Fallout: Equestria- Regret

“Ponies are not truly afraid of the dark. Rather, we fear what the dark can conceal.”

The darkness has already sunk in as the sun had set about an half hour ago and I still haven’t managed to get that far down the river. Swimming was out of the question cause of two reasons. One, I don’t want to be fish bait. Two, I don’t want to be a raider’s reactive target. The main highway wasn’t an option due the fact that again out in the open and a raider could take a few cracks at me.

I didn’t know the metro system at all so I’d just get lost even with the Pip-Buck. I could make it to Tenpony Tower if I booked it but, I needed to find Tracer. I had to stick by the river as closely as I could; otherwise I’d get lost and killed.

I crept along the side of a building that was almost completely made of rubble; keeping my head low and my assault rifle in a low ready. My EFS was clear for the moment as I dashed across the street to the next building. I crept around the side to the front of some kinda store; the shop windows blasted in and the displays long ago scorched by ancient fire.

I turned down a narrow alley that was cluttered with garbage; I could only imagine how the ponies before, the bombs must have felt like walking around in their own trash like this. I went down the length of the ally stopping just short of the corner.

“Do you know where you’re going?”

I stopped and turned my head to the side as if I had somepony next to me. “Shut it.” I hissed. “I don’t want to be something’s dinner.” I turned my head back to see a raider with a rusty pickaxe in his mouth. His eyes were twitching from the unknown concoction of chems that he has been injecting himself with. I could see a smile beginning to form around his lips; not being able to get into a full smile cause of the pick axe.

My eyes widened as I took a step back; the raider matching my movement keeping the distance between us the same. My EFS flicked on his indicator from friendly to hostile and back to friendly again. It repeated this several times as the raider slowly came towards me. I wanted to shoot him but, I didn’t want to waste the ammo on one raider. My eyes dart from side to side scanning trying to see what I could use.

All I found was a tin can. ‘Damnit!’ I mentally screamed as I picked it up before, chucking it to my right. He followed and pounced on it like he it was his lunch (He probably thought it was). He swung the pick axe piercing through the can and into the ground making a loud twang.

“Run!”

I dashed to my left going down the street towards the river; I took a sharp right into another alley to another street. I turned my head back slightly to see what was behind me; I saw the raider with the pick axe in his mouth. The tin can impaled on one end; the raiders eyes were hungry for the meat that was my ass.

I kept running going through several alleys but, I couldn’t shake the bastard off my tail.

“Just shoot him!” cheddar shouted at me as I turned around another corner.

“Fine!” I exclaimed drawing Shattered Harmony and doing a hundred eighty degree turn. The raider was close enough behind me that I was able to jam the barrel under his chin; when his chin contacted the barrel I pulled the trigger. The shot echoed through the dead city; which I knew would draw attention to me but, he kept coming.

I looked around as I caught my breath trying to make where I was. I was in some kinda apartment district with a small park at the end of the long street. It seemed like it’d be a good place to go to but, the sounds of voices flowed with the wind.

My eyes widened in utter fear as I could tell what they were. ‘FUCK!’ I internally screamed before, making my way into the nearest door. I ran up to it hoping it was open. Well actually the moment I touched it; it just fell like a limp piece of meat. It made a loud thump as it fell on the hardwood floor; it was slightly dark from what I could see but, I could make out a set of stairs, which I was happy to use. I ran up stairs as the voices of the raiders came closer and closer.

Eventually, I could make out what they were saying. “Hey, honey badger! Where the fuck are you!? Did you get shot again!?” A female raider called out; her voice seemed…a bit worried? Seemed weird for a raider but, raider none the less. I snuck up the blown out window careful to avoid the shattered glass that littered the floor. My eyes peered over the edge to see that there were more raiders than, I thought. I counted at least a good seven raiders; most of them didn’t even have guns, then again half of them looked like they weren’t completely there at all.

The ones in the front of the pack were the ones with the fire power and seemingly the only ones to have their brains not totally liquefied by the chems they ingest. I glanced at the rear of the pack to see that they were carrying more of the blunt weapons and things that wouldn’t be fun to be poked with; their expressions were from anger to utter insanity, hell one was foaming at the mouth like the one from earlier.

I looked at them a bit, before a few of them stopped in front of the apartment I’m in. “Radar, Sleeve come with me.” A raider shouted, getting two of the feral raiders’ attention; the lead raider had what I think was a double barrel shotgun.

I backed away from the window slowly hoping that the growing darkness would hide me; as I backed up my hoof stepped on a box of busted cereal. It may just be a small crumble but, it may have been a gunshot.

From the commotion downstairs, they heard it too. “What was that? Radar, go see what the fuck it is.”

I heard a growl as Radar snapped back. “Why do I have to do this shit?” he said disheartened.

The sounds of hooves reached my ears as Radar made his way up the stairs. My heart began to beat faster and faster as I looked around in the darkness to find a place to hide. I see a cracked closet that I could get into. I slide the door open but, I fell down on my back; internally screaming as a body fell down on top of me with a rotted rope around it’s neck. I felt a sharp pain in my back as glass was puncturing through my skin.

I grunted in pain before, tossing the body to the side, in a moldy heap. I looked to my left to see a raider that happened to be named Radar, was smiling at me. The rusty axe in his mustard yellow magic hovered next to him before, he made a downward swing. “I found dinner!” he said with such an eagerness in his voice that it made me internally cringe.

I rolled to the side just narrowly missing the jagged edge of the axe. It made a loud thump into the hardwood floor. Before, he could pull the axe out of the wood, I scrambled to my hooves tackling him. I just barely knocked him off his hooves and onto the glass covered floor. He let out a sharp yelp; giving me enough time to pin him down with all my weight. I took a large piece of charred glass with my magic but, the Radar made short work of my pin as he used the force of his hind legs to kick me off and send me skidding across the floor on my back; glass ripping and tearing through my back as I came to an abrupt stop against a brick fireplace.

By the time I got to my hooves, radar had gotten the axe out and was in another swing. Grunting I flared my horn focusing on the axe head; slowing it down just enough for me to dodge the blow. I was losing enough blood; I didn’t need to lose any more. The axe once again struck the floor but, this time it hit the fire place resulting in a moment of sparks and a broken axe handle. The head fell to the floor leaving the raider in momentary shock; which gave me enough time to blindside him with a hoof full of glass.

He screamed bloody murder stumbling back with his left eye filled with glass shards and blood; he scratched at his eye trying to get it out, only making it worse. He flailed around the room for a moment getting his blood everywhere. I couldn’t do anything but, just watch as I saw his blood begin to darker and darker as more glass impaled him. A few seconds later he laid in the center of the room blood smears everywhere he thrashed; his breathing has staggered to a stop and the blood seem to slow down but, continues to spread.

I breathed heavily as the pain began creep back into my body before, I realized I heard hushed voices. I had forgotten that he had friends. ’Celestia, why do you have to fuck me with a cactus?’

“She doesn’t like to do that. I heard she liked cake though.” cheddar commented on my internal swear.

