“...you shouldn't let anypony pressure you into doing something you don't think is right. Sometimes you have to tell even your closest friends 'no'.”

Stirring up from the best sleep I’d had in months, I reached with my foreleg to Ditzy, only to discover the spot on the bed beside me to be empty. Opening one eye I saw that indeed, the pegasus ghoul had left.

Considering that her body doesn’t require her to sleep, it was very nice of her to cuddle with me for the night until I fell asleep, I thought, yawning, as I rolled on my other side. The mattress itched slightly against my bare coat, but I didn’t mind. Then again, her mind would suffer due to sleep dept... I think? I’ll have to ask her to let me examine her cortex and basal forebrain after she wakes up and twenty four hours later, measure whether the level of adenosine varies or not, I added sleepily as I ran my hoof through my mane.

Um, wouldn’t that be rather invasive? Fluttershy asked me uncertainly. Unsurprisingly, I could perceive the apparition despite having my eyes closed. Still, by habit, I opened one of them to look at my conversationalist as she continued. You are talking about examining her brain, right?

Hm? I asked, in my drowsy state having problems to comprehend what she was talking about. However, repeating her words in my mind caused me to snap out of it. Oh, right, you’re right. Yes, that would be invasive. Sorry, drowsy, I explained, somewhat sheepishly, as I yawned again.

Yeah, I figured, Fluttershy replied, giggling. You know, if you don’t mind me saying, I didn’t expect you to like falling asleep while cuddled to somepony.

Really? I asked, surprised a bit. To be honest, that’s my favorite way to sleep, and one of my favorite aspects of a relationship. Being able to sleep beside somepony, two bodies pressed together, both expressing trust in the other pony… wait, I suddenly thought, my mind now completely roused. I rose to a sitting position and rubbed my chin thoughtfully. Are Ditzy and I in a relationship? Or are we just, um, friends who kiss and cuddle? I waited a few seconds in silence, then frowned and added: Fluttershy, sweetie, I’m actually asking you.

The small pegasus stared at me in surprise, wide-eyed. Um, w-why would you ask me? Fluttershy asked, blushing. How should I know? Shouldn’t you know?

Sweetie, didn’t you notice last night that I am not a normal pony? Or earlier for that matter, I added, rolling my eyes, recalling our arguments regarding my experiments and tests subjects. I might be “good with words”, I might be “seductive” when I want to and affectionate towards ponies I care about, but it doesn’t mean I’m good when it comes to relationships, romantic or otherwise.

Then why did you… um… initiate things with Ditzy? Fluttershy asked, embarrassed even though we were talking just about kissing and cuddling. I mean, if you aren’t sure what you two are…

I did kiss her, even though I didn’t intend to, I replied. It seemed silly to not continue… And besides, I added, I’ve been… lonely. Ditzy is so nice, so good and kind, and it’s been months since…

Since...

So, I said, dropping that train of thought, about my question, what do you think we are?

What makes you think I would know that? Fluttershy replied again, her embarrassment starting to give way to frustration.

Sweetie, you historically had five good, close friends, I reminded her, then pointed a hoof at her. That means you had a far better grasp on personal relations than I do.

Fluttershy sighed and covered her face with a hoof, but then she abruptly looked away, as if startled. Turning back to me, she pointed a hoof in the direction she had looked at. Um, Ditzy’s here.

Startled, I turned to look at the doorway, where Ditzy was standing, her head tilted in confusion. Or at least, as titled as it could be while holding a tray with some breakfast in her mouth. The reason for her confusion was obvious, seeing how I was still pointing my hoof at apparently nothing. Not to mention what kind of faces she had seen me make while standing in that doorway for Goddesses know how long.

I smiled, hoping I hid my embarrassment from the lovely pegasus ghoul. “Good morning Ditzy. How did you sleep? Or would it be more appropriate to ask just ‘did you sleep’ considering your condition?” I asked, forgetting about my embarrassment as I began to ponder the question. “I saw that, sweetie,” I added absentmindedly after Ditzy rolled her eyes.

Already trotting towards the bed, Ditzy once again rolled her eyes at me again, then put the tray beside me. She then showed me her chalkboard. Good morning! I made us breakfast!

“Thank you, Ditzy,” I said, smiling as I leaned closer. I put my hoof around her shoulders and pressed my lips against hers, kissing her for several seconds (and causing the apparition of Fluttershy to blush and turn around, hiding her face in her hooves). “It looks ravishing,” I added when we parted, staring into her eyes intensively, unmoved by her odd eye looking somewhere else.

Ditzy blushed, but she did manage to hold my gaze for several seconds before finally giving in to her embarrassment and closing her eyes, covering her mouth and giggling, as if she was a teenage filly.

“You’re so adorable,” I said, kissing her on her cheek, before turning my attention to the breakfast.

I already consumed the first sliced piece of an apple when Ditzy scribbled another message on her chalkboard. What were you doing when I came in?

I suppose I can’t escape this, can’t I? I thought, sighing. Oh well, might as well use this opportunity to discuss our relationship.

“I was having an inner argument,” I explained. “I like to gesticulate during them, and yes, I know it makes me look weird, but as we had established, I’m already weird, so…” I trailed off, finishing my sentence with a shrug.

Ditzy nodded with understanding, accepting my explanation, and sat beside me on the bed, while I tried to think of the best way to approach the subject that had bothered me. In the end, though, as I wanted to discuss this before she started to eat, I just asked, “Ditzy, if you don’t mind me asking… what do you want the two of us to be?”

The pegasus ghoul turned to me and tilted her head again, confused.

“I… it may come as a surprise to you, seeing how I convinced you to partake in our activities,” I began to explain; this time, it was me that was nervous and embarrassed for a change, not Ditzy or Fluttershy, “but I actually have some problems when it comes to my own relationships. And I mean in general, not just with lovers” I specified. “Interpersonal relationships are… troublesome for me, to comprehend properly. Like a normal pony,” I added, looking away in mild annoyance at my own disability in this field. Clearing my throat, I continued, “What I mean to say, Ditzy, is that I am perfectly happy with us being what you want, but I would appreciate if you could… specify it for me. My first romantic relationship taught me that it’s best when both ponies are clear on all the rules,” I explained further, rolling my eyes. “Which is ironic, considering-”

I was cut off mid sentence by a hoof pressing against my mouth. Just like last night, Ditzy decided to stop my prolonged monologue, although this time she had decided to use a more pleasant manner than hitting me with her chalkboard. For which I was grateful.

After talking her hoof back and making sure I stopped talking, Ditzy gave me a long, thoughtful look. It appeared that she, too, wasn’t sure what we were, or even what she would want us to be. Which, seeing how yesterday was the first time she kissed a mare, was understandable. Finally, she wrote on her chalkboard: Honestly, I dunno ‘what I would want us to be’.

Oh, thank you, sweetie, that’s really helpful, I sighed mentally as Ditzy scribbled her next message.

It sort of been a while since the last time I tried dating, plus there’s the issue of you living in another town. And the age difference. It's kinda creepy.

Beside it, Ditzy drew a face with a tongue sticking out. I looked at at her and saw her grinning in amusement.

“I suppose that is true,” I said, shrugging, despite knowing that Ditzy was making a joke. She was, after all, over two hundred years older than me. The age difference was a valid point to bring up in this situation… if it regarded a ‘normal’ pony. “Though honestly, I don’t really see that as an issue.”

My words had seemingly amused the sweet pegasus ghoul. She giggled, then, blushing, she wrote: Yeah, that, and several other things don’t seem like an issue for you. I kinda realized that last night.

I had to smile at that. “You didn’t seem to complain if I recall correctly,” I replied alluringly, but then quickly returned to my previous composure. “But the fact that we live in separate towns does seem like a valid problem if we chose to pursue a romantic relationship.”

Also, Ditzy scribbled, I don’t think I like you that much.

“Oh, I’m hurt,” I teased her.

You know what I mean, she wrote, although she did giggle. I do like you, though, and it’s been fun last night. So maybe we could be friends who, you know, are affectionate from time to time?

I smiled when, after showing me her chalkboard, Ditzy scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. Giggling, I leaned closer, nuzzling her affectionately. “Hmm, I like the sound of that,” I hummed. “I wish I didn’t have to go with those mercenaries today, we could do so much more…”

Blushing, Ditzy pulled away from me so she could write on her chalkboard. Apparently I was distracting.

You could have said no to their offer, she pointed out.

We had talked about how long my stay in New Appleloosa would be, sometime between me nibbling on her neck (or wings, I couldn’t remember the precise order) and snuggling. Ditzy had been worried when I revealed that I was going into the Wasteland with some ponies I met a few hours ago. The fact that I was bringing along a slaver did not calm her down, not surprisingly. Ditzy did relax, though, when I mentioned Blast and Burst. Apparently, she knew them well enough to know they wouldn’t “backstab” me.

I used to trade with their parents several years back, got to know them a bit, she had scribbled on her chalkboard. They’re good ponies, even if Blast is a bit of a meanie sometimes. Stay close to them, they will keep you safe. Just keep an eye on Blast’s frisky hooves.

Ditzy was far less enthusiastic about the purpose of this escapade, of course. It seemed that now we were about to have this argument again.

“Whether I like it or not, I am currently employed by Black Widow,” I pointed out again. “She told me to find some mercenaries for her to hire.”

To help her fight and probably enslave a tribe that disrupts her business, Ditzy quickly scribbled, then signaled for me to wait as she erased those words and wrote next message. I would rather start them a fanclub.

“Ditzy, sweetie, you yourself had said last night that you hadn’t heard of this tribe, and that a lot of them can be as bad as raiders.”

A lot, but not all.

I smirked. “Well, then I suppose, when it would come to that, I would have to interfere somehow, wouldn’t I?”

I didn’t elaborate, despite Ditzy’s borderline pestering. Truth be told, I had no idea how this situation was going to develop, and it unsettled me. There were too many variables for me to calculate what could happen. That left planning my own actions somewhat difficult.

Back in Stable Eight, all I really had to worry about were my patients and experiments, I thought as Ditzy finally gave up and we began to eat the breakfast she had prepared. I still had some time before I’d have to start getting ready, which let us enjoy the meal and each other’s company. But with all its faults, it was a paradise when compared to the Equestrian Wasteland. The way things are out here… I might be forced to improve ponies lives much sooner than expected, on a smaller scale.

What do you mean? Fluttershy asked me, suddenly appearing. I thought that all you cared about was finding the ‘Truth of this world’, whatever that means.

That is my goal, I admitted, but not my ultimate goal. What good is knowledge if it can’t be used? I am, after all, a doctor, a mare that makes ponies better, I thought, smirking under my muzzle. More importantly, or at least, more “presently”, the issue with what will come from the confrontation between Appleloosa and this tribe bothers me. The slavers can’t possibly capture all of them alive. A lot of ponies will die.

And you do not want to let this happen, Fluttershy told me, and there was only a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Indeed. Even if they have sinned and committed acts that would deprive their right to be called sapient beings. I would much rather have those bound in my laboratory as test subjects. Regardless, I added, even with my limited options, I can’t plan my actions and their direction that far ahead with so little information. I need to wait and see how this matter with the mercenaries is resolved, then I should know more.

And then what? tiny Fluttershy pressed curiously. You’ll take over Appleloosa?

That was a problematic option. Hm… even though my employment was somewhat forced, I do not like the idea of “revolting”. No, I will have to wait and see what Black Widow will do before I can decide whether or not I would take such actions.

Really? I mean, you plan to experiment on ponies for less than she had done, she pointed out, surprised and confused.

Have you forgotten what I told Candi yesterday? I asked her instead, levitating playfully a sliced apple into Ditzy’s mouth. I despise those that break their word.

*** *** ***

I frowned as I checked my inventory list with my PipBuck. Aside from bottle caps, the Fluttershy statuette, lab coat and stable barding (both of which I had already put back on myself), all that I had with me were a few healing potions that I had brought from Appleloosa with the intention of selling them, and a small case with empty syringes (on the off chance that I would have an opportunity to pick up some interesting blood samples). Had I known that we would be required to journey outside of the boundaries of New Appleloosa, I would have at least brought some RadSafes and Rad-aways, not to mention some helpful chems. Unfortunately, before leaving the slavers’ town, my primary concerns were revolved around increasing my resources and being comfortable.

There was a limit of items I could carry in my saddlebags.

Not that medicines were heavy, mind you. Even with my meager physical strength, I could have carried an even greater number on my person. They did take some space, though, and the saddlebags I had under my lab coat, and some pockets inside of it, could only fit so much.

