what penis? I quirked an eyebrow and pointed left with a hoof. She actually fucking looked! A hunting knife held in my telekinesis landed smack dab in her center of her skull. She fell to the ground with a shocked expression. Jenga! I sat down and pulled my hunting knives to me. I wiped them off and placed them in my coat. Silverlux trotted up to me.

“Not bad for your first encounter with raiders,” he said as he holstered his pistols.

“Well I did have the advantage of you running away from them screaming ‘Run you fool!’” I chuckled. I looked at the bodies and grimaced,” Haven’t these guys ever heard of soap?” Not a ‘why did I have to kill them?’ or a ‘oh why oh why did I kill them!?’ nope I ask if they ever heard of soap. Aren’t my priorities in order? I sheathed my dagger and took a seat.

“You’re taking this surprisingly well,” he quirked an eyebrow at me.

“Well in the course of two days I’ve been set upon by silent psycho robots, been told the world basically ended two hundred years ago, been poisoned by radiation which I might end up with a third eye for the trouble and almost eaten by a sewer hydra. And that's only a few things,” I crossed my hooves over my chest,” The ‘I just killed a pony!’ thing is pretty low on my ‘What the Fuck?!’ list right now. And let me tell you honey it’s a long damn list.”

“Fair enough,” Silverlux shrugged,” Come on lets go see to those ponies that were with them.”

We back tracked to the group the raiders had been escorting. There was a dirty looking unicorn stallion, a wizen old earth mare, and a small teary eyed filly chained to a post. They all looked like they had been through hell in the past few days. When we came closer I saw streaks of red on the fillies flank. Okay officially never gonna feel sorry for killing those bastards. They shied away from us and the stallion puffed his chest out in an attempt to look threatening. I rolled my eyes at that. A stiff wind could knock this guy over.

“We’re not gonna hurt you,” Silverlux aid slowly,” We only want to help.”

“Yeah,” I piped up,” Give us all your cash and we’ll let you go.”

Silverlux flashed a glare at me and the filly started crying,” Shut up!”

“Hey I was just kidding,” I flashed the dagger out and turned the robe that held them to string. The filly started to run but tripped on her own hooves. The stallion and old mare tried to stop me from getting to her but I just jumped over them. What do they think I’m gonna do kill her? I’m not that fucked in the head. I pulled the crying light blue filly up in my hooves.

“Hey it’s ok,” I cooed,” No one’s gonna hurt you. The bad ponies are all gone.” I pulled a hoofkerchef from my longcoat and put it to her running nose,” Blow.”

She did and hiccupped cutely. Copious amount of cuteness..well except for the fact she needed a bath ASAP,” You’re not gonna sell us?”

What kind of question is that? I smiled down at the filly,” No we’re not sweety.”

“Yeah,” Silverlux said as he walked up,” No one is gonna sell you.” The filly shrieked and shoved her face into my shoulder, fresh tears flowing from her eyes. I glared at the ghoul and mouthed,’ Smooth.’

“Hey,” I cooed,” It’s okay the zombie pony’s friendly. He won’t hurt you.”

He gave me a glare and mouthed,’ Zombie?!’ I rolled my eyes and swatted him with my tail. My smile widened as he yelped. The filly looked up as the ghoul rubbed his flank and giggled.

“He looks funny.”

I’m starting to like this kid. I chuckled much to the ghoul in question’s chagrin,” Yes he does honey.”
The stallion and mare walked up to us.

“Thank you,” the stallion gave us a tried smile;” I thought we would be sold into slavery for sure.” Hold up now I get to add slavery actually being a thing now in my list of ‘What the Fuck!?’ I slumped visibly. Just keeps getting better and better. Man Equestria really went down the shitter.

“You’re welcome,” Silverlux said,” I’m Silverlux and this is Masquerade.” I looked up from the filly I was holding and glared knives at the ghoul. Yeah just blurt out my name to anyone willing to here. Just shout it to the bloody world while you’re at or better yet paint it on my fucking skull.

The stallion nodded and nickered lightly,” I’m Dusty Case,” he pointed to the old tan mare who looked lost in the first place (no I mean really her eyes were freaking blank) ,” This is Maud and the filly is Cascade."

"Well we're headed to Colton," Silverlux said," You're welcome to join us."

"We might just do that," Dusty smiled," Again thank you."

"It's okay," I smirked," I'll add it to your tab."