“Not helping.” I say looking down at my fallen gear and the rotten corpse; I trotted over to my assault rifle ejecting the magazine seeing that it was still filled. “We need to save these for an emergency, I’d hope that the axe would survive the fight but, looks like the wasteland just said ‘fuck no’.” I muttered under my breath.

“Well, we don’t got that much ammo and we pretty much both agree that this is an emergency, am I right?” he replied back

My face deadpans. “I‘m starting to hate the fact you‘re always right.” I mutter to myself; taking the assault rifle into my magic. ‘Gotta make the rounds count.’

My counter in the corner of my vision had a 24/24 count on it. “Short controlled bursts; mainly three.”

I nod, seeing two hostile indicators from what I think was the bottom of the staircase. The filtered moonlight (which was basically nothing) adding little to no lighting, but just gave my surroundings a faint outline. At least it was enough to keep me from hitting my face against a wall. I went into a crouch going to the stairwell getting close enough to hear hushed whispers. “I think that bastard killed Radar.” A raider spoke, from the sound of his voice he sounded off. He wasn’t the lead raider.

“No, he was just giving Radar a blowjob.” The lead raider said in annoyed sarcastic voice.

I peered over the stairwell to see that they were on both sides, one with what long blunt object and the lead one carrying the double barrel from before. Going to take that if I could. I took a long deep breath before, turning on the wall to face down the stairwell with the feral in my view. I slipped into SATS to see him. I placed three tags on him. One on his chest, right leg and head all of them with a 55%.

I let the spell go and my body felt under the control of something else; the trigger pulling sending a salvo of bullets towards the Raider’s chest. Two of the shots went wide sending debris into his face from the wall most of his body was hiding from; the third bullet went a bit high grazing his neck, sending some blood splattering to the side. The second volley missed completely; not even getting close to his head. The third volley was true, all three rounds hitting his right leg sending him sprawling onto the ground with a loud scream.

When time sped back up to normal I jumped back just barely missing a shotgun blast to the chest. I backpedaled having my ass touch the wall aiming at the stairwell; just waiting for the raider to charge up. He didn’t. This raider was smart unlike the last two. My ears perked up at the sound of an empty shotgun hull hitting the ground.

Before, I knew it I felt my legs spring forward; i don’t exactly remember telling my legs to do so. I was in mid air, half way down the stairs looking at the lead raider with a shotgun shell in his mouth. His eyes wide as he saw me coming down. I closed my eyes firing my rifle wildly in his direction. I land on the floor with a loud thud and a sharp pain in my left shoulder as I skid to a stop. I opened my eyes to see that my shots hit him several times. Most in his chest and legs but, a stray bullet hit the top of his skull spraying gore across the wall behind him; his shotgun laying open with a shell halfway in. “Don’t know why I did that but, I’m glad I did it.”

I looked at the large pool of blood that the other raider had formed from my shots; he managed to drag himself to the corner with his weapon laying next to him. He wasn’t breathing from what I could tell but, I didn’t bother to check. I got up on my hooves, a shooting pain coming from my left shoulder; the pain from my back wasn’t helping either. I looked around to see that the other raiders had gone somewhere else, leaving my EFS clear of anything.

I limped to the blood soaked shotgun before, I picked it up with my magic. I took out both of the shell and studied them both. The one that was already in there, crumbled in my magic the moment it left the chamber. Somepony needs to teach them how to handle their ammo, it’d probably kill him the moment he fired it; would’ve saved me bullets.

I searched the corpse to find several more 20 gauge shotgun shells, a pack of cigarettes, and what I thought was a miracle. A healing potion. I stuffed the extra gear including the shotgun into my bags and placed the shotgun on my back. I went to the door frame hugging the wall as I peered out; still seeing nothing. My heart was pounding as I felt my blood cake my back and some of the glass grind against my muscles every time I moved which sent a large wave of pain through my entire body. I slowly moved out of the apartment door and made a quick walk to the end of the street which lead to a T.

I looked at my Pip-Buck to see that the river was on my left. The air felt still even if I could hear the flowing river and my blood dripping; it felt still. I needed to move. I went down another alleyway but, this time a bit slower. The faint lighting was almost non-existent even on the outside; I could faintly see some objects here and there, mostly trash but, still. I kept my rifle in a low ready as I crept forward, I saw nothing but, buildings and rubble. Some seeming to be on the verge of collapse as I walked by.

For being dangerous ruins this places was empty; absolutely empty… I walked through a small intersection; at that moment the hairs on my neck began to stand as I felt like something was watching me. My eyes darted back and forth as I walked into a playground; rusted equipment was spread out. Skeletons of small fillies and colts still laid where they were the day the bombs dropped. Some were still going down the slide, the top portion on the bottom while the bottom…was fused to the slide itself. The sight sent a chill down my spine as I looked around at the scene. I looked around once more before, I saw larger skeleton in a corner between a brick wall and a blown out chain link fence. I walked over to it with a raised eyebrow; seeing it curled up.

When I got to it; I saw that the skeleton was holding something. Not a weapon or something of the sort but…a smaller skeleton. A foal. I stared at it for a moment, before bowing my head and closing my eyes; paying respect. After a second has passed I opened my eyes and nodded. “May you rest in peace for what’s it worth.” I muttered, as I turned around and began walking past the yard.

Then, I could feel the sense of something staring at me. “Don’t move a fucking muscle.” Cheddar pronounced in the back of my skull. Hope he is making himself at home.

I blinked once more to see a bright flash of light. For a moment I was surrounded by laughing fillies and colts as they played all around me. A multitude of colors came with them; not tainted by the horrors of the wasteland. I looked around to see that the sky was clear and bright. A large bright object in the sky was the source; which made me smile. Than, I blinked again and was rushed back into reality.

I shook my head and scanned the area once more; everything was the same, but this time. All the skeletons’ heads were facing me; even the one at the bottom of the slide. I turned to the curled up on to see that his or her head was looking at me with its at an odd angle. My forehead began to sweat as I took a step back; then, I saw them begin to move. I heard a voice emitting from all of them in unison. “Come and play with us, we need new friends.”

“Running sounds like a good idea right now!” Cheddar exclaimed in my head.

“I couldn’t agree more!” I replied, before I reared up and bolted out of the playground with the crackling of old bones hitting one another behind me. I ignored the pain in my shoulder as I kept running; not even bothering to look back as I began to feel the soft patter of rain against my cheeks. I made a few turns in several alleys, before stopping to catch my breath. I couldn’t tell what was the craziest thing about that playground. The vision or the moving skeletons. Seems pretty even to me.

I sighed as I walked forward; the rain beginning to come down harder once more, but I couldn’t wait it out; it sure did feel nice that the rain was getting any dried blood off my duster.