Which brought me to the source of my frustration: the healing potions. Their size was, in my opinion, disappropriate to the amount of injury drinking them would heal. Hm, maybe instead of starting to work on the truth serum, I should focus on this issue, and other more practical research. If I could remove the ingestible oxidation agent from the healing potion recipe, I should get the basic formula for an injectable version, I mused, thinking back to how I converted the spellbane potion. They would take up a lot less space if they were in syringes... and possibly they would be more effective, too. I also should consider improving the formula of chems, I added, making a mental note. If I could figure out how to limit the side effects-

Raised voices coming from Ditzy’s shop brought me out of my musing. I was still in her bedroom, the pegasus ghoul having left me after we finished breakfast to prepare her store for opening while letting myself get ready for my little expedition in peace. It appeared now that she was having an argument with somepony.

And since I was pretty sure I recognized that voice, I hurried up and went to stop the argument.

“Listen, ya- oh, there ya are,” Apple Core exclaimed, frowning as I entered the store through the back door and trotted towards them. She was standing before the counter, behind which was Ditzy, pointing at the same ‘NO SLAVERS’ sign she had showed me when we first met.

“Good morning to you too, sweetie,” I greeted her, looking at her disapprovingly. “Is there a reason why you were speaking to Ditzy in a raised voice?”

“Ya mean other than ‘er bein’ a pain in the ass?” Apple Core snorted, glaring at Ditzy unfriendly, who gave her back as good as she got. I rolled my eyes at their animosity and continued to trot towards Ditzy. “Ah just came t’ get ya, we need t’ go meet up with the mercs. Also t’ see if she ate ya,” she added with a malicious smirk at Ditzy.

Seeing the sweet pegasus ghoul’s brow furrow at the hurtful remark, I stepped beside her and wrapped my hooves around her in a warm hug. “I’m sorry, my companion can be insensitive and uncivil at times,” I told Ditzy after she looked at me, slightly startled by the hug, but quickly relaxing in my embrace. Smiling with relief as she brightened right up, I turned to Apple Core with a disappointed frown. “Apple Core, sweetie, Ditzy had been nothing but a courteous host and a pleasant company. You should apologize for your remark.”

“Why are you huggin’ ‘er like that?” Apple Core asked instead, ignoring what I said and looking at us with disgust.

“Because I can be very affectionate towards ponies I like a lot?” I asked in return, not understanding why she was this shocked.

Ditzy’s ear twitched, tickling me, and she turned her head to look at me. Seeing her blush, probably from embarrassment, I couldn’t help but think of how adorable she looked, and I leaned closer to kiss her. I felt her shuddering in my embrace at the unexpected kiss (Then again, she’d often reacted like that to kissing anyway.), but she quickly relaxed and opened her mouth wider for me.

This very nice moment was ruined the next second by the throttling sounds Apple Core began to make. I opened my eye to look at her as she said: “Oh Goddesses-” before she pressed a hoof to her muzzle, her cheeks beginning to swell.

Realizing what was about to happen, I quickly cast a spell on her esophagus, forcing her to swallow back her vomit.

“Ugh, fuck,” she exclaimed, grimacing as she glared at me.

Pulling away from Ditzy, I told her: “Sweetie, if you’re going to vomit, I suggest you do it outside.”

Whether casting that spell on her really angered her, or was she indeed going to vomit again (and judging from her face, she was), Apple Core hastily left.

I frowned as the door closed behind her. “So that’s how a ‘normal pony’ would react to kissing a ghoul pony?” I asked, glancing at Ditzy. “I must admit, scarcely have I been so glad of being ‘not normal’.”

Ditzy grinned in reply and pressed her forehead into my neck, as if saying: “You’re terrible.”

“I’m sorry about Apple Core, I’ll make sure that she will come to apologize after we get back,” I said. “She’s actually a nice pony when you get to know her. And if it weren’t for her, I might have ended up a slave.”

The pegasus ghoul made a sound akin to snorting, probably because she wasn’t really convinced by what I said about Apple Core, but as she lifted her head I saw her rolling her eye. I chose to accept that as “Ok, I believe you.”

I sighed as I leaned my head against her shoulder. “I better go with her… and join the mercenaries and go into the Wasteland. I really don’t like the idea of walking for so long…” I groaned, causing Ditzy to giggle. “Oh, don’t give me that, you have wings,” I told her, frowning. As Ditzy continued to laugh in her manner, I hugged her tighter and nibbled playfully on her ear. “You better hope I am in better shape than I think you must be assuming,” I whispered sensually as she once again shuddered. “I think you’d like me to return as soon as possible, considering what we could be doing…”

I trailed off, allowing Ditzy’s thoughts to wander around the subject. Her thoughts weren’t the only ones wandering, though. As she once again shuddered and looked at me sharply, red one her face (as red as ghouls could, I suppose), I realized where my hooves had traveled.

“Oh, sorry sweetie,” I exclaimed, embarrassed and worried; I didn’t want Ditzy to feel overwhelmed. Cursing at this slip up I subconsciously committed, I moved my hooves back up from her teats to her chest. “I suppose I can’t keep my hooves off you,” I offered, smiling sheepishly.

To my relief, Ditzy was only surprised by the unexpected grope. Giggling, she kissed my on the cheek, then reached for her chalkboard that she had placed on the counter. What was it you said about you not being sluttish yesterday? she wrote, smirking at me.

I deadpanned at her. “Sweetie, I’m affectionate, not sluttish,” I corrected her, inclining another giggle from the pegasus ghoul. “And for the record, it’s the first time I had heard somepony complain. Then again, you are only the third pony with whom I shared this level of intimacy…” I added thoughtfully, before shaking my head. “Sadly, we must put such pleasantries on hold for now. I should get going, if Apple Core came to pick me up she might want to discuss something before we meet up with the mercenaries.” Reluctantly, I released Ditzy from my embrace. “Thank you for the wonderful time and meal, Ditzy.”

My pleasure, she wrote in reply. She then quickly added: I packed you some food and got you some water.

I looked in surprise as she brought up a lunchbox and a canteen from under the counter and gave them to me. “Oh… thank you, Ditzy,” I murmured, really touched by the gesture.

The pegasus ghoul smiled, then wiped her chalkboard and wrote another message. It’s the least I could do, considering you refused to wear any armor. Her expression gave away what she still thought of that decision.

Another conversation from last night. “I’ve been told that we’d be trying to avoid any possible encounters along the way,” I reminded her again. “If I have to spend most of the day walking, I want to at least do it wearing clothes that I’m comfortable in.”

Ditzy looked to the floor and sighed, knowing it would be useless to argue with me now. Instead, she just wrote: Be safe.

Despite knowing that I might very soon run into more danger than I had ever faced in my life, I smiled at Ditzy with confidence. “Do not worry about me, Ditzy. You’ve seen my cutie mark, after all,” I added, leaning closer to kiss her on her cheek. Ditzy replied in kind, but at the same time she shot me a confused look. “The Ouroboros doesn’t have an end. Neither do I,” I explained, winking.

*** *** ***

It took us about a minute or two more to finally say our farewells before I finally, with the last kiss on Ditzy’s cheek, closed the door to her store behind me.

Well, I thought, turning around, overlooking Apple Core’s episode, this was a pleasant way to start off the morning-

“Ugh, ‘bout fuckin’ time!”

I feel like I should have seen this coming, I commented in my thoughts, glancing briefly at the apparition of Fluttershy, who just smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

Turning my attention to Apple Core, who was standing right infront of me, I realized that she had been pacing impatiently before the store waiting for me. I also noticed a small puddle of what I assume used to be her stomach’s contents.

“Sweetie,” I began calmly, realizing that for her, this morning hadn’t been quite as pleasant as mine, “there’s no need for such language.”

Apple Core deadpanned at me. “Oh, Ah’m sorry, did Ah interrupt ya some munchin’ time with yar dead marefriend?” she asked in a surprisingly calm voice.

I blinked. “Alright, sweetie, couple of things. One, Ditzy is not dead.” I decided to not add that her body technically is though. “Two, we’re not marefriends. And three… ‘munching’?” I asked, frowning. “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with-”

“Fuckin’,” Apple Core explained, her expression unchanged.

“Oh,” I exclaimed, now understanding. Offended, I frowned at her. “Honestly, sweetie, I met Ditzy yesterday. I wouldn’t make love to somepony I just met,” I told her, closing my eyes and turning my head.

“Oh sure, that’s the issue ‘ere,” Apple Core snorted. I glanced at her just in time to see her roll her eyes. “Ya did realize that she’s a ghoul, right? Or were ya too busy clingin’ t’ yar prudish rules t’ notice?”

“Divisions such as medical conditions or races are of little concern to me,” I replied, choosing to ignore the jibe. I turned to step around her. “Was there a reason why you came to pick me up sweetie?”

“Don’t change the fuckin’ subject!” Apple Core hissed as she immediately followed me. She continued to argue as we headed to meet up with the mercenaries. “How could ya kiss a ghoul?! And don’t ya fuckin’ dare t’ say ‘with mah mouth’!” she told me with a glare the moment I opened my mouth.

“As I had already said,” I replied (instead), “whether she, or anypony else I would be affectionate towards, is a ghoul or not matters little to me. I chose to spend some lovely time with her because of her, not her state.”

“Her state of decay, ya mean?” Apple Core asked with a sneer. “Goddesses, ya’re so fucked up!”

“I don’t think I care very much for those insults,” I told her, glancing at her with a frown. “Honestly, if I didn’t know you only express romantic interest in myself when you’re inebriated, I would presume you were jealous. Why does it bother you so much that I had spend the night kissing with Ditzy?” I asked before she could retort angrily to my comment.

“‘Cause it’s gross!” she exclaimed, loudly enough for a pony who was walking on the other side of the road to glance our way curiously.

“‘Gross’? I repeated, raising my eyebrow. “Next I suppose you will tell me I’ve got cooties now?”

Apple Core’s jaw dropped. “That’s not even…” she tried to say, but then she sighed and shook her head. “Forget it, Ah’m done tryin’ t’ talk sense with ya. Ah’ll be focusin’ on all the bottle caps Ah won thanks t’ this.”

“Bottle caps? What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

“Oh, there’s a bet goin’ ‘round Appleloosa whether ya’re into bucks or mares,” Apple Core explained casually, much to my shock. “Since that ghoul still counts as a mare, ya just earned me a few hundred caps.”

She seemed to take a weird pleasure in telling me that I’ve been a subject of a gamble. Was I supposed to be offended? To be honest, I was mostly surprised that an the town had nothing better to talk about.

However, it didn’t meant that I was going to allow such disinformation be. “Sorry to disappoint you, sweetie, but I’m ‘into’ both mares and bucks,” I told her, causing the slaver to immediately frown.

“Oh, fuck ya!”

Strangely, I found myself completely not interested in explaining Apple Core my reasoning for it like I had with Ditzy. Possibly because I doubted she’d be interested.

“Now, was there a reason why you came by to pick me up?” I asked before this conversation could continue down this road.

Apple Core murmured something under her breath - something that sounded akin to “Freakin’ prude,” if I was not mistaken - before replying. “Yes, Ah wanted t’ make sure that ghoul hadn’t eaten ya. But also,” she added before I could chasten her (Then again, I should be happy she’d stopped referring to her as ‘walking corpse’.), “Ah’ve met Jack, their boss.”

That piqued my curiosity. “I see. Did he agree to the arrangement?”

“Yeah,” Apple Core said, but even before she continued I could tell by her expression that things weren’t as good. “But Ah got a strong feelin’ he had only done that ‘cause Blast and the rest had already pretty much made the deal with us. He didn’t seem happy t’ take us along.”

“I’m sure I will be able to smooth things over with him,” I said, confident in my diplomatic skills. “What did he say about coming to work for Black Widow?”

“He agreed to go to Appleloosa with us and hear ‘er out. Dunno if he’ll take the job though,” she added, “couldn’t tell how he feels ‘bout slavers.”

“That’s for Black Widow to worry about, sweetie,” I calmed her down. “All we were told to do is convince them to travel to Appleloosa. Let us focus for now on helping them with their job.”

“Yeah, ya’re right Ah ‘spouse. Oh, and speakin’ of,” she added, turning to me and looking me up and down, “are ya sure ‘bout goin’ like this?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Well, aside from the fact that ya still don’t ‘ave a gun on ya,” she began, her comment causing me to sigh with mild irritation, “don’t ya wanna wear some protective barding? Yar smelly kiss-toy could ‘ave gave ya some, Ah’m sure she has somethin’ like that in ‘er store. Ya could ‘ave at least left yar coat there,” Apple Core added as I was about to reply.

“What’s wrong with my lab coat?” I asked instead, confused.

“It’s white, will make ya stand out and make ya a nice target for a pony with a gun. Ya’re smart, ya should ‘ave figured it out,” she added with a smirk.

“Or,” I countered, “it will make a pony with a gun realize that they’re dealing with a doctor and they won’t shoot at me? After all, it is doctor’s sacred duty to help everypony in need, why would anypony try to kill somepony like that?”

Judging by the deadpan Apple Core gave me, it would seem she didn’t agree with my opinion. However, she gave up; the slaver pony shook her head and sighed loudly.