Silverlux turned a slow scowl at me. What?! A mare's gotta get her bits somehow and I am not selling my body out. I stared back at him while Dusty glanced between us.

"Wait we really have to pay you?"

"She's kidding," Silverlux growled," Right?"

I shrugged," I don't know. I mean we did just save them from bloodthirsty psycho's. Nothings free in this world."

Silverlux looked ready to throttle me. Alright fine I'm feeling generous. I sighed," Okay here's the deal. We'll escort you to Colton and from there you'll just owe us or me in this case." The buck stared at me in disbelief. The filly just looked confused. The mare stared at the dirt.

"They will not pay us," Silverlux seethed," We did a good deed that was all."

"Classic Image huh," I scoffed and set the filly down. I wrapped a wing around his barrel and started pulling him away. I glanced back at the now crestfallen trio," Be right back. Don't go anywhere if you please."

"Okay Silver here's the deal," I said my voice low and serious," We're in a position to make an investment. I'm above slavery but there's nothing wrong with debts." Silverlux growled. "Okay how about this. We escort them and they carry our shit and anything those raiders were carrying. Deal?"

"Why would I agree to that?" His tone became very cold," You're starting to sound like a slaver. I kill slavers."

I laughed," Please. I have no intention of slapping a collar and leash on any of them." My smile faded," But I do expect payment for services rendered." I smirked darkly," Don't get me wrong Silver I am grateful for your saving my curvaceous flank but I will go through you if I have to get my due."

"Real cut throat attitude," he scoffed," Must have made you popular in the sandbox."

I shrugged," I got by. The point I'm trying to make if you really want to be some sorta savior then why not cash in on it."

"Greedy bitch," he hissed.

"Bitch yes," I grinned," But greedy never. I'm practical that's all." I put a hoof aver his shoulder," I'm not asking them to pay me right now I mean look at them-" I turned to look at the trio and saw they were gone. Now that is rude! They fucking left when I had asked them to stay in such a polite way.

Silverlux started laughing," Welp it looks like your not getting your payday."

I scowled at the buck," Next time I'm getting my due."

"You're really making me regret saving your ass," Silverlux grumbled. I rolled my eyes.

"Want some free advise. Do that which is right but there is a price to pay for every deed done. The short and the long of it is I don't do charity."

"What your mother tell you that?"

"The closest thing I had to one did yes," I said simply and walked away from him. I knew he thought my attitude was cruel but that's the way it was. I pulled up the auto map and tracked Colton down. We were a good twenty miles form the town. That would be some walking. I glanced at my wings in annoyance. I really wish you girls worked for longer than a few minutes. Oh well no use bitching.

"Lets go." I started walking with Silverlux close behind.

It was nightfall when we stopped. We decided to take up camp in an old rest stop. The picnick tables were filthy with all manner of graffiti on them. Trash littered the ground in disarray and I even spotted a few really big crows here and there. they squawked when they saw us but otherwise just flew off. There was even a spritebot floating around, thankfully it was quiet. I remember in Manehatten these things would broadcast radio broadcasts and war propaganda damned annoying.

Silverlux still looked pissed but I guess that was to be expected. I settled down with a ration and a bottle of water. Not quite fine Prench cuisine but I've had worse. The ghoul just stared at me while I ate. I was halfway through my dehydrated peaches when I finally got fed up with it.

"What?!" I growled as I slammed the fork down.

"Were you an orphan?"

I was taken aback by his question. It was random to be sure. I blinked," Why do you ask?"

"You said earlier today that you were told that little bit of dark advise from the closest thing you had to a mother," he inquired," So I assumed-"

"That I was a bastard that my mother didn't want," I hissed," Is that it?"

He stammered," N-no I-I-"

"Why do you care in the first place?"

"Listen I was just curious geez," he stood up and started walking away," No need to be a bitch about it."

"Well since you're so bloody curious," I stamped a hoof on the now empty can of peaches," I was raised by a zebra named Xea. She taught me the cruel truth of the world and how to defend myself in it. She took me in at thirteen and then was taken from me by Morale agents." I stood up and scowled darkly at the infuriating ghoul," Then their leader the Wonderful Ms. Pinkamena Diane Pie decided to brand me as an accomplice to her quote 'Meany spying ways'."

"I'm sure if they took her in they were in the-" Oh you will not finish saying what I think you're gonna say!