After a few minutes of walking, the rain was just now beating down on me and making me miserable. I look up to see the sky begin to lighten up, not from clearing of clouds but, from the gathering of lightning to strike. The sounds of thunder echoed through the dead city making me begin to hurry through the next couple of alleys; not paying attention to what was in front of me. The rain made it almost impossible to see anyways. I kept going until my face hit something solid; not like brick but, something hard yet soft like…a body. I stepped back to see trio of large leathery winged creatures feasting on something in the middle of them all of them; not noticing me…except the one I bumped into. “Well this is a big shit sandwich isn’t it?” Cheddar pronounced.

“Not helping.” I muttered as I took another step back to see what was at their feet. The bodies of several raiders all of them dried up and shriveled as if everything was sucked out of them. My gaze went to the creature in front of me and I froze from the way it was looking at me. Its eyes staring into my very soul, it slightly opened its mouth, revealing rows of razor sharp teeth and fangs. Before, it could do anything, I turned tail and bolted, ignoring the pain in both my shoulder and my back. I heard a screech behind me which made my head feel like it was going to explode.

I just turned a corner before, one of the creatures slammed into the side of a brick wall, putting a small crater in the wall. I kept running as fast of my legs could carry me feeling them burning even in the cold rain. I made another turn down an alley faintly hearing the sound of thunder in the distance; the creature that was on my tail over shoot me and continued down the back alley.

When I got half way through the alley I could hear the wing beats of more than, three of the things. As I got to the end I turned my head to see that the numbers quadrupled in size to around a dozen of the damn things; just as I was about to become food the sound of automatic machinegun fire roared down the street. I slide across the wet pavement scrapping up my side even more as some of the bullets tore through the mutant beasts; momentarily pushing them back into the alley.

I slide into the next alley as the machine gun fire continued to roar, even though the beasts were dead. I heard a massive roar of screams and gunfire as both ends of the street were lighting up with bullets. I couldn’t tell if they were raiders or not. Fucking rain. All I could see were the dead creatures and the tracers flying through the air going both ways. I was about to turn around before, a massive collection of screams ripped through the air as I could see ponies coming from both sides charging each other.

Each side were being ripped apart by gunfire or by the blunt objects that they had in their possession. I ducked my head as I watched from my corner not able to take my eyes off the carnage. Blood flowing through the streets like the rain with floating debris made of body parts.

My ears then, perked up at the familiar sound of something hinging closed. “Shit.” I muttered as I saw something fly through the air with a exhaust trail. The missile impacted in the middle of ponies from the other side of the street; sending gore and blood flying just like what happened during the caravan ambush. I looked around to see that I wasn’t noticed by the groups of ponies who were killing themselves over something.

I slowly began backing away from the fighting before, I heard the familiar screeching of the creatures that chased me. Being the idiot that I am, I went back up to the corner and peered over. What I saw nearly made me shit a brick as the creatures were beginning to attack the raiders with no mercy. Even in the heavy rain the horror was clear. The creatures were sucking the blood out of any raider they got their fangs on. The bullets seeming only to piss them off more; only a few were falling but, more were coming to replace them overwhelming the raiders. The machinegun that was on the opposite side of the street seem to either be out of ammo or out of operators as it went quiet.

The raiders didn’t last long as the street went quiet all except for the pounding rain and the gurgling sounds of the creatures. I could count at least ten of them roaming around like they are looking for something. Than, I felt the blood begin to run down underneath my duster which made my eyes go wide. They could smell it.

I began to backup once more, drawing Shattered Harmony with my magic as I hoped it’d be any use against those beasts. I slowly turned and went into a low crouch going as fast as I could. I managed to get to the other side of the alley before, I heard the loud screech. I whipped my head towards the other side to see a small blood wing; its red eyes staring into my soul as it leapt forward.

As if by reflex I swung around Shattered Harmony and fired around three or four times. The 45 caliber bullets tore through the beast’s flesh, spraying blood across the wall behind it; only to get quickly washed off by the rain. It’s indicator disappeared as it died, but its momentum wasn’t. The corpse was still flying through the air limp. I rolled to the side but, not quick enough. Its tail end smacked my side making me roll down the street where the ground seemed to vanish from under me.

I reached out with a hoof trying to catch the ledge but…I missed. I looked up as I fell; the rain seemed to stop. I felt like I didn’t weight anything; I felt like I was flying. It was interrupted by the sudden engulfment of water. The impact sent another sharp pain through my body; knocking the breath out of my body and filling my lungs with radioactive water. My lungs burned for the air that they needed as the current of the water drug me under barely being able to get out long enough for a short breath, before I get drug back under.

I began swirling in circles as the current did what it pleased. One moment I felt my head above water, the next the current drug me under and slamming my chest against a rock making the rush out making me begin . I didn’t know how long I could last like this but, my luck held as I began sliding down a draining pipe into some sludge. I felt a hard metal object fall on top of my head before, landing next to me in the muck. I got above the muck and began hacking up water while I rubbed my head as i hacked up water and muttered. “Ow…”

I staggered up from the pain that covered my body; the smell I couldn’t begin to describe as it flooded my nostrils and made my eyes begin to water. I swear that some of the toilets are still being used as I heard what sounded like a flushing. I looked to my side and picked up the object with my magic to see that it was Shattered Harmony. I shook the pistol trying to get off as much of the muck as possible before, I holstered it.

I looked up to see that surprisingly that the service lights of what I think are the sewers. I wiped off the screen of my Pip-Buck to check if I have everything. I let out a sigh as I realized that I lost a majority of my supplies mainly my rifle and shotgun. “Fucking hell. Why does Luna have to continually shove her horn in my ass?” I swore at myself as I got onto the walking platform of the dimly lit tunnels. I walked halfway down the first tunnel before, turning back to the way I came in.

With the light I could see a few more things; there were markings on the walls that looked like claws. I traced them down to where I was; placing my muck covered hoof onto the wall feeling the marks. They were shallow but, were made with ease. What ever made them was strong and dangerous, is what I got from that. I looked down the tunnel keeping Shattered Harmony ready inside my holster, before I began to walk down the tunnel. At the end of it was another T; both of them covered with the claw marks making me wonder how many dangerous things were down here.

I took a deep breath as I looked at my left. “Follow my heart and it will lead me true.” I muttered as I went down the left tunnel. It was as dimly lit as the last tunnel but, it was longer and a bit more small in size. A few skeletons here and there of old maintenance crews; not wanting to experience another thing like the playground with walking skeletons, I kept walking not paying attention to them. I shivered at the thought of being eaten by the skeletons. I shook the thought out of my head as I moved forward.

It felt cold in here, not just from the muck that covered me and my wounds (Which are probably being infected by that point) but, just that it was dark and nothing was alive from what I could see. The marks were covering the tunnels everywhere I went; still no other sign that what made them that said they were alive. It gave me a bit of comfort but, not as much as it should have.

“Is it me or is this place seem…”

“Dead?”

“Yeah, but these marks…” I stop to study them yet again. “It seems like either they were fighting a lot, running or something…”

“A swarm…” Cheddar finished my sentence making me freeze.