Satisfied that I won this argument, I decided to turn the conversation into a more friendly banter. “Can you honestly see me wearing something like what you’re wearing?” I asked, pointing at the leathery barding and the firearm in a holster on her foreleg. I didn’t even want to imagine myself in such attire.

Apple Core snorted. “Yeah, not really. Ah suppose if we’d run into caravan or some shit it would be good t’ ‘ave a pony who’s obviously not a raider with us,” she added in an afterthought. “Although the mercs might still comment on yar lab coat… oh, and speakin’ of which,” she said, nodding at something in front of us, “there they are.”

I turned my head in the direction, surprised. I had assumed we’d be meeting with the mercenaries at the town’s entrance, seeing what time it was. However, it seemed that they weren’t exactly keen on being punctual, or maybe by “ready to leave by eight” they only meant that they would be leaving the Turnpike Tavern (which we were about to pass), not the town itself. Regardless, they were just walking out of the watering hole, Scope, Blast, Burst, and…

“Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the fourth person, who could only be Jack, the leader of this mercenary team. Before anybody knew it, I was already beside him. “Big feathery wing,” I said, grabbing the huge wing almost the size of a pony with my forehooves and spreading it forcefully, “feline hind legs, paws with claws and pads underneath,” I continued, raising one of his hind legs, “a tail ending in a hairy tuft,” I said, briefly lifting the end of his tail with my magic, “forelegs ending with scale-covered talons,” I added, grabbing the limb and examining its four digits, very intrigued by their capable mobility and all the possible functions they could perform, “and a face with a beak - you’re a griffin!” I exclaimed excitedly, holding his head and looking him in the eyes.

Suddenly, the four digits I had been so intrigued by clamped tightly around my muzzle, forcing it shut before I could ask whether he would allow me to perform exploratory surgery on him (which, considering the answers and reactions I keep getting whenever I ask this question, was probably a good thing). Jack, a blue-grey griffin (with light gray feathers covering his head), looked at me sternly. Like the other mercenaries, he was clad in a combat armor, one that was appropriate for his body. With mild surprise, I noticed that there was a sword strapped to his back, its hilt poking out above his left wing.

“And you’re annoying,” he told me in a sharp, but young sounding voice. Glancing to his side, he asked: “Guys, what the hell is this?”

A loud sigh stopped me from trying - and probably failing, seeing how I couldn’t open my mouth - to introduce myself. “It’s me losing a hundred caps in a bet, that’s what it is,” Blast commented before reaching to his saddlebags, picking up a small bag and throwing it to grinning Apple Core.

“Ah bet ‘im ya’d ‘ave a nerdgasm when ya see Jack,” Apple Core replied to my questioning gaze.

I rolled my eyes. Just how many bets concerning me somehow did Apple Core make so far?

“‘A nerdgasm’?” I asked instead, seeing no point in arguing about those bets now. However, due to the talons holding my muzzle closed, what came out of me sounded like: “Ah huhham?” which was ignored by everybody.

“That’s the medic we talked about,” Blast answered Jack, then glanced at me. “I thought she was a bit weird, but I thought something like that would have been too ludicrous to actually happen.”

“Ya should ‘ave seen ‘er when she saw brahmin for the first time,” Apple Core said, then grimaced. “Or what she and the ghoul did, ugh.”

“Wait, did she do something to Ditzy?” Burst asked, a concern in his voice.

“Yeah, with her tongue,” she replied, and for a brief moment she appeared as if unsure whether she should be still disgusted or snort with amusement.

Everybody turned to look at me in silence, expressions ranging from surprised to shocked as all of them figured out easily what Apple Core had implied. Finally, the silence was broken by Blast erupting with laughter. “You might wanna let go of that muzzle buddy,” he told Jack, holding his sides as he fell on the ground.

The griffin, who had an eyebrow raised at me quizzically, after a brief hesitation slowly released my muzzle. I moved my lips around a bit to make sure he hadn’t injured me - which I didn’t think so, despite how firm his hold was he was surprisingly gentle at the same time - before I smiled at him.

“Thank you, sweetie. I deeply apologize for my earlier… excitement. I had never before seen a griffin, and being a scientist as much as a doctor of medicine I am positively ecstatic at a prospect of learning more about your species. I will, however, condone myself with a proper composure and etiquette from now on. Also, regarding my companion’s comment,” I added, glancing briefly at Apple Core, “let me assure you, what me and Ditzy ‘did’, as she had put it, hadn’t been because of her condition. Also, I do hope you have a better opinion regarding kissing a ghoul that Apple Core has. But enough about that,” I finished, turning again to Jack and smiling. “I’m Doctor Angel, sweetie, pleased to meet you.”

Jack had continued to stare at me with mild surprise throughout my monologue. “Anybody ever tell you you talk a lot?” he asked a moment after I had finished. Before I could reply, though, the griffin shook his head, which I took as a sign that he didn’t really care about the answer. “I’m Jack, and I’ve been told about the negotiations from yesterday. If you and your friend there will help us out with job, we will go to Appleloosa, that much I can promise you for now.”

“I’m happy to hear that, sweetie,” I replied; while I already had heard that from Apple Core, it was a relieve to actually hear it from him as well.

“This doesn’t mean we will agree to work for your boss,” he added, beginning to walk down the street and signaling for everybody else to move along, “but we will see. For now I hope you two will focus on this little trip of ours. Which brings me to my next point: aside from your PipBuck’s E.F.S., what exactly can you contribute?”

I smiled again. “Why, sweetie, I’m glad you asked!”

“Oh, dear Celestia,” I heard Apple Core utter, causing me to pause for a moment to shoot her an annoyed look (which she didn’t see, as she was facehoofing).

Clearing my throat, I answered the griffin’s question. “I’m an expert medic with a surgeon’s licence, with knowledge of probably every healing spell devised by ponies, both before the Last Day and in my Stable, barring the healing megaspell of course. Although I could maybe try to recreate it’s formula…” I mused, more to myself, rubbing my muzzle thoughtfully. Shaking my head, I decided it was something worth thinking about, but at a later date. “I am, of course, capable of performing surgeries with just surgical tools, though sadly I do not have any with me. I do have six healing potions on my person, which, if such need arises, you can use for no charge. I do believe that my own healing skills should be enough to keep you alive and healthy, however.”

Jack stayed silent for a moment after I finished speaking, letting Blast cut in with another laughter. “Figures we get an expert medic for a job where we expect no shooting whatsoever,” he commented, somewhat bitterly.

The griffin rolled his eyes at his friend and focused on me again. “How about self-defense? Apple Core told us that you don’t have any gun on yourself.”

“Sweetie, do you honestly think that, in an event that we would face something that the five of you combat-experienced Wastelanders couldn’t deal, would one more gun carried by somepony utterly inexperienced with firearms make any difference?” I asked in return.

Now it was Jack’s turn to faceho-... um, facepaw? Facetalon? “I’m sorry I asked,” he murmured, his face covered by his talons.

“I do know of certain spells that should help you in combat should we find ourself in such situation,” I continued, undisturbed. “While the thought of fighting doesn’t excite me, I do realize that the Equestrian Wasteland is an extremely dangerous place.”

“Then why aren’t you carrying any gun with you?” Burst interrupted, confused. “No offense, but I hadn’t met any unicorn who could survive out there with their magical abilities alone. You’d be much safer if you had any firearm.”

“None taken, sweetie, and while I you’re probably right, I will never carry a gun,” I told him, then cleared my throat and, hoping to put all questions regarding this matter out for good, recited: “‘I will carry your books, I’ll carry a torch, I’ll carry a tune, I’ll carry on, carry over and carry forward, but I will not carry a gun’. It’s a quote from memoirs of my Stable’s first chief of medicine,” I explained, noticing the confused stares I received in return, “Doctor H-”

“Ya’re such a nerd,” Apple Core interrupted me, deadpanning at me.

I paused to give her another annoyed look before resuming: “The point is, I am a doctor of medicine. I’m the mare that makes ponies better, not shoots them.”

“Great, an ideologist,” Jack commented, rolling his eyes. I frowned, confused, but before I could ask why he seemed annoyed, the griffin had again shaken his head. “Look missy, all I care is that we do this job quickly and professionally. That means both of you will have to do what I or the others say. And seeing how I probably won’t ask you to shoot anybody,” he added with a meaningful glance at me, “will you have problems obeying my orders?”

“Meh, basically same job as in Appleloosa,” Apple Core replied, shrugging. “Ah ‘ave no problem.”

“I would have problems only in the unlikely event you’d ask me to shoot somebody,” I in turn said, earning myself an annoyed glare from Apple Core. “Sweetie, I have to be honest,” I told her, causing her to roll her eyes. Turning back to Jack, I added: “That being said, I trust you to not have any impossible demands of me. I will follow your expertise and do what you ask of me.”

“Good, then I ask of you to stop talking,” he said, pointing a talon at me. I balked for a moment, surprised at the slightly offensive command. I quickly recovered, though, and smiled at Jack and nodded. Satisfied with my answer, he turned away. “Burst,” he called to the younger earth pony, “if we run into trouble, you’ll stick to her and keep her safe.”

Burst, who had been checking his shotgun, glanced at me. “Sure thing,” he said, before resuming examining his weapon.

“Ya know, Ah could-” Apple Core began, frowning, but Jack interrupted her.

“No offense, but I’ll prefer if the only non-fighter in the group is protected by somebody whom I know can handle protecting her,” Jack replied, lowering his voice a bit as we came close to the town’s gates. “You and Blast will be covering Scope if we’ll have to fight.”

“And why I can’t cover the hot medic?” Blast asked instead, turning his head to me and winking at me.

Jack just deadpanned at him. “You know why,” he told him finally, before signaling the pony guarding the metal gate to open it.

“Meh, killjoy,” Blast sighed, rolling his eyes as we waited, the gate slowly opened to let us through.

“So ya mind tellin’ us what exactly are we helpin’ ya with?” Apple Core asked, looking from Jack to Blast.

“Yes, in a moment,” Jack replied her. “I just want to be out of the town’s limits first.”

Apple Core sighed and looked up into the clouded sky. I had the feeling she was thinking something along the lines of: Paranoid much?. Actually I was surprised she hadn’t said it out loud.

I guess she must be a little intimidated by him… or that sword, I noted, glancing again at the melee weapon. It was the first time I was seeing such a weapon. Almost everypony I met so far in the Wasteland was carrying a gun, and the few melee weapons I had seen were usually knifes, or more primitive and crude blunt weapons. I wonder why he carries a sword? Surely, firearms are far more effective in his profession. He even has one, too, I noted, seeing a pistol strapped to his waist, on his right side. Maybe he uses it with his one forepaw while with the other he uses the sword?

I continued my musing, trying to imagine how Jack’s body would move in a fight, as we finally walked past the New Appleloosa’s gate, with Apple Core briefly saying “Hi Joe,” to the guard pony. Only when I heard the gates beginning to close behind us I stopped, realizing that now I was practically in the actual Wasteland.

Glancing back, I thought how earlie similar this was to when the door to Stable Eight closed behind me. I was about to yet again step into a dangerous world. Only this time, it wasn’t as unknown as it was then, nor was I alone.

Calming myself by thinking that I was with people who knew how to survive in the Wasteland, I focused on the excitement from the prospect of exploring more of this world. That I would get to see with my own eyes what the war had done to this land and how it had evolved during those two hundred years. Possibly even seeing some of the wildlife; although considering all I heard about it, it would probably try to eat us.

And my companions would kill it, I thought with a frown; I would prefer much more to capture some specimens alive. Although I would at least get to examine the carcass… assuming it would be small enough for me to carry, as I doubt anypony would agree to carry it for me.

I shook my head, focusing on the present moment, and hurried to follow my companions.

“Alright,” Jack said once we were some distance away from the town. “This should be fine.” Turning to Apple Core and me, he said: “Our objective is in a Stable located south-east from here, near those old Rock Farms.”

While Apple Core cursed very loudly (and very obscenely I might add), I, still having the order to stop talking fresh in my mind, merely opened my eyes wider and stared. Of course, I had known where we were going already, thanks to Scope, but I didn’t want him to get into trouble.

Not to mention that if I’d reveal what he told me, he might decide to “return the favor”, I added in my thoughts. The prospect of Apple Core learning about my little performance isn’t very appealing.

“Ah should ‘ave figured ya’d drag me into a deathtrap,” Apple Core said, glancing at with annoyance.

I rolled my eyes and opened my mouth to reply, but then, mindful of the order, stopped. Instead I turned to Jack and raised my hoof. “Um, permission to speak?” I asked uncertainly, taking his raised eyebrow as a permission to ask my questions.

A low growl of annoyance escaped his beak, and his talons raked the ground beneath his paws. He did nod though, while glaring at Blast and Burst, who both were chuckling.