I slammed the buck against one of the metal garbage cans. Amazing it stayed in place. "She wasn't a spy," I growled through clenched teeth," She was the only family I had and they took her away from me just because she was a zebra." I laughed mirthlessly," And for the record I hope that pink furred zealot burned slowly."

"Hey that's not-"

"Fair," I finished. I chuckled," My dear misguided colt. Life isn't fair. Take today for instant. They could have been sold into slavery by those psychos. Along the way the raiders would have continued to rape that filly." He blanched," I saw her flanks they were streaked with dried blood. If we hadn't come along that's what would have happened if they hadn't died of starvation. I wasn't gonna just kill them for not paying right away but I would have expected repayment when they were able. That makes me practical, not greedy or cruel. Wanna be a hero fine but in the end you still need to eat. You can't buy food and water with gratitude."

"A cruel way to look at life." A tinny metal voice spoke up. I turned to look at the source, the spritebot.

"Who the hell are you/" I spat, letting Silverlux go as I did so.

"I am Watcher." I froze," Because well all I do is watch the wasteland and from what I see you're thinking like a slaver." So Watcher's a goody four hooves huh? Impressive that he can band jack a spritebot.

I quirked an eyebrow," I have no intention of enslaving anyone," I shrugged," Gotta pay the bills somehow." I gave an annoyed grunt, "Look I'm not gonna sit here and explain myself to either of you. Particularly a pathetic ghoul, or whatever you are, that's too scared to crawl out of their cave in the mountains."

"Listener." If robots could hiss it would have. And we have a winner!

I bowed," A pleasure to meet your cowardessness." I wasn't really concerned with him knowing what I looked like. Call it a cocky streak.

"Wait how do you know this thing/" Silverlux looked lost. And he was but that was another matter entirely.

"While you were headed to the generator shed" I explained," A random transmission came to the comms tower. He was investigating why the signal came back on. Besides that I think this observer is the reason Dj-Pon3 has such spot on information." I smirked at the spritebot," Am I right?"

It stayed silent and that's all the answer I needed.

"That's what I thought,' I said with a little more cockiness than required but oh well.

The spritebot wandered off. Heh I think I found a soft spot. Siulverlux looked at me with a still lost look," Okay What the hell was that?"

"That my friend was a sore loser," I yawned," Come on lets get some sleep."

After a dreamless sleep and a bland breakfast we continued on to Colton. I had the radio up to a very generous amount, greatly enjoying the music. Whoever this Velvet Remedy was had a set of pipes. As well I was able to learn who the Stable Dweller was and the security Mare were. They sounded like a pair of goody fou8r hooves. Silverlux smiled at each mention of heroism. I just rolled my eyes.

"So what's the big deal with these two huh?" I asked the ghoul as we plodded through a section of deserted suburb that marked Colton's outskirts.

"They're two of the most selfless ponies in the wasteland," I explained," They dedicate their time to making the wasteland better."

"And they don't even ask for a thank you do they?" I asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Nope," he gave a chuckle," Its really quite something."

"Uh huh," I scoffed," Well I have no intention of being a hero. At least not without the right incentive."

He was about to respond when suddenly the dirt erupted a few inches from my hoof due to a sniper round. Fuck! We scrambled behind a halfway demolished house. A few more shots rang through the air and I heard cackling in the distance. Oh great more raiders. I sighed as a few red blips started coming closer. I edged to the corner and peered out. There were three raiders moving along the wagons and totaled air-carriages. One had a baseball bat while his two companions were holding a 9mm SMG in their magic and mouth respectively. In the distance crouched on the top of a large cargo wagon was another one with a sniper rifle aimed at us. Another shot rang out and the wooden planks were blasted where my head had been scant seconds before. Whew that was close.

"Stay here and keep them occupied," I told the ghoul as I rounded the opposite corner.

"Where are you going?!" he rasped.

I smirked," Gonna do some hunting."

I vaulted over the wooden fence and snuck through the backyards to the sniper's position. Shots broke out mixed with the sound of magic beams ripping through the air. I knew Silver'd come in handy. I peeked over the fence gate and saw the sniper a little ways over, none the wiser he was being snuck up on. I grinned and slowly made my way to the unicorn buck. By pure chance I looked down and spotted a few frag mines. Well then they're not completely brain dead. I jumped onto the roof of one of the air-carriages with a muffled clang. Thank Celestia the shots were covering up the sound. A few of the carriages and wagons were arraigned like a set of walls. I cleared it with a few flaps of my wings.