I looked at them once more to see a faint blood spot from where a claw was rubbed off or something. I touched it to feel…that it was still fresh. “Fucking hell. This isn’t fucking good at all!” I exclaimed looking at the tunnel. Just twists and turns of sewage tunnels surround me; making me feel like I was a rat myself. I thought for a moment, before I looked at my Pip-Buck. An idea hit me. I brought it up and went to the map section.

“What are you doing?” Cheddar asked if he really didn’t know.

“You’re inside my head; you should know. I’m gonna try to use the local map to see if I can find a way out of this hell, so we don’t get lost and starve to death.” I replied as I looked through the blue map. I scrolled as far out as I could than, I saw it. A blue marker saying that it was the exit I needed to take. It didn’t say how far or how to get there but, as long as I knew there was a way out, it’ll be alright.

As I walked down the tunnels as the adrenaline wore off; making the pain throughout my body begin to rise up and became more apparent as I went. I could feel the grinding of glass against my muscle and bone yet again sending a chill down my spine; not to mention the stinging sensation from what I think is the muck infecting my wounds but, I couldn’t do much about that at the moment.

I took a left towards the indicator only to see that the tunnel has collapsed on itself. My face deadpanned as I looked at the rubble. “You gotta be shitting me.” I sighed before, I turned around to see something move just out of the light. My eyes tried to follow it, but it was too fast as it slipped into the shadows. I was left staring at the spot where I last saw it for a moment, before I shook my head.

I walked back to the main tunnel hoping that I could make my way around the collapse. I walked for Celestia knows how long just thinking about that movement. As I walked deeper and deeper into the sewer the claw marks began to make the brown wall turn white from the number of marks that covered the walls. “What made these?” Cheddar asked, his icy voice echoing through my skull which I’ve gotten used to.

“Hell if I know and I don’t aim to find out.” I muttered in response as I continued walking down the tunnel; which a few moments later, I began to kick into some empty brass casings. I raised an eyebrow picking up with my magic and studying it. The brass seemed to be old (as most pre-war ammo is) but, it seemed to have been used recently maybe a week or two at the most. I tossed the case aside to see that a trail of scattered casings littered the walkway.

I began to follow them; curious by the origin. I followed them to a corner where another tunnel collapsed but, this one had the fresh pair skeletons from mercs. I looked at horror as their bones were stripped clean of any tissue even gnawed on and chewed; getting any marrow that was in them. Their gear was thrown about as if in a wild frenzy. Bullet casings and empty magazines covered the walk away, I could only imagine the horror that killed them.

I tried to pick up one of the bones to make sure they weren’t going to be walking anytime soon. The bones that i picked up was riddled with teeth marks and it broke in half the moment, i lifted it into the air. I peered inside the bone to see that it was hollow; void of any marrow that was once inside.

My ears perked up at the sound of skittering behind me as i dropped the bone. I quickly turned my head and movement in the shadows once again drew my attention. “This place is giving me a bad feeling…”

“You think?”

“Point taken.” I turn back to the skeletons than, to the weapons next to them. I trotted over to them and picked up what seems to be an SMG of some caliber. I couldn’t tell what it was though. Had no ammo in the magazine and the gun was too scratched to tell what the stamp said. I tossed it to the side and looked at bolt action rifle; just as scratched up as the SMG but, I could actually tell what it was. My old friend the Varmint Rifle.

I levitated it up to my eye level to see that it was scratched up all to hell; it was even worse condition than, the one that Files gave me. My EFS blinked a moment drawing my attention to the ammo indicator. Well, more to the bar next to it. It showed that it was nearly on the verge of breaking. Which I would have known the moment I took to look at it further.

The weapon had a full magazine in it; which I thought was a plus but, it had one extra feature that my last Varmint Rifle didn’t. It had a scope mounted on the receiver; still scratched to hell and probably off zero but, still it was better than, the iron sights at distance. “Well, this is nice isn’t it?” I asked myself hoping that Cheddar didn’t respond with a smartass comment.

“It’s a piece of shit what are you talking about?” Damn it.

“Better than nothing and the best part about it is that I got ammo for the damn thing.” I snapped back, which seemed to silence the disembodied voice for a bit.

I searched the remains some more only to find some rage, a few more rounds for the Varmint Rifle and a couple of caps. With a grunt I slung the varmint rifle on my back and went back to the main tunnel where the sounds of skittering reached my ears came from my left. “What the hell?” I muttered looking to where I had came from. I saw a few shadows across the walls from something that looked like rats. That’s when the thought hit me. Rats… I looked at the claw marks then, at the bones. They had teeth marks on them, everything was flooding towards me. “Shit!” I exclaimed as I turned on my hind legs and began galloping as hard as I could.

I turned my head slightly to see a flood of rats coming across the turn, red eyes staring at me as they chased their next meal. I ignored the pain that was coursing throughout my entire body as I ran; well limped but, I kept at a fast pace. I didn’t bother shooting at them as I knew there were too many of them to kill. “Fucking hell!” I exclaimed once more, as I turned around another corner seeing it fork. I stopped for a moment before looking at my EFS again seeing that the indicator was telling me to go right.

I did just that as I ran with a rat chomping at my tail; pulling a few hairs out of it. I yelped in sudden pain; making me kick the rat in the face. I could feel the crushing of bone in its face from the force of the kick. I heard a simultaneous screech from the rats the moment I kicked the rat. They began getting more aggressive and running faster; they could taste my blood.

I made several turns that the main tunnel followed; the rats slowly gaining as I slowed from exhaustion. Feeling even more drained as I kept running. I couldn’t stay in one place and get eaten, but I can’t keep running. I need to find somewhere out of this place. I began to wheeze as I came to what looked like a ladder. The bottom rungs had broken off leaving only a few rungs within jumping distance. It was a straight away so I gave it my all, pumping all the energy I had left into my hind leg as I got closer. With one last sudden burst of energy, I jumped into the air reaching my hooves up; just barely catching the lowest intact rung. I swung a bit nearly losing my grip but, I placed both of my hooves on it. The wave of rats flooded under me enough to make a powerful gust; they all stopped a bit and began trying to climbing one another trying to get at me.

As they chomped at the bit, I used to pull myself up on the ladder only managing to get up one more rung before, having to stop for a moment; the pain from my shoulder forcing me to stop for a moment. The rats chomping on my tail once more; making me kick them again. The rats kept trying to climb as I tried myself; the rats having more success.

“Come on you son of bitch! Do you want to be a meal for fucking rodents!?” I heard Cheddar yell inside my head.

“Fuck no!” I replied as I grabbed the next rung and pulled up; than the next and the next; all the way until I got to the ponyhole cover. I used my magic to push it to the side letting me get a way out. I climbed out of the hole just as a rat took a bite on my leg, making me scream loud as I kicked it off. “Little fucker!” I rolled on my back and drew Shattered Harmony, before I fired into the rodent; red mist took its place along with a few chucks of flesh.

With my magic I slid the cover back into place just before those bastards could on the street. I laid out on the street; rain still pounding on me as I held my hoof to my chest. “Fuck me with a damn Sparkle-cola bottle and call it even.” I said catching my breath.