“Thank you, sweetie. Honestly, Apple Core,” I said, turning to the slaver, “do you think our companion would go into a, quote, ‘deathtrap’, unquote, if they weren’t confident they could survive it? And besides, why do you assume it’s a ‘deathtrap’? It could be still populated. After all, I came from a Stable that is doing very well.”

“Yeah…” Apple Core began, but unfortunately I cut her off.

“Which brings me to a question,” I said, turning to look at Jack and the other mercenaries, “what exactly do you plan to do if the Stable would, indeed, be still populated?”

Blast snorted, but Jack merely shrugged and replied calmly: “We do not kill people on whom we don’t have a contract for if we can help it, if that’s what you’re suggesting. Besides, our employer didn’t strike me as a sort of pony who enjoys the thought of innocents dying, so she would probably refuse to pay. In case there are still ponies living there somehow, we’d negotiate.”

“I’m relieved to hear that, sweetie,” I told him, smiling. “May I ask then what is it that you want from this Stable? You said that your ‘objective’-”

Faster than I could react, his talons once again clamped around my muzzle, stopping me mid-sentence. “I know what I said,” he told me, frowning. “We’re looking for music records.”

I blinked. Music records?

“Our employer asked us to track down some pre-war songs for her,” Jack continued to explain. “After checking some shipping records in Manehattan, we found out that a pony in Stable Eleven had a record of a certain singer named ‘Countess Coloratura’. Assuming they didn’t end up blowing themselves up, it should still be there.”

“Ya came all this way from Manehattan for just some pre-war music?” Apple Core asked, raising her eyebrows in disbelief.

The better question is, does acquiring music records in the Equestrian Wasteland really require hiring a team of mercenaries that are armed to their teeth? What a sad place the Equestria has become…

“She’s paying us very well,” Jack replied, shrugging, and releasing my muzzle.

That got Apple Core’s attention. “How well?”

“Well enough,” was all that he replied. “But the point is, we’re not going to kill ponies over some dumb music records.” I frowned. If it weren’t for having my muzzle only recently freed and fearing he would grab it again, I would have began to argue of the importance of music in pony’s life and its beauty. “I’m sure we will be able to work something out if there are still ponies living there. But for that we would have to gain their trust, which is why, under any circumstances, you cannot say that you are a slaver,” he told Apple Core.

The slaver mare snorted. “Ah’m not stupid. Are ya gonna tell me next t’ not say it at Tenpony Tower as well?”

To Jack’s credit, he didn’t raise to the bait. “If it turns out to be empty, however, you’re welcome to pick some souvenirs. Consider it your cut for helping us out.”

My ears twitched at the idea. Though I hoped that the inhabitants of that Stable were safe and well, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the notion of picking up some medical equipment sounded intriguing.

It would be wonderful to finally have some proper equipment, it would really speed up my research. Although I doubt anypony would agree to help me drag it back to New Appleloosa… I mused. I guess this means I should pick up only things that I could carry without problems. Still, maybe there would be some talismans or surgical tools...

Which, if the Stable is still inhabited, are probably still being used, Fluttershy pointed out.

I blinked, realizing where my thoughts had gone. You are absolutely right, Fluttershy. Forgive me, I got carried away. I am sure those ponies are doing fine, I added; the lives of ponies were far more important to me than medical equipment, so I didn’t feel regret while thinking it. They live in a Stable, which was designed to survive a megaspell detonation. Nothing from the Outside could have harmed them…

I trailed off, noticing the small obstacle in Jack’s plan.

“Put your hoof down and talk,” he told me with a dangerous glare in his eyes even before I finished raising my hoof, stopping his explanation of which way we were going to reach Stable Eleven.

“How do you plan to enter Stable Eleven?” I asked, frowning. “If the door is locked, it can be only opened from the inside or with an override code, isn’t that right sweetie?”

“Does she call everybody ‘sweetie’ like that?” Jack asked Apple Core, ignoring my question.

“Ya learn t’ tone it out after a while.”

I shot my slaver companion an annoyed look as Jack began to answer me. “We do have the override code for Stable Eleven,” he said, surprising me. “Costed most of the provision for this job to get it, but I was assured it would work. Actually…” Jack added after a moment, glancing at my PipBuck before reaching to one of his bags and pulling out a holotape. “Here, play it in your PipBuck,” he said, giving it to me. “It will be probably easier to access the control mechanism through it. It has the code as well as the location of the Stable on it.”

Picking up the holotape with my magic, I quickly opened the holotape player and put it inside. Immediately, my PipBuck read it and displayed a short message:

Stable Eleven override code: 11GRDST3

The map in my PipBuck also got updated. A new, undiscovered location, titled “Stable 11”, had appeared to the south-east of New Appleloosa. Hm, looking at the distance between the two marks, comparing it with the distance between the marks for Appleloosa and New Appleloosa, then seeing how long the journey took and how fast did the train travel- wow, that’s going to be a lot of walking! I exclaimed in my thoughts as I quickly did the math, my hooves already aching at the prospect.

“That’s… a lot of ground to cover, sweetie,” I said diplomatically as I ejected the holotape and returned it to Jack.

“Which is why we’ll better get a move on,” Jack replied, putting the holotape back into his bags. “I scouted the area yesterday, I didn’t see any raiders or much wildlife, but we should still move swiftly and silently. I’ll be flying over you, if I see anything dangerous we will try to walk around it. I think that’s all,” he said, glancing at Scope, Blast and Burst with raised eyebrows. When the other three either nodded nor shrugged, Jack spread his wings, getting ready to take off. “Make sure they stay close,” the griffin told them before jumping into the air, quickly flying higher up.

“Let’s get going then,” Blast said, taking the point with others following.

Resigned, I trotted along, hoping I would be able to catch up with them a few hours from now.

*** *** ***

“This seems a lot of trouble t’ go through t’ just get some music records,” I heard Apple Core ask a few hours later

I turned my head to regard her and the mercenaries. We weren’t “forbidden” from talking, as Jack would have spotted anything dangerous that could be potentially alerted by our voices long before it could get within earshot. They should also appear as red bars on my E.F.S. However, everypony else walked in silence, exchanging a few sentences at most every now and then, so I opted for silence as well. I spent most of the journey so far admiring the scenery, and occasionally having conversations with the apparition of Fluttershy in my mind.

The views were interesting, to say the least. The mountains that made the borders of the valley we were going deeper into were visible even from New Appleloosa, and they only grew larger the more we walked. They were strewn with blackened remains of trees and sickly looking green grass that also were growing in few patches around us as well (which I took some sample off when we passed some before). Occasionally we would also pass testaments to the destruction wrought upon the civilization, namely a giant billboard advertising some product (Sparkle Cola in this case) or destroyed sky chariots and wagons that must have been blown out of the sky on the Last Day. Those sights were, while very interesting and informative, slightly depressing even for a pony such as myself.

Weirdly, seeing Jack flying in circles high above us only seemed to cement the depressing mood of our surroundings for me.

Focusing on the conversation, I listened to Apple Core ask: “Couldn’t ya find any within Manehattan? I mean, it just seems like a long way t’ get somethin’ like that.”

“Well, we did find some other shipping addresses,” Blast replied, shrugging. “But what are the odds that those recordings would still be there after two hundred years? Two centuries of looting and scavenging means that if you’re looking for something specific, chances are somebody already took it. Stables, however, aren’t places that one can just waltz into and take shit.”

“Huh, Ah guess ‘at makes sense,” Apple Core said thoughtfully.

“We did have one more promising lead, about some different records” Burst added. “But, well… there was a slight problem with it.”

“The place where those records are is practically overrun with manticores,” Blast quickly explained, then grinned. “And Jack can’t stand manticores. He’d literally prefer to come all the way here and blow most of the provision for a holotape than just face one of them, let alone an entire pride of them. And considering how many of them were there, we didn’t argue.”

“Really? If that is a result of some phobia, maybe I could help him?” I interjected, unable to stop myself. “I did read several books about psychology, and while I didn’t bother to get a degree in it, I think I’m competent enough to be a psychiatrist.”

“Oh yeah, then why don’t ya ‘ave a degree in it?” Apple Core turned to me with a smirk.

“Because there were more useful fields I wanted to get decrees in before psychology,” I replied, surprised that I had to explain something so obvious. “I had planned to acquire doctorate in cell biology next, then genetics, then-”

“Alright, fine, Ah’m sorry Ah asked” Apple Core interrupted me, rolling her eyes as I frowned at her.

“Anyway,” Blast cut in before I could tell her that she was being rude, “I don’t think that it’s a good idea for you to play shrink for Jack. On the other hoof though, I think I would really enjoy seeing that,” he added with a snort of laughter.

“Um, no offense, sweetie, but any sessions between me and him would have to be confidential,” I said, not understanding what was funny about it. “Regardless,” I added with a shake of my head, “there is something else I would like to discuss with you. You said that there’s an entire pride of manticores at that place you mentioned?”

“Well, yeah, I mean, there are plenty of them throughout Manehattan actually,” Blast replied, confused.

I brightened up hearing that. “Do you think-”

“No,” Apple Core interrupted me.

“Beg your pardon, sweetie?” I asked, blinking in a surprise.

“Ya can’t ‘ave them bring’ya a manticore to Appleloosa,” she told me with a frown.

I blinked again. “Why not?”

*** *** ***

I spy with my little eye… something beginning with… “r”, I thought as, after looking around the surroundings, I closed my eyes.

“R”? Um… rocks? Fluttershy tried.

Honestly, sweetie, do you think I would have chosen something so obvious?

Oh, of course. Um… is it the “Robronco: Order your Mister Handy today!” billboard that we’re just passing under?

… yes, I finally admitted, sighing. Your turn sweetie.

I’m not sure if that actually counts-

Sweetie, we’ve been playing this game, with breaks, for hours now, we’re in the place called “Wasteland”, and my hooves are, figuratively, killing me, I told her, my increasing exhaustion making me a little irritated. There aren’t many things to “spy on”. We passed by an interesting billboard, advertising, I assume, a product of a company making robots, so I thought I would pick it, and use the subject of the advertisement as its name rather than “billboard”. I don’t think there’s a reason to make an argument about it, isn’t it?

Oh, no no, of course not, Fluttershy quickly agreed. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you… she continued to apologize, but I stopped her, having already calmed down.

No, I’m sorry sweetie. I didn’t mean to snap like that, it’s just… I am starting to think that during this journey I’ll walk more than I had in all my life prior to this morning, assuming I hadn’t passed this mark already.

You can’t be serious, Fluttershy said, giggling at what she thought was a joke.

Well, you’re right, but that could easily become reality. You don’t really have to walk too much when you live in an underground shelter, where on every floor there are multiple portals installed as a form of public transportation, and you spend most of your time studying, I explained. And I would have walked even less if I had learned the Teleportation Spell, which you wouldn’t believe how much I regret right now.

Oh… I see.

… There was a portal right outside of the hospital wing and another one just ten feet from my quarters, I didn’t learn that spell because it would have been a waste of time. How would I know that I would end up being banished from the Stable?

I um, I understand, Fluttershy said, clearly uncomfortable with listening to me complain and make excuses for myself for not having learned the Teleportation Spell.

Sorry sweetie, I apologized, sighing. I realize that I’ve been difficult to talk with for the last few hours. I guess I’m handling physical exertion worse than I thought. Anyway, back to our game - it’s your turn.

Oh, right. Um… I spy with my little eye…

*** *** ***

“Did you have to kill it?” I asked Jack, looking at him sternly.

The griffin, who was standing above the remains of a bloated insectoid creature and wiping his sword of its blood, raised his eyebrow. “Why, did you want to keep it as a pet?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but Apple Core spoke before I could: “She has two pet radroaches in Appleloosa, what do ya think?”

Glancing behind me, I saw that she wasn’t the only one who ran after me. The other three mercenaries were trotting along with her, the expressions on their faces ranging from (rapidly decreasing) worry to (rapidly increasing) annoyance.

Realizing that I was the cause of their grievances, I blushed. When moments earlier I had spotted a red bar pop up on my E.F.S., I immediately warned everypony. They all had readied their guns and pointed them in the direction I told them, but it quickly turned out unnecessary. From high above, Jack also had noticed the threat, and had already been nose-diving at it. However, at the same time, I had noticed that this threat was nothing more than small insectoid animal, and had run towards it, ignoring the pain in my legs, shouting to Jack to not kill it.

Now it was in two pieces, my legs hurt even more, and my companions were annoyed with me.

“Wait, seriously?” Blast asked Apple Core.

“Yep, she calls ‘em ‘Snuggles’ and ‘Wigglebutt’,” she replied, causing the earth pony to snort with amusement.

And it would appear I became a subject of laughter, too.

“I would appreciate if you wouldn’t find my pets so amusing,” I told both him and Apple Core; Jack and Scope still appeared to be more annoyed than amused, and Burst, to my relief, was frowning at his older brother.