Empty bottles and dash inhalers littered the ground around dirty mattresses. There were even a few tables with ammo boxes stacked on them. My stiomach churned at the sight of ripped open torsos of ponies that hung on the makeshift walls. These guys are some sick fucks! Imagine my surprise though when I spot the ponies Silverlux and I had saved the day before bound and gagged. The filly was bound to one of the mattresses with fresh blood tracks on her flank. My eyes went hard and cold as I stared at the buck. I do believe it was his stupidity at running that brought this upon her. I sidled up as the buck recognized me and started trying to speak through the gag.

I frowned and pulled the gag down. He made to scream out but I placed a hoof over his muzzle and spoke in a whisper," Quiet or I'll kill you here. Understand?" He nodded frantically. "Good colt. Now then I have some business to attend to. When I get back we'll be discussing the meaning of good manners. Don't move this time okay?"

I pulled the gag back up and patted the fool on the cheek.

Turning on a hoof, I started sneaking up the ramp to the cargo wagon's roof. The sniper whirled on me having heard the sound of hooves on flimsy metal. I flashed my dagger out of its sheath and drove it into his leg. He tried to cry out but I rushed forward and clopped a hoof over his mouth. I pulled him into a head lock and with a savage twist snapped his neck. Unicorns had notoriously fragile bones you know. I slowly laid him on the floor and picked the sniper rifle up in my telekinesis.

Peeking through the scope I saw Silverlux had changed position to behind one of the upended wagons and had driven the three raiders back some. A shot through the head wasn't a fitting end for these guys. I set my face with a grim expression and gave my neck a crack. Time for some fun. I laid the rifle down and glided to the ground. I snuck up behind the three unwashed peons. The nearest one peered over a wagon and fired a few shots. I rushed him and drove my dagger into her throat. I placed a hoof over her mouth and she died silently.

I placed her down and trotted toward the other two, their backs to me.

"Why the fuck isn't Blitz firin' at this fucker?!" SMG shouted to Baseball Bat.

The hunting knives floated up on either side of me," Cause he's dead."

They whirled on me, both with surprised looks. I slipped right into S.A.T.S. as SMG raised his gun at me. I targeted his leg and horn and let the knives fly. He screamed in agony as his horn went flying and the other knife buried itself hilt deep in his knee. He went down and Baseball Bat rushed me. I whirled, pushing him into a wagon with the flick of a wing. I rushed forward, batting the bat out of his mouth as I did so and pinned him against the cool metal.

" Who fucked the filly?" I said my voice chillingly even.

"Fuck you bitch!" He spat in my eye. I wiped the spittle from my eye and turned to his companion with the same question. All I got in reply was a wail of profanities. Okay then they both did I guess. I smiled gently and drove my hoof into the buck's jewels. He screamed and I pushed him onto his belly. I pulled his tail up.

"Turn about fair play," I hissed and drove a hunting knife right up his plothole. He screamed in agony. I silenced his wails a moment later with a flick of my dagger, spilling his pathetic lifeblood all over the cracked cement. I turned to the other who was looking at me with wide eyes fear filled eyes. He tried to back away from me but I rushed forward.

"Ah ah ah," I scolded,' We wouldn't want to miss out on some character building punishment."

I'd be lying if I didn't admit his look of pure unadulterated fear didn't arouse me. I patted his cheek with a hoof before dispatching him in the same way I did his friend. I wiped my blades clean on their already filthy clothes and sheathed them. I would defiantly need to disinfect them later. I looked up at Silverlux who had a look of horror on his face.

"Why did you do that?" he asked with an tone. Hold up wasn't killing raiders a good thing? Even if it felt really good giving these fuckers what they deserved.

"Retribution," I shrugged," I found the rude ponies from yesterday bound in the raiders' little camp. The filly had fresh blood on her flank." Rapists sickened me to my core and the way I saw it they didn't deserve to die painlessly.

"That was beyond unnecessary," the ghoul growled.

"Listen we can argue ethics later," I scowled," We have a filly to see to and I've a dumb buck to kill."

"Why?!" Silverlux screeched.

I started walking away, my eyes hard as ice," Cause the way I see it he's as much to blame."

He galloped in front of me and pulled a magic pistol on me," Don't make me put you down. He 's innocent!"