“Ummm…I don’t want to though.” a voice said behind me; making my eyes snap open. I rolled on my stomach and aimed Shattered Harmony at the owner of the voice. My surprise to see that it was an Earth mare with a rather surprised look on her face. She dropped down and help her hooves up. “Don’t shoot! I mean no harm!” she exclaimed in a frantic voice. “I just heard the gunshot and your weird swearing. I saw that you were hurt and wanted to help!” I stayed silent for a moment studying her. I couldn’t see much due to the heavy rain but, I could make out the faint colors of gold and dark blue.

I cocked an eyebrow, before slowly lowering the pistol and sighed. “Sorry…” I said sticking out a shaky hoof with an exhausted smile.She looked at my hoof hesitantly for a moment, before shaking it.

I smiled once more, stumbling a bit; I’m surprised that I didn’t fall but, I think what was more surprising was the fact that she was one my side before, I could fall. I looked at her with surprise, before she spoke with a soft voice. “Don’t worry I got you.” By the sudden change in her expression I guess she saw the wounds on my back. “We need to get you out of the rain.”

I looked at her with a coy smile. “I’m fine. I need to get going, miss…?” Ok, I’m a big liar.

“The name is Ink Pad and no this isn’t an option.” She said nudging me towards an open door.

I looked at the door and sighed. I didn‘t have the strength to resist but, me being a stubborn jackass; I kept trying to leave. “I really need to get go.”

“Not until I get a look at your wounds.” She said with another push with even more emphasizes.

Sighing, I moved towards the door nearly making her stumble on the ground. “Alright, but after you’re done I need to get going.” I responded, rather weakly.

She didn’t say anything else until we got inside the apartment store. She guided me towards a stained mattress which has seen better days, next to it was a small lit fire which gave the room a creepy feeling to it but, with some warmth. “Lay down with your back to the fire and take off your duster.”

I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow, before I took off my duster and laid it next to the mattress showing that my entire back was covered in muck and dried blood. Her expression was of true shock and horror at what she saw. “How in the living fuck are you still alive with that much blood loss!?” she exclaimed almost pushing me down onto the mattress. I got on it and laid with my back to the small fire. Sighing in exhaustion as i felt the warmth of the fire.

I heard her gag in disgust and began to cough a bit. “Damn, you smell like shit.” I didn’t say a word as i let her think on that. “Oh…” She chuckled sheepishly. “Sorry.”

I chuckled a bit painfully. “Its fine don’t worry.”I winched as I felt her take a pair of tweezers and began plucking out the pieces of glass. “Can you do that a bit less painful?” I asked.

She deadpanned. “You want me to do this or not?”

I sighed looking at the wall, before a thought ran through my head. “Why are you helping me, Ink?” I asked.

She sighed as she took out another piece of glass. “I saw you exit the sewers that both my brothers went down in a couple of weeks ago. I was wondering if you saw them at all?” I froze a moment tensing up, guessing from her next sigh she knew. “They’re dead aren’t they? Eaten by those damn Sewer Rats?” she asked. I nodded. “I figured since you have my brother’s Varmint Rifle.” she plucked out another large piece of glass.

I winched again. “Ow.”

I could imagine her rolling her eyes. “Oh don’t be a big foal. You’re gonna be alright for the time being.” After another moment, she took out a small piece of glass. “Well, thanks for the information. At least I can make some peace of this hell.” She began wiping some of muck that covered my back with a wet rag. When she got to my flanks she stopped and from what I could tell was staring at something. “What’s up with your cutie mark?” She asked.

I raised an eyebrow before, looking back at her. “What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well…it seems odd to me.” her voice seems a bit…confused.

“How so?”

“Well, they’re bits I get that but, what’s on them is what confuses me.”

I cocked an eyebrow, before looking at my right flank. There were two large golden coins with the side view of a unicorns head with the eyes closed. I shifted a bit to get a better view of my left to see that the eyes were open and the pupils were shrunken. “OK? They’ve always been like that.”

She just shrugged a bit. “I don’t know, just seems really odd. But, anyways there isn’t much I can do for your wounds, so you are gonna have to find a real doctor. Your wounds are getting infected if you didn’t already know that. Plus it seems like you crashed through several windows and bashed around in a river or something.” she said with a bit of a dark chuckle.

“You’d be right on both accounts.” I replied with a sore chuckle. I looked at the wall to see a faint picture of the Statue of Friendship. “hey, I got a question for ya.” I asked.

“Shoot.”

“How far away is Friendship City?”

The sound of confusion in her voice said it all. “Friendship City? That’s about an hour walk from here. But, that’s not counting the raiders, mutants and Celestia knows what else.” She said as she applied some regular bandages on my back with a sigh. “Well, that the best I could patch you up. Fifty caps?” She asked as if it was just a suggestion.

I smiled a bit before, slowly sitting up and taking out the small bag of caps I got from Fancy Pants’ safe. “here take these. I think there is a hundred caps in here. I’m sure you could find a better use for them.” I said feeling a heated glare inside my head.

“You’re a fucking idiot. Giving away a hundred caps like it’s nothing. We could use those to buy supplies you dumbfuck!” Cheddar raged inside my head but, I quickly tuned him out as I saw Ink’s shocked face.

“I-I…”She stuttered not knowing what to say.

I chuckled a bit feeling a soft pain in my ribs. “Don’t worry about it. Just being nice.” Smiles a bit more. I looked at her a bit more; she looked worn and like hammered shit. There were blood stains all over her coat and her mane was frizzed; some spots matted down with sweat and more blood. I narrowed my eyes. I noticed how her cutie mark was still covered a bit; so I couldn’t make out what I was. I looked back at her before, gently smiling. “You seem like you’ve been through hell. You should keep it.”

Before, she could mutter out another word some shouting came from right outside the door. She turned to it and her face said fear as it opened. When it did three ponies rushed in and basically tackled us. Basically really isn’t the word. More like, using the butt of his assault rifle to uppercut my chin sending a sharp pain coursing through my head. Before I could react, another strike hit me across the face, sending me into the ground.

I couldn’t get up fast enough before a large unicorn buck held the barrel of his assault rifle against my muzzle. He looked straight into my eyes; his were filled with cold hearted intent. They weren’t raiders. I heard a struggle behind me but, I couldn’t do anything to help as the muzzle of the gun was pressed down harder. “Move, a fucking muscle and your brain will be another stain in the carpet.” He spoke in a rough ragged voice but, damn was it deep. Like somepony had injected some kind of chem straight into his vocal cords.

I couldn’t tell much about him or his partners as they were all covered in matching uniforms of combat armor and masks; all except for the color of their coats. Mine had a black coat, while the other two had a brown and a pink. After a moment of struggling, it stopped and I guess that Ink Pad finally submitted.

I continued to looked at my captor; who was looking at his partners more than, me. An idea popped in my mind. “Oh shit, you got an idea didn’t you?” Cheddar commented as I looked at the barrel of the rifle as the black merc as was looking at his partners. He didn’t have me pined on the chest with his hoof like most would have, he was a rookie.