“Sorry, sorry,” Blast replied, shaking his head, “just… didn’t peg you for somepony that would keep bugs as pets,” he said, still amused.

“So?” Burst asked, coming to my defense, “That’s not that weird. Doesn’t one of the Hoofington’s Reapers keep radroaches as pets too? I would love to see you laugh to his face about them.”

“Maybe, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t give them such ridiculous names,” Blast retorted.

“Oh, I’m so sorry the names I gave them aren’t to your liking, sweetie,” I interjected, offended.

Blast turned to me, rolling his eyes. “Look baby-”

“Enough,” Jack interrupted him, his voice low with a warning. “We’re still in a dangerous area, you two can argue and hit on her when we get back to New Appleloosa, got it?”

I blinked. They were hitting on me? I thought as both Blast and Burst, one annoyed and other embarrassed, had replied “Fine.” I mean, both of them? It had been hard to miss Blast stares and suggestions, but Burst… Oh, I will figure this out later, I decided, shaking my head, right now I have more important thing to worry about.

Turning to the remains of the insectoid creature, I cleared my throat and began recording with my PipBuck: “Audio recording of Doctor Angel, number 2.06.”

“The fuck is she doing?” I heard Jack ask somepony; I ignored it for the moment.

“During the expedition to Stable Eleven, which I partake in due to a business agreement, I encountered an unfamiliar species of animal.” (“It’s somethin’ she does from time t’ time, apparently. If ya want I can drag her away.”) “Unfortunately, a member of the expedition had terminated it before I could capture it. I will now attempt to shortly examine its corpse and describe it, a proper post mortem examination will have to wait until returning to Appleloosa.” (“Oh for… Ya’re not takin’ this thing!”) “Side note: make an additional recording later on about the mentioned member of the expedition, possibly during physical examination.” (“Um, did she just say she wants to bang Jack, or was that not an innuendo?”)

I paused the recording. Having fresh in mind what Apple Core had done during audio recording number 2.04, I paid some attention to what the people around me were talking about (which, considering I was about to examine a corpse of an animal rather than a living, sapient one, was easy; the former was far less captivating). For better or worse, this resulted in me hearing just how many interference there would be in my recording.

Even my patience has its limits, I thought, turning to my companions.

“Excuse me, sweeties,” I began, smiling at them kindly, “would you mind being less noisy while I’m in the middle of making a scientific recording?”

All five of them, four ponies and one griffin, let their jaws hang open as they stared at me, apparently each trying to think of how to best respond. Finally, the ponies turned to look at Jack, clearly expecting him to be the one to deal with me. The griffin gave out a half-annoyed, half-tired sigh, and covered his eyes with his paw.

“What the hell are you doing, Doctor?” he asked, his voice almost polite and curious sounding; I got the impression that he was forcing himself to remain so civil.

“I am recording a species that I hadn’t met previously,” I explained; I felt it would have been a bad idea to add ‘obviously’. “Since you had went ahead and terminated it, sweetie, and this isn’t the right time or place to perform proper post mortem examination, making an audio recording with my initial observation is all I can do at the moment. It won’t take long, so I would appreciate your cooperation,” I added, smiling again.

Jack opened his beak and raised his forepaw, but he hesitated before speaking. His talons curled, as if grasping something, while he struggled to find words, his blue eyes staring at me. The griffin let out a short growl, that quickly changed into a sigh.

“Fuck it. We’re taking a break,” he said to everypony else, turning away from me.

“Wha- seriously?” Scope asked, his eyebrow raised. He pointed at me and continued: “You’re letting her-”

“Yes, I am,” Jack interrupted him, glancing behind. “Because if we were to continue this argument, I am certain I would try to cut her head off.”

“Oh,” I exclaimed, staring at him in shock. “I… I am terribly sorry I'm causing you to have such violent feelings regarding my person-” I began to say, but, like Scope, I was interrupted by Jack.

However, where with the unicorn mercenary Jack only used his words, in my case he whirled around at me, shot his forepaw and grabbed my muzzle, again. “Shut. Up,” he told me quietly after a second passed. “Do your stupid audio recording whatever, then eat and drink something. Same goes for the rest of you,” he added, releasing me and turning to the others. “We made a very good progress so far, should only be about two hours to reach the Stable if there won’t be more problems.” Why did he glance at me when he said that? “We all deserve some break, and this place offers good cover.”

I suppose it did. Before us rose another billboard, laid partially toppled before us, and there were some rocks by it as well, forming a quite cozy space. To spot us, somebody would have to either be in the sky, or stand in the way in which we had came here.

“You’ve got twenty minutes tops,” Jack added, then, as everypony began making themselves comfortable, turned to Burst. “Burst, tell her about bloatsprites, should make this bullshit quicker.”

“‘Bloatsprites’?” I repeated, surprised, then glanced at the remains.

I had heard that name from Apple Core, back when I had asked her to tell me about the Wasteland, but her description of them was somewhat… lacking in details. It’s body was spherical (at least, I assumed so; with its organs spilling out from both halves of its remains, it was rather… deflated), with big round compound eyes, insectoid mouthparts that I would identify later, two pairs of large membranous wings, several appendages at the bottom that were possibly legs, and a few orbicular bulges.

Certainly, it should take more than the two words Apple Core had used to describe them.

“That’s the, quote, ‘flying turd’, unquote?” I asked Apple Core, frowning at her.

“Ah stand by it bein’ an apt description,” she told me, shrugging, and took a sip from her canteen.

I rolled my eyes and focused on Burst, who was standing now beside me. “I trust you can tell me more about them?”

“Sure,” he replied. “They-”

I raised my hoof, stopping him. “Hold on a moment, sweetie.” I brought up my PipBuck and unpaused the recording. “A testimony regarding the species from Burst, male, pony, earth pony, early twenties, mercenary:” I said, then extended my left leg to him and motioned for him to speak.

“Um, well… this species is called ‘bloatsprite’,” Burst resumed, looking a bit uncertainly at my PipBuck, but seemed to grow more confident as he talked. “They used to be smaller and not as dangerous before the war, I think they were called parasprites then, but they mutated due to Taint. They attack ponies and practically everything on sight, shooting their stings at you.”

“Biological projectile weapon? How interesting,” I mused out loud. “So they eat meat?”

“Yeah, but in most cases it’s from some carcass. You’d have to be very unlucky to get killed by them, they’re considered more of a nuisance than an actual threat.”

“And yet they attack on sight? Hm, a surprisingly aggressive behaviour… could they be defending their territory or young? How do they reproduce?” I asked Burst, curious if there were more bloatsprites. None showed on my Eyes-Forward Sparkle, true, but they could be out of its range. And if there were, maybe I could capture a living one. “Do they lay eggs or-”

“They, um, sorta…” Burst hesitated, looking for the right word. “They spit a new bloatsprite after they’ve eaten enough.”

I was stunned. “They reproduce asexually?!”

“Um… yes?” Burst replied, confused. “I think that’s what that means at least…”

“And not only that,” I interrupted him, to excited to wait for him to finish, “when they reproduce, their offspring is fully grown?!”

At least, that’s how I understood “spit new bloatsprite”. If I wasn’t mistaken…

“Yeah, it’s nearly identical to the ‘parent, I guess,” Burst said, somewhat uncertainly, but it was enough for me.

“That’s amazing!” I exclaimed, but my mood quickly grew sour when I remembered that the bloadsprite was dead. Frowning, I turned to Jack. “And you killed it? Just like that?! Do you have any idea how much I could learn from it?!”

“No,” the griffin replied after he finished chewing a bit of some meat (It better not be brahmin’s meat!), “but I have this weird feeling you’re about to tell us. Seriously,” he suddenly added, looking at Apple Core, “how come nobody in Appleloosa killed her yet? Most of you slavers are barely a step up from raiders. You’re telling me she didn’t annoy anybody enough to kill her yet?”

“We don’t kill ponies that work with us just ‘cause they’re annoyin’,” she told him, frowning. “‘Sides, she grows on ya.”

“I somehow doubt that,” Jack retorted, then turned back to me. “Alright, I’ll bite; would the good doctor tell me what could you possibly learn from a bloatsprite?”

“Honestly, sweetie, I would have thought it to be obvious,” I stated, and despite the stares I got in return, I honestly meant that. “Asexual reproduction produces an offspring that arises from a single organism. Now, as I am sure all of you know, during sexual reproduction, which is how, for example, ponies and griffins reproduce, the offspring inherits the genes from both parents.” Ignoring the annoyed groan Jack uttered, and that both Apple Core and Blast had seemingly stopped listening, I continued: “However, an organism that reproduces asexually receives genes from one parent. Their genetic material is identical! It is, in simple words, a cloning process! And this species” I added, pointing at the remains of the bloatsprite, “gives life to a literally identical organism, already in its adult form!”

“And that means?” Jack asked, rubbing his temples; in contrast to my excited shouts, his voice sounded tired and resigned.

“That means, sweetie, that if I research this biological process, with the help of magic I should be able to learn how to create perfect clones of ponies and other sapient beings, which could provide organs and limbs for transplants!” I began to pace around, too excited to hold still. “Back in Stable Eight we came up with many theories regarding therapeutic cloning, but with those bloatsprites, I could turn those theories into reality!”

I turned to my companions, eager to hear them express their reaction to this revelation. To my surprise, though, I was met with mostly confused and unsure stares. And doubtful, too.

“Ya seriously think ya can figure out how t’ clone a pony with those things?” Apple Core asked, her eyebrow raised skeptically. “Ah knew ya were little off, but didn’t think ya were this crazy.”

I frowned hearing the comment. “Well,” I nickered, “I will be sure to remember this, sweetie, when you develop an alcoholic liver disease. Which, if you won’t decrease your alcohol consumption as I had advised you to numerous times, should happen within the next ten years.”

But as I had expected, Apple Core began to roll her eyes even before I finished warning her for about fifth time since we met. “Yeah, no, that’s ain’t gonna happen.”

“So wait, you really think that it would be possible?” Burst asked me before this could develop into an argument. “To clone organs and stuff?”

“We had a saying back in Stable Eight,” I replied, smiling. “‘If something seems impossible, it’s only because nopony invented the spell to do it’. And unlike what most of my former fellow stable dwellers think, not everything has to be resolved solely with magic,” I added with a roll of my eyes. “Quite the contrary, science offers far better and easier solutions to problems, and when you combine science and magic…” I trailed off, smiling as I sighed dreamily. “Yes, sweetie, it would be very much possible.”

A sudden clap! startled me, almost making me jump. Looking around, I realized it was Jack who was clapping his forepaws. “Alright, we are all impressed. If we pass another bloatsprite, I will be sure to leave it to you to deal with it. Now, can you please finish making this audio recording or whatever and eat something? You’ve got fifteen minutes of break left, and I don’t want you to collapse because of exhaustion. Last thing we need is worrying about carrying you,” he added, returning to his meal.

“Oh, of course, sweetie,” I replied with a smile, despite sensing a patronizing tone in his words. “Thank you for taking such interest in my well-being.” I turned to my PipBuck with the intention to resume the recording, only to realize that I forgot to pause it. “Oh, how unprofessional of me…”

About five minutes later, when I had finally finished describing the bloatsprite’s remains for my audio record (Would have been easier if it wasn’t cut in two pieces!), I gathered them to a tightly bound sack Burst gave me after he took his supplies out of it.

“You’re seriously taking it,” Scope, who was sitting on top of a rock keeping watch, commented.

“Of course I am,” I replied, surprised that there were even doubts about it. I took out three healing potions out of my saddlebag to make a room for the bloatsprite’s remains. “Here sweetie,” I told Burst, passing to him one of them with my magic. “Once again, thank you for all your help.”

“Oh, no problem,” the earth pony replied, slightly blushing. “It was nothing.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say-”

“Doctor,” Jack interrupted me; he was looking at me sternly. “You have ten minutes left to catch your breath, eat something, and rest. I’d advise you to stop talking and use them.”

I was about to reply “Oh, of course, thank you sweetie”, but something in Jack’s stare told me that, if I would, he wound leap towards me and grab my muzzle shot before I could finish that sentence. So instead, I merely nodded, passed the remaining healing potions to him and Apple Core, and sat beside Burst.

“Sorry about Jack,” the mercenary whispered as I made myself comfortable and took out the lunch box Ditzy had prepared for me. “He’s… not comfortable with having ponies unfamiliar with combat out in the Wasteland.”

“It’s alright, sweetie,” I assured him, matching his voice’s volume. “In all honesty, I should probably accommodate myself more with his orders, seeing how much more experienced he and the rest of you are with the Wasteland,” I admitted as I stretched my sore limbs.

I must have grimaced from the pain, because Burst asked: “Are you okay?”

“Well, to be honest, sweetie, I’m afraid I’ve started to develop a muscle fatigue in my legs due to all this trotting,” I admitted as I unpacked my lunch box. “I should be fine, but hopefully we could get a longer rest within Stable Eleven. Possibly with a hot bath.”