I glared at the offending pistol in my face," He ran away without a second thought and ended up getting that filly raped. May as well have raped her himself."

"I should have let you die in that tunnel," he hissed.

"Listen to yourself," I said my tone even, calm," You think they would have done any different. If they had gotten the better of us they would have killed you in sick ways and raped me to their leisure before killing me too. They got their due. Don't sit there and tell me that you didn't feel any satisfaction in the way they went. You've been around for two hundred years witnessing shit like this day in and day out." I almost grinned as he lowered his weapon slightly.

" You know better than I the sick things ponies like these have done." I carefully raised a hoof and lowered the pistol further. He allowed me as he was trying desperately to disagree. I smirked slightly and pressed forward," You know you want to kill them the way they kill. They deserve it. Judgment in its finest. You know what why don't you kill the buck that had run off. You know he deserves it. If he hadn't run off then would have enjoyed a meal with us and a good nights sleep not get taken by more raiders. All he would need to do is repay me with a favor like carrying our stuff for us until we get to Colton. That would have been the end of it."

He stammered," N-no its wrong. I-I-"

"I'm right," I whispered," You know I am. I'll even let you make it painless." I don't know why I was so hell bent on him agreeing but it just felt...right to do so.

I grinned and handed my dagger to him," Do it."

Wordlessly the ghoul took the blade in his magic and stared at it. His eyes betrayed an inner conflict and an old one at that. After a few minutes he turned and walked slowly to the raider camp. I followed feeling particularly gratified. He entered the camp and neared the gagged pair. The buck's eyes widened and he tried to get away. Didn't work so well as he was incredibly hindered by his bonds. Yes kill him, a drak part of my mind whispered, give him what he deserves.

Silverlux slashed the bonds and pulled the buck up in his magic and hissed," Get out of here. We're taking the filly and mare with us but if I ever see you again I'll let her kill you." He motioned over to me then scowled," Now go before I change my mind." The buck was dropped with a grunt and he turned tail and ran. I watched him go, slightly irked but I couldn't do anything about it now. I hope hunger kills the dumbass. I trotted over to the filly and removed the ropes holding her. I grabbed a health potion from my bag and slowly drip fed it to her.

Silverlux pushed my dagger to me," I couldn't take his life." He shook his head, his eyes resolute," But next time I won't stop you." He turned and saw to the white mare. She was just staring straight ahead, even drooled a little. She was far gone. Silver saw it too and snapped her neck. The mare didn't even stop him. Well good to know he knows when to take a life when its necessary.

The filly snuggled against me and I smiled down at the filly. I caught the ghoul looking at me weird.

"What?"

"It's strange," he said as he started going through the ammo boxes," One minute you on a retribution spree and the next you look like a loving mother. What gives?"

"I like foals," I shrugged.

I've always had a way with 'em and I would be lying if I said I didn't adore them. And now that I wasn't seeing red I had a moment to come to terms with what I'd done. Why had I been so hell bent on all that? I wasn't bloodthirsty in any way...was I? Then again I'd seen death plenty in my time. Not to mention having to fend off the occasional drunken bastard or agent hell bent on bringing me in. Xea's words floated through my head. The wicked deserve their fates my little one and sometimes you must deal with them so that they may never hurt another. She believed that people must own up to their mistakes through the 'old way' as she put it. The old way being an execution.

Even if I had been taught that I wondered what had come over me and why the hell wasn't I bothered now? I mean yeah those guys were scum but...no. I shook my head. They got what they deserved no ifs, ands or buts about it. I pulled the filly onto my back as Silverlux completed his scavenging.

"Lets get out of here." He nodded sagely and we started toward Colton.

Footnote: Speech: 50

Melee: 25

Level up!
New Perk added! Grim Negotiations: Your silver tongue can persuade even the most stubborn to rethink their position. You get a 10% bonus when Persuading anyone with a high level of any Karma type to do something Good or Evil.
Quest Perk added! Rad-ical Perception: To most Radiation hinders but to the lucky few it helps. You get a +1 to your Perception when exposed to low level radiation.

Author's Note

Okay so this chapter even rubbed me the wrong way but the hell with it. Sometimes you just gotta push your limits and take the bloody plunge. Oh and be thankful to your editors...I'm serious it is annoying as hell to go through and reread every little line for mistakes. Seriously send them a thank you. Like right now.