I swept my hoof across my face grabbing the barrel and dragging it away from my face; the moment I did that, he fired. Bullets hit the ground right next to my head digging into the floor but, the report of the burst made my left ear being to ring immensely. I ignored it as much as possible as I brought up my leg and kicked into his stomach. I heard an oof as the wind was knocked out of him, I grabbed the rifle with my own magic and pushed it towards his face; the butt stock smashing against his muzzle and making an audible crack.

He fell to the ground holding his now broken muzzle with blood seeping out; dropping his only weapon. I scrambled to my hooves taking the rifle into my magic and aimed it at him. He stared at me with open eyes, they were filled with nothing but, pure uncut fear. His pupils were small as his face was beginning to sweat. I shifted my eyes towards the door as Ink Pad was being dragged out.

The mercs didn’t seem to realize that I held one of their own captive. I backed off a bit keeping the muzzle trained on the black merc. “Get up.” I spoke firmly as I drew Shattered Harmony with my magic placing the sling from the assault rifle around my neck, letting it dangle. “Move now.” I said pushing him slightly through the door. I could barely budge him but, a flash of the large caliber pistol made up for the lack of strength. I turned my head for a moment, taking my gear out with me. Stuffing my bloody duster inside the saddle bag.

We moved into the pounding rain, soaking the bandages as we walked. The other two mercs didn’t realize that I had their friend. “Hey, dumbfucks!” I yelled out. “I got something of yours!” I aimed my pistol at the black merc.

They turned around stunned at the fact that I had their friend. “Muscle!” one of them cried out in anger. She looked at me. “You bastard! Let him go or the bitch gets it!” She exclaimed putting a 9mm pistol to Ink’s head. I couldn’t see her face but, I could see some fresh blood dripping off. “We have already had enough shit trying to get this, bitch!”

I had the feeling of anger begin to boil up as she said that. “Why are you trying to capture her!?” I barked. “Huh!? It isn’t like she has had enough shit going on too!!” I glared, the glare seemed to be make the merc flinch.

She tried to speak but, was falling over her words. “T-t-this bitch h-has a b-b-b-bounty on her head for theft.”

I looked at the black merc. “All of this for pity theft!? Pity fucking theft!” I felt I reached the point of no return. My magic slowly pulling the trigger of Shattered Harmony, before I did I looked at the merc. “YOU CAN TAKE THAT BOUNTY AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR TIGHT LITTLE FUCKING ASSHOLE, YOU FUCKING BITCH!!!” I screamed as I went into SATS.

Time slowed to a crawl once more, even the raindrops stopped in their plummet. I looked at the merc that had Ink at gun point. Her head only had a twenty three percent chance of hitting but, her legs however were a different story. Her right legs had a fifty-five percent chance and I decided to take it. I qued two shots on her legs and decided to que on one her pistol; from what SATS was telling me was in horrible condition.

I took a mental breath as I released the spell and soon the shots rang out. One of the bullets went wide on her legs grazing Ink; I’m gonna have to apologize for that one. The second shot found its mark, making the mare drop onto the ground screaming, what was odd is that the third bullet went wide but, it made a better shot. The pistol dropped out of the mare’s magic and onto the ground. SATS being a spell, followed it and fired Shattered Harmony. The bullet ricocheted off the pavement and went into the mare’s chest.

The black merc roared as time went to normal, I felt like Celestia herself was trying to rape me by the force that the merc used to tackle me onto the ground. My magic faltered and gave out, sending Shattered Harmony skidding across the pavement. I felt another crack on my side as his body squished mine into the pavement, my lungs burned from the air that was knocked out of them. I looked at Shattered Harmony as it laid on the ground.

The merc began to pound against my chest, making several more cracks. I still felt some of the anger remain from the first volley. I got my hind legs against his stomach and just barely managed to get him off of me. He quickly got up, before he pulled out a large knife and began to charge. I scrambled to Shattered Harmony and just got ahold of it in my mouth when I felt the cold blade of a combat knife plunge into my shoulder.

I let out a loud grunt as I quickly turned my head presenting the barrel of the black .45 Auto into view; his face was pulverized by the single bullet before, I could get a look at it. All that was least was the skull bits and grey matter that covered not only the street but me. The rain quickly did away with most of it but, I could feel some in my mane. I steadily rose to my hooves, even if they are shaking uncontrollably.

I could feel the warm crimson flow down my shoulder and onto the flooded streets. I looked the knife and saw that it stopped just before it could use the serrated part of the blade. It didn’t help the pain though. Using my magic and with a low grunt I yanked out the blade, letting it clatter onto the pavement. I panted; out of breath I looked over at Ink Pad, she was alright. The body of the second merc was on the ground and an SMG was her hooves.

“Don’t do anything stupid, she has the drop on us. Even with the assault rifle, she can spit out more rounds.” Cheddar commented once more, again being right. Fucking hell.

‘Did I say I was starting to hate the fact you’re right?’

“I believe so but, I’d like to hear it again.”

‘Don’t get so full of yourself.’

While I was having my internal conversation with Cheddar, Ink came up to me with a wiry smile. “Thanks for saving me.”

I didn’t say a word as I looked at the locked slide of Shattered Harmony. I took out the empty magazine and placed it into my bag. I wiggled out my last magazine for Shattered Harmony. I brought up the magazine and sighed as I placed it into the magazine well slamming it home. “Consider us even for you patching me up.” I said as I pulled the slide release, chambering a round.

She raised an eyebrow. “I thought the caps were for patching you up?” The confusion was riddled all through out her voice.

I made a weary smile. “No, you need them more than, I do along with this.” I muttered taking the assault rifle in my magical grip and placing the sling around her neck letting it dangle. “Need the extra firepower.” I muttered softly. “Now…Just go and get somewhere safe.” My smile becoming slightly bigger as I push my mane out of my face.

She was hesitant for a moment before, nodding. “I hope we meet up again. I’ll buy you a drink.” She said with a giggle. After a moment of silence she began to walk away into the darkness and rain.

After she was gone it took all of my strength not to fall on my ass. I sighed as I looked at my map, the marker saying that Friendship City was still a ways away. I looked in the direction of Friendship city, my long mane finally drooping down smacking me in face. “Well…can’t get there just standing around…”

“hopefully we don’t run into anything else while we are out here, since you basically gave her our best weapon.”

I looked at Shattered Harmony, my blue magic illuminating enough for me to see. “No…it isn’t. All it did was spray and waste bullets. She isn’t a strong fighter as of right now but, I have the feeling she’ll get stronger.”

I heard Cheddar’s cold chuckle. “Yeah, she has fight in her but, we need to go.” I nodded slightly, before I began to walk towards another alley; feeling a bit heavy from killing the mercs without reason. But, I’d dwell on it later as I made my way past the garbage riddled alleyway. My EFS clear for the moment, but keeping my eye on it as anything could jump out and rip my face off.