Not that it will prevent me from getting delayed onset muscle soreness later, I remarked. I might have a hard time getting back tomorro- oh, I exclaimed as I saw the contents of the lunch box that Ditzy had made for me, that’s so sweet of her!

Aside from two small apples and some Fancy Buck Snack Cakes, there also was a muffin.

Surprised and touched by the gesture, I forgot about my legs. I wonder when she had the time to make or buy it, though? I wondered briefly as I sniffed it. As most of the food I had tasted in the Wasteland, it was, to say gently, not quite as tasty as Stable Eight’s muffins. Certainly not like the ones my grandmother used to make. However, after weeks of eating two hundred year old food supplies, they seemed to be the most delicious things ever. I must remember to return the favor. Even though I’m not the best cook…

“You’re doing quite well for somepony who’s, well, not used to those sort of things,” Burst said as I devoured most of the Fancy Buck Snack Cakes, saving the muffin for the end (and apples for journey back). “I guess you didn’t have to walk as much back in your Stable, huh?”

I swallowed before replying. “You are correct, sweetie. Even without having learned the Teleportation Spell like a lot of ponies in Stable Eight, I didn’t exactly trot through such long distances.”

“That’s an advanced spell,” Scope unexpectedly commented. I glanced up at him, surprised; he was still sitting on the rock, but his attention turned to me and Burst. “And you’re saying there are a lot of ponies in your Stable who know it?”

“Yes, of course,” I replied, recovering. “Even those less magically talented unicorns can learn ‘advanced’ spells, provided they dedicate enough time to mastering it of course. And with all the free time the majority of ponies in Stable Eight have, it’s really not surprising how many of them know Teleportation Spell.”

“Oh yeah?” Apple Core chimed in, grinning. “How come ya don’t know it, then?”

“Because, sweetie, I had far less free time, obviously,” I told her, glancing at her. “Not to mention that I was always far more interested in learning medical spells. Besides,” I added, shrugging, “with all the portals in Stable Eight, I never even considered Teleportation Spell as being useful-”

“I’m sorry,” Scope interrupted me, jumping down from the rock and coming closer, “what?! Did you say portals?!”

“Well, yes,” I replied, slightly surprised by his interest. “We use them in Stable Eight for public transportation between levels and sections.”

Scope’s jaw dropped, and it took him a moment to recover himself. “You came up with a magical transportation never developed in Equestria, even during the Great War, and use it in place of elevators?!”

I frowned hearing the criticism in his voice. However, before I could ask him just how else would he expect ponies living in a Stable to use portals, Jack had interjected.

“Scope, keep watch; you can talk magic with her later.”

The unicorn glared at him, but obeyed the order after a second. However, before he turned around, I could see him roll his eyes. “Keep watch for what, exactly? We’ve been walking for hours and all we’ve seen was that bloatsprite. That tribe they’ve mentioned must have hunted down most of the creatures here.”

“Or it was the Hooded Figure,” Apple Core added with a snort; I wondered if her canteen didn’t happen to contain some apple whiskey, seeing how ‘perky’ she became after taking a few sips. Whether my guess was right or wrong, she continued, adding in a scary voice: “Ya know, that creature completely covered in a robe that walks and talks like a pony. One of our guys said he saw ‘im a few weeks ago ‘round those parts.”

“Oh please, everybody knows that’s a myth,” Scope replied as he resumed surveying the area from atop of his rock.

“Um, no, it isn’t?” Blast cut in, frowning.

Apple Core looked at him, surprised. “Wait, ya believe it’s real?”

“It’s not a matter of believing, it’s a matter of meeting the guy,” Blast replied.

“Wait, what?”

“When was it, two years ago?” the earth pony asked his brother, who nodded. “Back when we were working as caravan guards. We stopped at that small town in Manehattan, Arbu. He came shortly after us, about this high,” Blast said, raising his hoof high above his head, “and covered from head to hooves in dark cloak with a hood on his head, so all that you could see of him was the edge of his muzzle.”

Apple Core continued to stare in silence, utterly stunned. Scope was also looking at Blast, but while he did seem surprised, there was disbelief in his eyes as well. “Well… holy shit,” Apple Core finally said, blinking and shaking her stupor off. “So what did he do? Did he kill or maim anypony or somethin’?”

“Nah, nothing like that. Spoke little, bought some Micro-Sparkle Cells from one trader in the caravan… also wanted to buy some meat from ponies in Arbu, but after he sniffed some he seemed to change his mind,” he replied, shrugging.

“Huh, so he’s just some big weirdo who likes to walk ‘round in a cape? That’s kinda… disappointin’,” Apple Core said, frowning. “What are those Micro-Sparkle thingies he bought?”

“It’s an energy source for some magical energy weapons, sweetie,” I said, absentmindedly, my thoughts focused on this mysterious Hooded Figure.

So apparently, it’s not just a myth or a rumor, he actually exists, I thought. While it is possible for a pony to grow to such a height as Blast had claimed the Hooded Figure had, the fact that he’s only seen with his body completely covered might point out to some sort of mutation or other deformity that he’d wish to hide from others… Probably why he interacts with ponies so scarcely that he’d be considered by many to not be real, too- Why is everybody looking at me?

I blinked, stopping my contemplation and looking around. Everybody was staring at me with surprise, for some reason. After a very brief pondering, however, I realized what was probably the cause of it.

“Magical energy weapons are a part of the Stable Eight’s security’s armament, even though there had never been a case of them using them, if I am not mistaken,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“‘Kay, Ah can believe that,” Apple Core said, frowning, then pointed her hoof at me. “But how come Miss ‘Ah’ll never carry a gun’ knows anythin’ ‘bout security’s guns?”

Frowning, I turned to her. “Well, sweetie, if you must know…” I began, but I trailed off. I suddenly realized that there was some weird sound coming from someplace. “Do you hear something?” I asked, flickering my ears as I tried to locate the direction it was coming from.

“Don’t change the-” Apple Core started to say, but she too stopped. “Wait, she’s right. Is that… is that music?”

It was indeed music that we were hearing. I frowned in confusion. I hadn’t expected to hear music out in the Wasteland, unless I’d use my PipBuck to listen to DJ Pon3. Just as I began to wonder whether there was some kind of radio nearby that suddenly got activated (how come the music gradually became louder was a mystery I planned to solve later), I noticed that there now were six bars on my E.F.S.

Intrigued instead of worried, as the sixth bar was green like the others, marking it as a friend, I climbed on top of the rock beside Scope, hoping to spot whoever the bar represented.

To say I was surprised was an understatement.

“Is that another bloatsprite?” Even as I asked that question, I realized it wasn’t one. The… thing that was floating between hills towards us had the same shape as a bloatsprite, though, for reasons that I couldn’t figure out at the moment. It’s metallic body, and the fact that it was the source of the music, pointed out to it being some sort of robot. “Wait, is that a robot?”

“Yeah, that’s a sprite-bot,” Jack, who landed on the rock beside me, said. “How come you can make that out from this distance?” I turned away from the ‘sprite-bot’, stunned. “I thought albinos have poor eyesight.”

Color me impressed!

“Why, Jack, sweetie, I’m impressed!” I exclaimed, genuinely impressed. “Seldom had anybody in the Wasteland recognized my disorder, and they hadn’t displayed knowledge of its some, shall we say, less visible symptoms!”

My enthusiasm was quenched a tad as Jack sighed heavily. “Why did I even… thanks, I guess. Can you just answer my question, preferably shortly?”

Trust my luck to meet a person with some understanding of albinism that wouldn’t want to talk about it in further detail.

“Well, if you must know, sweetie, I can see as well as a normal pony, thanks to several ocular arcane surgeries I had undergone as a foal,” I replied. As soon as his eyebrows had raised, betraying a hint of interest, I began to elaborate: “Using a focusing crystal, the doctors modified my optic nerves and retina to be no different than those of ponies who don’t suffer from albinism and preventing me from developing visual problems. Although,” I admitted grudgingly, looking up at the clouded sky with a grimace, “if Celestia’s sun hadn’t been covered by those pegasi, it would still probably be best if I wear some protective eyewear.” There were a few times back in Stable Eight when looking at the illusory skies at the ceilings I would find the illusory sun to be hurtful to my eyes.

“Huh, that’s actually... neat,” Jack admitted, sounding impressed.

“Thank you, sweetie. Now,” I began, turning back to the music-broadcasting robot, which had drew even closer as we spoke, “could you tell me what is this ‘sprite-bot’, exactly?”

And why is it playing the March of the Parasprites? I wondered, finally recognizing the tuba-heavy music as the one I had heard on Red Eye’s radio broadcast, the only other radio station besides DJ Pon3. Admittedly, while this music is a bit too monotonous for my tastes, it is more enjoyable than that pony’s speeches at least…

“Nothing interesting,” Jack replied, shrugging, “there are tons of those things patrolling the Wasteland like that. They were supposed to boost the morale of Equestria’s citizens back during the war with the ‘uplifting’ music. And no,” he added, jumping back down from the rock, “I don’t know why they were modeled after those insects’ ancestors.”

Surprised, I glanced at Scope, who just shrugged and resumed watching the area. “And they continue to do so after two hundred years?” I asked, following Jack down. “How come?”

“They simply continue to do what they were programmed to do,” Blast replied. “Like most robots. Which is why a lot of people get themselves killed exploring places, ponies often used robots as security back then.”

Being stuck performing a duty that no longer matters? What a sad existence. I thought back to Janitor, the hospital’s Mister Handy that was currently working for me. He had a programmed personality, probably due to his workplace, but there were limits to his “consciousness”. Considering that if he hadn’t been turned off due to the damage he would have been cleaning that basement for the past two hundred years, it’s probably for the best. I can’t imagine how a true Artificial Intelligence would cope with such a fate.

I stopped my musing as I heard Apple Core groan with annoyance. “Ugh, Ah forgot how annoyin’ that music is! Ya guys mind if Ah shoot it?” she asked and, without waiting for reply, she reached for her gun.

“Yes, because we don’t want to attract attention,” Jack told her sternly, stopping her.

“What attention?” Apple Core asked, rolling her eyes. “There’s nopony ‘ere!”

“Yeah, and the moment you start shooting, it will turn out that there are raiders behind one of those hills or billboards. I would rather not take those chances.”

“If I am not mistaken, sweetie, the music is about to end anyway,” I told Apple Core as the mare rolled her eyes at Jack. “And besides, it would seem that the sprite-bot is bound to hover somewhere away eventually.”

Unfortunately for Apple Core, it appeared that this particular sprite-bot’s programmed path led by our “camp”, as the music continued to grow louder. However, as I had said, it ended about ten seconds later, causing the slaver mare to let out a loud sigh of relief.

Now it was my turn to be annoyed.

“That was the March of the Parasprites,” a gravelly voice announced, completely pointlessly, when the music ended.

I did my best to tune him off as the speaker was about to announce Red Eye’s speech. Of course, with the sprite-bot being only about ten or so feet away as it continued it flight, I wasn’t very successful.

“Not a fan of his speeches I take?” Burst asked as I sighed.

“I suppose you could say that, sweetie,” I replied as the speaker continued. “I had listened to a few on my PipBuck after I left my Stable, and later on the radio in Appleloosa. Let’s just say that I disagree with that buck’s philosophy.”

“Ya do realize he’s our major source of income, right?” Apple Core asked.

“Yours, sweetie” I corrected her. “You and the rest of the slavers sell him slaves. I am Appleloosa’s medic. And while I don’t have much against that, I do take issue of what he is doing with those slaves.” Looking from Apple Core to Burst and back, I took advantage of their attention and (hoping to drown out the radio so I wouldn’t have to listen to a repeat of Red Eye’s speeches) began: “He claims that everything those slaves are building is for the future of Equestria, right? But tell me, isn’t a pony - or any sapient being,” I added with a glance at Jack, who raised his eyebrow; I don’t know if he was already listening or not, but there was a spark of interest in his eyes as I continued, “- aren’t they entitled to the fruits of their labor and sweat of their brows? Red Eye speaks only about the future, but not about how he plans to get to it, aside from some nonsense about ‘Unity’.” I shook my head dismissively. “Vague promises. If he truly means to restore Equestria, he should truly work with workers, not slaves. Pay them instead of beat them. But, as he mentions in one of his broadcasts, it would hamper the progress and stave off the future. He has eyes on only that, the future, and completely ignores the present. Sooner or later, it will bite him in the tail.”

“You seem to put a lot of thought into that,” Jack noted while the other two, now joined by Blast as well, continued to stare silently.

“Like I said, I have listened to some of his broadcasts; I had time to think his vision and promises over,” I replied, then, reluctantly, I turned one ear to the sprite-bot as the speaker finally finished announcing Red Eye.

“One of the children asked me, ‘Red Eye, what is your cutie mark?”

Hm, hadn’t heard that one yet, was the first thing I thought. The second was: Children?

“Meh, Ah don’t really care ‘bout that as long as he stays in Fillydelphia,” Apple Core began to say, but I shushed her with a gesture, curious where Red Eye was going with this broadcast.

“To that child, I answered ‘I do not have one.’”

I blinked, surprised. He had to be an adult; probably was older than me by decade or two. I had heard that much about him to know that. How could a pony that old not have a cutie mark?

“Of course, the next question was ‘Why, Red Eye?’ Why don’t I have a cutie mark? Because I choose not to have a cutie mark.”

My jaw fell. “Come again?” I asked out loud after a heartbeat, utterly stunned.

“Why would I want one? Am I really going to let a picture on my flank determine my future?”

My body jerked.

“If I find something that I really enjoy, do I need an icon on my ass to tell me? Of course not. To too many ponies, cutie marks are more about what you can’t be. How can you expect to be a great scientist if your cutie mark is a rake?”

The corners of my mouth twitched and started to curl as I continued to listen.

“Or an amazing artist if your flank has a picture of a pile of hay? Who is going to give you the chance? But if your flank is bare, then the possibilities are endless.”

“Um, Angel?” Apple Core asked, worry in her voice as I began to giggle. “Are ya okay?”

“And the choice is up to you. That is why I had my cutie mark removed.”

That did it for me. Not caring for the slightest where we were and what sort of dangers could be lurking, I erupted with maniacal laughter. Ignoring my companions’ surprise and confusion - not to mention the hastily growled command to be quiet - I grabbed my sides and fell down on the ground, laughing like an insane pony, after hearing the pony that had claimed he intends to restore Equestria to say the most idiotic nonsense I had ever heard of.

I continued to laugh even when Jack’s talons had again clamped on my muzzle, except now my laughter was muted. Apparently, it either was still too loud for his liking or I was plain annoying him, because he grasped me by my barding with his free paw and lifted me from the ground, pressing me against the rock.

“Stop laughing so loudly,” he growled at me quietly.

The little pain he had caused me helped me calm myself a bit, so I nodded and managed to stop laughing. I took a deep breath as Jack released me and took a step back, in an attempt to further calm down. “I’m sorry,” I managed to say; I couldn’t stop smiling. “I know I shouldn’t laugh… Radiant Celestia and Brilliant Luna, glory to thee, forgive me for taking such amusement in the wandering of that misguided soul, grant him strength and wisdom to see the error of his ways,” I prayed, making a circular motion with my right hoof over my heart, then on the other side of my chest and a bigger one around both points before bringing my hooves together, all while shaking my head. Noticing that the others were still staring at me, I giggled and began to explain. “I just… I just never expected to hear a pony who obviously must be intelligent say such…” I struggled to find the right word, “... such nonsense! I mean, did he honestly believe that erasing his cutie mark would free him from what he is?!” I asked my companions as I uttered a short (and quiet) laugh, shaking my head in amusement and wonder.

Apple Core was first of them to break the silence. “Oookay,” she said slowly, “so Red Eye is an idiot, got it. Can ya stop bein’ freaky now?”

“And loud,” Jack added, glaring at me with annoyance. “I swear, if this area wasn’t so empty for whatever reason, you just would have attracted everything within ten miles!”

“Yeah, ‘cause she was that loud,” Apple Core retorted, rolling her eyes. As the griffin glared at her she added: “And like ya said, there’s nothin’ ‘ere, so-”

She was interrupted by Scope, who jumped down from the rock. “Five raiders coming in from the north,” he said, levitating his sniper rifle beside him.

“Oh, ya’ve gotta be kiddin’ me,” Apple Core exclaimed, facehoofing.

My amusement quickly evaporated as I heard that, even without the cold stare Jack shot me.

“That sprite-bot had a few bullet marks on it, so they are probably chasing it,” Scope added, shrugging. “You might want to take that under consideration before you kill our medic.”

“I wasn’t going to kill her,” Jack snapped, clearly annoyed. He grunted and massaged his temples. “You're sure it’s only five of them?”

“Only five?” Apple Core asked, bewildered, as Scope nodded.

Her answer was a short chuckle uttered by Blast. “Just stand back and watch,” he told her before turning to Jack. “How do you wanna do this Jack? Throw grenade at them when they get closer and have Scope pick off those that would get away?”

Jack shook his head. “No, the entire point of getting to Stable without any trouble was to avoid additional expenses such as grenades or ammo.”

“I told you that you should have just killed that Steel Ranger and taken the holotape instead of paying so much,” Scope said.

“I’ll sneak up on them and take them out by myself,” Jack continued, ignoring the unicorn’s remark. “You just give me cover, and shoot only if they notice me.”

“W-wait,” I spoke; I had been lost in my musing as to why would those ponies had shot at the sprite-bot, which I think was what Scope had been implying, as well as berating myself for not noticing that myself. The fact that I had little interests in machines like those and annoyance towards Red Eye’s speeches was no excuse! However, I still had paid attention to what was being said, and I wasn’t sure I liked where this was going. “Are you going to kill them?”

Everybody stared at me. “Um, yes?” Blast said, raising an eyebrow. “They’re raiders, and if we don’t take them out they will kill us all?”

So apparently everybody agrees on raiders needing to be shot on sight, I thought. I had, of course, listened to DJ Pon3 warning about them on his station, and heard plenty from Apple Core and some others about them, but myself having met only one, who was heavily bound during his stay in Appleloosa on top of that, I had my doubts.

I know, Fluttershy unexpectedly chimed in, but to kill them, even though they haven’t done anything to us…

I think so too, I quickly assured her. Let me deal with this.

“But they haven’t harmed us yet,” I began to argue.

“Please tell me she is joking,” Jack said, turning to Apple Core, who was facehoofing.

“We could simply wait for them to pass us-” I tried to say, but Scope cut me off.

“They probably heard you earlier.”

The glare Fluttershy’s apparition gave me did not help me feel better about the realization that I might have led five ponies to their death.

“Well… how about I’d go and convince them to leave us?” I said. In light of all I had heard about raiders, it was probably my least preferable option, but apparently it was the only one that would lead to everybody leaving this place with their lives. “I am quite convincing-”

Jack’s talons were once again gripping my muzzle, stopping me in mid-sentence. “No,” he said, glaring at me with annoyance as he released me.

I was about to start arguing with him but I received and unexpected help. “You know, that’s not exactly a bad idea to let her go,” Blast said, causing everybody to look at him. “At the very least, she would be a good distraction for you.”

I frowned, disappointed that this was the reason why he’d be willing to let me try.

“As much as annoyin’ she is, Ah’m not lettin’ ya get ‘er killed like that,” Apple Core said, seeming even more upset than me.

“Oh please, they’d try to rape her before killing her,” Blast scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Jack would have plenty of time to kill them before they’d even touch her.”

“I’m having less time to do that as we continue this stupid argument,” Jack said, leaning up to glance behind the rock. “I don’t need any distraction, the hills will be enough of a cover for me to get a drop on them.”

“But sweetie-” I tried again, only to find myself being stared down by Jack.

“Look,” he said, pointing one of his talons at my chest, “I am not letting you get yourself or anybody else killed because of your naivety with the Wasteland. Do you remember what you said before that mental breakdown, about ponies and all other sapient beings entitled to some things? Those things,” he pointed in the direction where the raiders were (so it happened that now they were in the range of my E.F.S., so I could see red bars in that direction), “murder, mutilate, rape and often eat everybody they get their hooves on. Doesn’t matter if you’re a mercenary, doctor, trader, or whether you’re an adult or a foal. They had long since given up the right to be called ‘sapient beings’,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “They’re not entitled to anything, and should be killed on sight.”

I blinked, surprised. Even as I myself mulled over his words, Fluttershy said to me: Isn’t that the same reasoning you have for why you perform experiments on some ponies? That they had lost their right to be called sapient beings?

Yes, it’s word to word, practically, I admitted.

“Alright, sweetie,” I told Jack, sitting down to emphasize that I was leaving this matter to him.

“Wow,” Apple Core exclaimed, staring at me, then turning to Jack. “Ya gotta teach me how t’ do that.”

The griffin was still frowning at me, probably wondering whether I truly had surrendered or not. “Keep an eye on her,” he finally told Blast and Burst, then turned to Scope. “Give me cover. I’ll be right back.”

With those words, he gracefully lifted himself slightly into the air and began to fly around the toppled billboard, most likely intending to circle around the raiders behind one of the hills, all while keeping himself so low that his chest was almost brushing the ground.

“Are ya sure he can take out five of ‘em by ‘imself?” Apple Core asked Blast and Burst, while Scope climbed up the rock as far as he could without letting his head stick out above it, and placed his sniper rifle between its crevices, letting him observe the raiders.

“Um, duh!” Blast replied, snorting. “Like I said, just watch. Is it safe to look?” he asked Scope.

Scope glanced back only so long as to deadpan at him, before he returned to observing the raiders. Blast rolled his eyes and jumped up the rock beside him to see for himself. Apparently, the raiders either were far away enough or weren’t looking in this direction, as he motioned for us to come up as well.

Curious, I followed Apple Core and Burst as they climbed on the rocks. Leaning my head slightly above them, I was able to see five ponies, as Scope had said. They… well, to be honest, they looked exactly as they had been described to me. All of them were clad in some ragged leather barding and carried various weapons, two of the three unicorns carrying the biggest of them with their magic and one earth pony carrying just a knife in her mouth. Even from this distance - they were more or less in the same spot as the sprite-bot had been when I first saw him - I could see that their bodies were marked by a lot of scars and that their manes were unevenly cut, making their appearance seem even scarier and more violent.

Although appearances don’t make a pony, I hummed, a part of me still not convinced if I was doing the right thing submitting to Jack’s opinion.

“I swear I heard somepony laugh!” one of the raiders growled in annoyance, looking around as they walked between a hill and some debris.

While some of my companions glanced at me, a raider mare giggled scornfully. “Sure, and the sprite-bot was spying on us. We believe you.”

The first raider - who appeared to be their leader - turned around to face her. “If you have anything to say bitch, do so. I’ll be sure to listen before I break your muzzle in.”

The mare backed away slightly. “Alright, I’ll shut up. Geez. So since there’s somepony here, does it mean we’ll give up on catching that stupid robot and have some fun with them?”

“Yeah, I’d much rather do that,” another raider commented, while the remaining two nodded. “Plus, I’m starving.”

I’m starting to think everybody had been right.

The first raider seemed torn, making me wonder why he had been so interested in catching the sprite-bot, but ultimately he grunted and nodded. “Fine, yeah, let’s find those fuckers,” he said, turning around.

In the exact moment as he did, Jack flew high up into the air from behind a hill. With the raiders moving in the south-east direction (Meaning they would have missed us, I noted with slight annoyance) none of them saw the griffin as he inserted himself right above them, and then swiftly dived down.

He first targeted the unicorn raider who was at the back of the group. As Jack dove at him, his right forepaw reached for the hilt of his sword, and just when he was right above his mark, he spread his wings, stopping his descent, while at the same time he draw his blade. The griffin stroke so swiftly that I could have sworn the unicorn’s firearm had still been held by his magic for a split second after his head had been separated from his body.

The other raiders, alarmed no doubt by noise behind them, began to turn back, but Jack didn’t wait for them. Without looking back at the pony he just killed, he moved on to the earth pony who held a knife in her mouth. A quick thrust and the sword went through her throat, spraying blood around her like a fountain water. As she fell, Jack grabbed the knife she had let go of, and threw it at another raider, plunging it right between his eyes, hilt-deep.

Turning his attention to the two remaining raiders, Jack brought his sword to his side and leaped at the one of his left. The two were the unicorns I noted earlier to be carrying the biggest weapons, some type of rifles probably; my knowledge on those types of firearms was severely limited. Jack, however, seemed to consider them the smallest threat, seeing how he had killed off the other three before them. He swung his sword, aiming not at the raider but at his gun, pushing it out of his way and with the barrel pointed towards the last raider.

Right as its owner began to shoot.

Three shots fired at his companion before he released the trigger, although it was hard to tell whether he had done so on his own accord, or because Jack’s free paw’s talons had pierced through his chest. As the griffin took his blood-covered paw out of the raider, the unicorn fell down on the ground, beside the raider he had unwillingly shot.

It was over as quickly as it had began.

Beside me, Apple Core was staring at the scene with her mouth agape, causing Blast to chuckle in amusement. I myself also stared at Jack. While I oppose violence in general, and I would have still preferred if we could have avoided killing those raiders, I couldn’t deny that the proficiency displayed by him, along with the way his body moved - swift and with a purpose, without any signs of hesitation or doubt - had deeply impressed me. There was a certain… beauty to it, in its own way.