After a few moments of walking the rain was beginning to lighten up which lighten my spirits as well. I felt better walking especially with most of the glass shards out but, it still hurts like a bitch. I look up as I entered a street, the rain drops hitting me as they fall. I took a deep breath ignoring any pain the resided inside my body. I adjusted my Varmint Rifle on my back as I looked forward and began to move once more. I didn’t know what the time was but, I didn’t care. It felt like forever yet, like a second.

I rubbed my eyes as the exhaustion was beginning to get to me, than it felt like the idea hit me in the head. I looked at my Pip-Buck and flipped it to the radio section. I surveyed the selection, wasn’t really much on there. Baltimare news radio, which was out of range. The Enclave radio which was total garbage, no wonder raiders listened to it. I scrolled all the way down until I saw the only one that was within range. DJ-PON3.

I smiled a bit as I selected it to hear the voice of Sapphire Shores ending a song, before the sound of a stallion came over the speakers. “Good evening wasteland! This is DJ-PON3 with the one am report. This is what I have for you kiddies. I’ve told you all about the mysterious explosions in the Manehattan Stadium, right? Well, kiddies ol PON3 has got a treat for you. With me is my special guest, one of the only survivors that happened to be inside the stadium.”

Another voice came over the speaker this time it was very familiar. “Yes, I did and I wasn’t the only one.”

“Ah, yes. That reminds me kiddies, it turns out those nasty Gladiators who roamed the wastes for their fighters, had their arena inside the stadium! I couldn’t make this shit up.” There was a slight pause and the shifting of chairs. “So, Canvas, you worked as the medic there am I correct?”

“Yes, I did. It wasn’t easy at all, especially when somepony couldn’t stop getting shot.” She coughed a bit. I had a feeling who she is talking about.

“For my fellow listeners, was it true that somepony killed Fancy Pants?” I nodded a bit, before sighing remembering Bright’s last moments.

“Yes, I do believe he is dead. He was on the top floor and the explosions that HE rigged himself were detonating from bottom up. Idiot. I nearly didn’t make it out from the medical station.”

I heard PON3 chuckle. “Yeah, I heard that he wasn’t the brightest with explosives. But, please tell us how you did escape.”

I heard a sigh from Canvas. “It was a friend of one of the recent captures. His name was Bright Night I think. Saved me from several of the Gladiators and told me where to go. He then dashed off to go find his friend, who probably was going after Fancy Pants. I have no idea if they are alive or not. Hell, I don’t even know if their other friend even made it out.”

“Other friend?”

“Yes, a large buck with a short temper towards those he doesn’t like. I was able to talk to him for a while as both of his friends were laying unconscious in the medical beds. His name was Tracer, even though he did come off as some what of a douche at first, I looked past it and saw big softy.” She giggles a bit as I rolled my eyes. Softy my ass. “When he was asked to leave to his cell, he almost got into a fight as the guards tried to move his friends. With a little help from yours truly, we made them leave his friends alone. He soon escaped through a drainage pipe in the middle of the arena with the help of his friends, who stayed behind so he could have time to escape.”

I heard PON3 chuckle. “Well, that’s a show of true friendship there. See there ponies! There is still something like friendship out in the wastes, you got to find it and fight for it.” I heard the DJ clear his throat as I made it past another alley, seeming like there wasn’t any danger for a good while. “So, Canvas you talked about Bright Night and Tracer. What about the third one? I presume it was the one that who killed Fancy Pants?”

“Yes, his name is Jack I believe but, I can’t exactly remember the rest of his name though; I see so many names and faces its hard to remember. Most of the security guards called him The Caravan Guard or The Guard for short.”

I heard the DJ chuckle once more. “Well, until we figure out his real name, we will call him The Caravan Guard or The Guard. But, please tell me what was special about this buck?”

She sighed a bit. “He some how couldn’t stop getting shot and getting back up. Hell, he tried to defend Bright when he was on the ground bleeding to death. Luckily for them the fight was over and the ponies around them were just their escort.” I could see her shaking her head. “For some odd reason, Fancy Pants took a liking to him. Offered him a job that was too good to be true. So, I decided to warn him of Fancy Pants tricks. From then on…it was mostly chaos and bullet wounds.” After that she began to speak of her point of view before, during and after the fight between Thunder Brawl and me.

Soon after she was done, PON3 spoke up. “Wow, that’s an amazing story, Canvas. So what do you think happened Bright and The Guard?”

“Well, PON3 I don’t know. I know Tracer is out there some where but, certainly not here. For Bright and The Guard? Hmmmm, well I don’t even know if they survived Fancy Pants, let alone the explosions, but the guard being the way he is, took a lot of bullets and got back up. I won’t exactly know until we meet again or you interview him like you did me.”

“Yes, indeed. Caravan Guard if you’re listening to this than, you got an invitation for an exclusive interview with DJ-PON3 himself. Now, this is all for now kiddies. I’ll have more of your wasteland news in a few hours. Now, for some music.”

As the interview ended, I slowed down to a stop to see where I was, I could see a faint light in the rain that drizzled me. I continued down until I exited a narrow ally way to hear the faint sounds of water washing up on the shore and the pitter patter of rain smacking against water. As I looked up to see that the faint light was starting to get stronger; I could see the buildings beginning to grow smaller compared to their neighbors. As I made my way closer to the shore line, the smell of salt reached my nose which made my nostrils burn a little. I kept going straight until a nearly destroyed metal fence line stopped me in my path. I looked down to see that there were several drainage pipes flowing sewage and what else was in that death trap of a sewage system into the ocean.

I looked out to see not only one or two lights but, close to around a good hundred that dotted the small island that had the famous Statue of Friendship perched in the middle. I smiled wearily as that is all I could at the moment. “I made it.” I muttered as I hobbled down the stone pathway and up a case of destroyed cement stairs. It led me to a small desolate intersection that led to a long and neglected bridge with a large portion of it missing.

I cocked an eyebrow at this until I stepped onto the bridge itself. A faint crackling from my left, made my focus go to a small intercom on the support of the bridge. I barely heard it from the constant ringing in my ear but, I heard it anyways.

“Hey, idiot in the duster. Can you hear me?”

My ears fell back and my face deadpanned as I walked over to the intercom pressing the button. “Yes, I can hear ya.”

There was a slight pause. “Good, why are you here? Especially, during the night with the bloodwings out.” The voice sounded female, but I couldn’t really tell.

I let out an exhausted sigh, before I spoke up. “Its not like I had a choice. I had to head here to find my friend.”

I heard a something that sounded like a chuckle of some sort. “Oh? And what would that friend’s name be?”

“His name is Tracer. He came here after escaping the Gladiatorial Arena deep within the city.”

After a long pause, I heard a different voice come from the intercom. “This is Security Chief Deep Water. Who is this?” the voice defiantly sounded female this time around.

“Name’s Jack Rabbit.” I said, stumbling a bit as I tried to keep balance.

“Jack? As in the same Jack who DJ-PON3 was talking about?” I could hear the excitement in Water’s voice from here.

I cocked an eyebrow. “I guess so? I was called The Caravan Guard in the arena.”

“Ah! So it is you!” After a short pause and some muffled talk, Water came back on. “We are extending the bridge for you. After that, you can enter than, we got some questions for you.”

I sighed a bit, before I subconsciously nodded. “Alright…but can I see y’alls doc? Maybe a bath? I kinda need both.” I asked with an almost pleading voice.

The sound of rust covered steel screeching met my ears drawing my attention to the bridge. What I saw amazed me for a moment. It was swinging from left to right in a small circle, before slowly stopping to a halt filling in the gap. “You can do all of that after the questions. You got a bounty to collect.” Water replied, before turning off the intercom.

I was taken back at those words, as I turned towards the bridge. “Bounty?” I muttered as I hobbled across the bridge. I couldn’t see much until a gate begin to slide open revealing a small little bazaar that lead to the doors of the statue.

The moment I touched solid ground, the bridge began to swing back into place as did the gates behind me. “Wow, security here is tight as hell.” cheddar commented as a trio of guards walked my way; all glad in combat armor and security helmets, masking all of their faces.

They stopped in front of me, just one of them is shorter then me and I’m pretty sure she is a mare. She had a small horn protruding out of the top of her helmet while the two massive bucks on both of her sides had nothing. The mare spoke up. “Guard, come with us. We need to ask you a few questions before, we can give you the bounty.”

I didn’t say anything but, nod as they two bucks striped me of my weapons; including Shattered Harmony. They then escorted me to the doors of the city and opened them. The light that flooded into my eyes and once again I was blinded. “Luna’s buttery breast milk! Why the fuck does that keep happening!?” I exclaimed rubbing my eyes again.

All three of the guards gave me a weird look, before shrugging and moving on. The place was mostly quite due to the time of night. We walked up I don’t know how many stairs and it was a pain to walk up. The guards had to stop numerous times just for me to catch up to them. After a few flights we reached what I think used to be the staff lounge of the Statue.

The guards opened it to reveal a single pony who was sitting at an old fashion wooden desk with some papers in small stacks and some in a trash bin right next to it. The mare who was sitting in the chair was a very light blue with a soft pink mane, that was up in a bun. She like the others were clad in black combat armor, but she wasn’t wearing the helmet like the others. Hers was sitting on the edge of the desk right next to a large caliber SMG, a 10mm I think from the looks of it.

She looked at me like she has been waiting for me, before she sniffed and her eyes had a disgusted look on them, yet her face kept straight. “you weren’t kidding when you said you needed a bath, you reek.”

I chuckled soft before, immediately regretting it as I sat down in a chair in front of the desk. “Yeah, I know. Falling in hundred and eighty five year old sewage does that.” I said forcing a small smile.

She chuckled at that a bit. “Ah, well at least your humor doesn’t stink as bad.”

I nodded a bit, exhaustion starting to take over. “So, you must be deep water I presume?”

She nodded. “Yes, I am. Just call me Water, that’s what everypony else calls me. You must be the famous Caravan Guard that PON3 was talking all about earlier.”

I made a half hearted shrug in response. “I guess, but my real name is Jack Rabbit. Most ponies just call me Jack.”

She studied me a bit as she looked up and down my body. “Tonight must have been hell for you, huh?” she said.

I nodded. “Yes, and I’m beyond exhausted. It’s taking all my strength not to collapse on the floor right now and pass out.”

She sighed and rubbed her face a bit. “you and me both. So, I’ll cut the chit chat. You were in the arena when it was going down correct?”

“Yes, I was.” I replied with a slight nod.

“Did you fight in the arena?”

“Mhm, yes as did my two friends.”

“Who were they?” she asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“Tracer and…Bright Night.” I said, feeling a ping of guilt saying his name.

Her eyes lit up when I said Tracer’s name. “Tracer? The large brown buck with a blood red mane and a major attitude?”

I nod. “Eeyup, the very one.” I said cracking a small smile.

She shook her head with a slight chuckle. “Yeah, he said that there was a fifty-fifty chance that there would be a scrawny buck that is probably covered in wounds looking for him.” She looked over me once more. “You don’t seem as scrawny as he said you’d be. The injuries he got right on the money.”

She stared at me for moment, before she cocked her eyebrow once more. “Wait…Tracer said that there would be two of you. Where is the other?”

I leaned back into the chair, my face somber at the question. “He’s dead. Cut down by the same pistol that I carried with me, but was used by that bastard, Fancy Pants.”

Water fell silent for a moment listening intently. “What happened to Fancy Pants?”

I looked her dead in the eye with a mixture of fear and anger. “I killed that son of a bitch.” When I muttered those six words, her face broke into a smile. “What’s with the smile?”

She began to clap her hoofs. “You, Jack. Killed the most wanted pony in Manehattan. He has been fucking with our caravans and kidnapping citizens of settlements all around the Manehattan islands.” She paused a moment, before taking out a medium sized burlap sack which jingled when it hit the desk. “Having the arena blow up along with the interview between PON3 and that Canvas mare is proof enough that you killed Fancy Pants. Your bo-”

She was interrupted by a knocking on the door. The still masked security mare turned and opened it to reveal a very familiar buck. “I heard some weird ass cussing so I figured I’d see if it is him or not.” The deep tone of voice that belonged to Tracer.

I turned my head, wearily stretching a smile across my face while I raised a weak hoof, waving; which was still covered in blood and gunk. “Hey, Tracer. Nice to see you.”

He looked at me from the door in full surprise, seeing the condition that I was in. “How in the living hell are you still alive?” He said, walking in as he shoved the security mare out of the way with a heavy hoof.

My ears fell as my face flattened. “I’m good, thank you for asking.” I said with a bit of annoyance, seeing that the douchiness hasn’t left.

He rolled his eyes as he stood next to me. “Don’t be a filly.” Tracer turned his attention to Water, who was quietly waiting to say something. “Please, don’t tell me he already pissed you guys off.”

She shook her head a little. “No, he hasn’t. He just arrived and we were discussing the terms of the bounty he is collecting.” Water replied with a tired sigh.

Once again, the face of surprise was written all across his face. “Wait, Jack…as in this Jack Rabbit? This scrawny little fuck, got a bounty?” The mixture of surprise and impression with a dash of asshole, filled his voice.

“Talk about douche with a capital bag.” Cheddar commented in the back of my skull.

Water sighed and nodded. “Yes, he is getting the bounty that was placed on the head of Fancy Pants.”

Tracer cocked his head, before looking at me, which by the look on his face. I wasn’t looking too good. “Umm, well. We can discuss the amount later, I think Jack needs a doctor.” he said while pointing at me. I was losing my balance slightly for a while but, now I was on the floor with black surrounded the edges of my vision.

I raised a shaking hoof into the air. “Yes, please.” When I muttered those words, the world faded into black.

___________________________
Chapter End.
Jack Rabbit: Level UP!
Tracer: Level UP!

New Perk! Toughness! (Rank 1 of 3)- With each rank of this perk, it brings an addition +3 Damage Threshold!

Quest Completed!

Skill Note: Sneak 50

Author’s note: I really need to stop procrastinating on this.