As I watch him wipe the blood off his paw and sword, I heard Apple Core start hesitantly: “So, it just hit me… he’s a griffin with a sword, and he can do all that… he ain’t a member of Bloodtalons by any chance, ain’t he?” she asked, looking at Blast.

“Well, he used to be.”

“Oh, Celestia fuck me with her horn!” she exclaimed, facehoofing. “And ya guys just let us talk back to him?!” she asked Blast, ignoring the offended look I was giving her for using the Goddess’ name in such profane manner. “If Ah knew he was a Bloodtalon, Ah would ‘ave kept my mouth shut! And make her shut it too!” she added, pointing at me.

As Blast and Burst both snickered at Apple Core’s reactiong, I turned to them with a confused frown. “Could somepony explain to me who are Bloodtalons and why is Apple Core making such a commotion about it?”

“Well…” Blast begun, but Apple Core cut him off.

“It’s just the most deadly mercenary group in the entire world!”

“Yeah, that,” Blast agreed. “Also probably the first mercenary group, at least when it comes to the Talons. Jack told us that his family had been in this business since before even the Great War.”

Really? I thought, musing this over. Hm… If that’s the case, I wonder…

“And as for talking back- hey, where are you going?” Blast asked as I jumped down from the rock and began to trot away.

“It is safe now, isn’t it sweetie?” I asked, glancing back without stopping.

Um, what do you plan to do? Fluttershy asked me as I continued to walk towards Jack.

I want to make sure I made the correct choice, I replied. And to get a better picture of what kind of person Jack is.

If you plan to do what I think you’re doing, I really hope you’re right. I did not like what he just did.

Me neither, but you heard what he said about raiders. Since that’s what everybody keeps telling us about them, we should assume it to be right.

Still…

“When I said that I would be right back,” Jack commented as he noticed me approaching, “I thought it was clear that I implied to not come here.”

“Well, if you had made it clear, I would have argued why it’d make little sense, seeing how there’s nothing dangerous around anymore,” I replied, causing the griffin to sigh and roll his eyes. “I must say, your… performance was quite fascinating. I never had a chance to see anybody display such level of physical skills.”

“Thanks?” Jack replied, raising an eyebrow in mild confusion.

“Don’t get me wrong though, I would have still preferred if this matter could have been resolved without bloodshed. I sincerely hope you had been right about the raiders having lost their right to be called sapient beings. In fact,” I added, turning to one of the bodies on the ground, the one which was still bleeding out and that my E.F.S. was still showing as a red bar, “I’d like you to prove it to me.”

Before Jack could ask what I meant - and most likely try to stop me - I cast the Healing Spell on the raider who was shot by his friend, mending his wounds. Two of the three bullets were still buried within his chest, while the last one had exited his body leaving only the wound. I left them, for now at least, while I healed the damage they had done to his lungs and closed the entrance and exit wounds so he wouldn’t bleed out. Taking them out would take too much time for what I intended.

“What do you think you’re doing?” the griffin snarled at me, sounding more annoyed than angered; which, considering what I saw him do about twenty seconds ago, was a relief.

“What a doctor should do,” I replied calmly, my eyes on the raider as he drew still pained but deeper breath now. Not giving him a chance to rise, I cast an Anesthetic Spell, rendering him unable to move, and turned back to Jack. “He lost a quite a bit of blood and some got into his lungs, but he will live.” I began, avoiding mentioning the two bullets still in his body. “After my Anesthetic Spell wears off, he will be able to go back to wherever he and the other four came from. Which, if you are right, will lead to him harming more people in the future.”

“If you have a point,” Jack interrupted me, visibly irritated, “I suggest you make it.”

“It’s simple, really,” I told him, looking him in the eyes. “Kill him.”

The griffin held my gaze for several seconds. I wished I could read what was going through his mind, as nothing of it showed on his face. After a few moments, his eyes darted to the motionless raider, and he snorted. “He’s unarmed. I won’t kill somebody who can’t defend himself,” he said, raising from the ground and turning to leave.

While on the outside I continued to maintain a neutral expression, inwardly I smiled briefly. I was right about him.

“I thought you said that raiders aren’t entitled to anything?” I reminded him. The griffin stopped and looked me in the eyes. “Were you lying? If not, I see no reason why you’d refuse to kill this one.”

“The fu- The fuck are ya doin’?!” Surprised to hear Apple Core’s hiss, I broke the eye contact with Jack to glance behind me. The slaver mare had followed me along with Burst, with Blast and Scope trailing a little behind. “Why are ya plain’ some mind games with ‘im?!”

“I’m not playing mind games, sweetie,” I corrected her, “I just want to know whether I can leave this place with my conscience intact or not.”

Hearing pawsteps coming from Jack’s direction, I turned back to him. Before I finished doing that easy and fast motion, though, I heard another sound; the slashing sound I had heard his sword make as he swung it at the raiders. By the time I had turned my head to look at Jack, the blade had found its mark. A small line of blood splattered on my face as the griffin separated the raider’s head from his body.

“Please don’t heal him from that,” he said, starting to wipe his sword once again with some rag.

I decided to not comment on the sarcasm I detected in his voice. Instead, I sighed deeply with relief. “Thank you, sweetie.”

Grunting in acknowledgement, Jack sheathed his sword. “Sorry about the blood,” he added, drawing a line over his face that I assumed must reflect how the blood had splattered on mine. Undisturbed, I cast a Disinfection Spell on myself to remove it from my coat. Meanwhile, Jack turned to others. “Since you’re all already here, help me search their bodies for valuable things. Preferably bullets and caps.”

“Oh, please undress them while you’re at it, could you?” I asked as I made sure my coat was clear of blood. “I’d like to record their cutie marks after I take their blood samples.”

I was about to take out the case with syringes from my saddlebags, but I noticed the stares everybody was giving me. Before I could ask what was wrong, Jack glared at me and asked: “You are just determined to give me a brain aneurysm, aren’t you?”

Frowning, I began, “Sweetie, that’s not-”

“I know that’s not how it works!” the griffin exclaimed sharply, his wings flaring in his annoyance. “By the Egg, what is wrong with you?!”

“Um…” I stammered, baffled by his reaction and the question. “You mean, besides albinism? Well, I suppose-”

Jack’s talons grabbed my muzzle, again, as with the talons of his other paw he massaged his temples. “It was rhetorical, shut up.” He paused to sigh and turned to look at me. “If you somehow manage to explain shortly why you want to take blood samples of those raiders, I might allow this.”

I took a deep breath as Jack released my muzzle, quickly thinking of how to best accommodate his request. “I want to examine their blood to learn more about the state of ponies population’s health in the Wasteland. That can only be done by conducting a test on a large number of ponies. Also,” I added, hoping it would show that I was being fairly reasonable, “I would actually prefer if I could examine their entire bodies, or even just the brains, but I do realize that I can’t expect you to carry them for me or for you to wait until I cut their skulls open to remove their brains; not that I have the means to transport those safely, mind you.”

Something told me that last bit might not have accomplished what I had hoped; quite the opposite, if Jack’s and other’s expression were of any indication. I smiled uncertainly as I awaited the griffin’s verdict. Jack continued to glare at me, but after a few seconds he sighed and again massaged his temples. “Start looting the bodies then get moving,” he told the rest before turning to me. “You do whatever you do, then catch up. I need to clear my head,” Jack added as he spread his wings, preparing to fly away.

“Wait,” Burst stopped him. “You want us to leave her alone?”

“I will be keeping an eye on her from the air,” Jack assured him. “I just want us to start moving as soon as possible, the good doctor can run after she’s done.” He jumped into the air and was about to fly away, but then stopped and turned around, hovering mid-air. “If you take too long, I will drag you by your tail,” he told me before flying higher up.

“Thank you sweetie,” I called after him, then turned back to the corpses.

I levitated the case and took out the first syringe. No way to mark them, I noted, frowning. I will have to mention in the recording the order I put them in the case.

“Would you like me to stay with you?” Burst offered as he and the others began checking the bodies, searching for any valuables. “There still could be something dangerous around.”

“Thank you for your offer, sweetie,” I told him, touched, “I really appreciate it. However, I fear I might have pushed Jack’s patience to the proverbial limit, and I wouldn’t want to annoy him further by causing you to disobey his orders. Don’t worry sweetie,” I quickly began to assure him as he opened his mouth to argue further, “I still have my Eyes-Forward Sparkle turned on. If any red bars appear, I will start running after you.”

Burst didn’t appear to convinced, but he nodded. “Alright, if you say so. Just don’t be too long,” he added as he took some bullets from one dead raider and the gun that laid beside him.

The others had also finished (apparently, those raiders didn’t carry too many valuable things with them) and were readying themselves to leave as well. “Yeah, Ah would offer t’ stay too,” Apple Core began as she adjusted her saddlebags, “but whatever ya’re gonna do sounds creepy and probably will be, so Ah’m out.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Don’t worry, sweetie, I won’t be far behind you.”

As Apple Core and the rest began to leave, I began to turn back to the closest body, but I realized Burst was still lingering beside me. “You mind if I ask you something?” he asked after a few seconds.

“Of course, sweetie, what can I help you with?” I said, turning to him again.

“What exactly was that with telling Jack to kill that raider?” Burst asked, tilted his head in confusion.

“Like I told Apple Core, sweetie, I wanted to make sure my conscience was clear. Please bear in mind that I hadn’t personally bore witness to the multitude of atrocities everybody mentions raiders commit,” I explained, feeling a little ashamed to admit to such lack of experience which was apparently very common in the Equestrian Wasteland. “Though I had submitted to Jack’s decision and let him deal with this matter the way he saw fit, there was still doubt in my mind, which weighed heavily on my conscience.”

Burst listened to me surprisingly attentively. “Alright, but how does Jack killing the raider you healed helped you clear your conscience?”

I smiled. “Your brother had mentioned that his family has practiced the mercenary profession since before even the Great War, remember? Now, I admit, it was a big assumption of me to make, but I theorized that since Jack came from a family that had been following their traditions for so long - traditions that date to before the war - he possibly follows some code of honor or morals that he would hesitate to break, even when facing people who lost their right to be called ‘sapient beings’.” I glanced back at the raider I had healed and that was decapitated by Jack. “My theory was confirmed when Jack hesitated; plainly refused to kill him, even. I assume he planned to ask one of you to do the deed,” I added, turning back to Burst. “But when he ultimately ended the raider’s life, I know he was speaking truth; raiders aren’t entitled to anything, not even our own morals. Now I no longer feel the weight of doubts I had earlier,” I finished, smiling again.

“I see…” Burst said slowly, frowning as he contemplated my words. “You know, this entire… plan, of yours, it all was banking basically on Jack not being an asshole, which it so happens that most griffins actually are?”

“I was not aware his species had such opinions,” I replied, frowning; since Burst himself, along with his brother, seemed on friendly terms with Jack, it was highly unlikely his remark had been caused by some kind of prejudice towards griffins. Making a mental note to learn more about griffins and how they are viewed at a later date, I shook my head. “That might be true, sweetie, but you have to admit, if that were the case, he wouldn’t be quite as… courteous as he is while dealing with me. I know I can be annoying at times, but I think I never caused such annoyance to anyone as I seem now to be causing Jack. And yet despite that, aside from holding my muzzle, he hadn’t done anything to me.”

“I suppose you have a point there,” Burst agreed. “But I wouldn’t call you annoying, just… um… unfamiliar with the Wasteland and stuff,” he stammered, blushing a little.

“You’re most kind, sweetie,” I told him, smiling. “I look forward to learning more from you and the others. And speaking of learning,” I added, nodding at the corpses, “if you’d excuse me, I have work to do.”

“Right. Don’t take long,” the earth pony said before hurrying after his brother and the rest.

I like him, Fluttershy commented as Burst left. He seems nice. And he obviously likes you.

Indeed, I agreed, plunging in the syringe into the first corpse and taking a blood sample. I like him too. He seems interested in more than just my physical attributes… a rarity amongst bucks who displayed interest in me in the past. What do you think of the others?

Oh, well… Blast seems… nice too, in his own way. A bit nasty when compared to Burst, but I think he has a good heart. And Jack… I’m glad he hesitated when you asked him to kill that raider.

Me too, I replied, growing sullen as I glanced at the disembodied head. I didn’t enjoy asking him to do that, you know. But… I had to know. If I hadn’t asked him, I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking whether I’d made the right decision or not, and it would probably result with me going to a raider base or something to see for myself what kind of ponies they were. Based on everything we heard, including those five’s gossip, I don’t think you’d like that any more than I would.

Yeah, probably, Fluttershy’s apparition murmured, looking down.

Anyway, I said, securing the syringe with the blood inside of it, if you don’t mind, sweetie, I need to focus on making records for them now.

Oh, of course, go ahead.

With my mind becoming quiet, I started to make the next audio recording, describing the pony I had taken the blood sample from. I tried to be as precise as I could in the short time I had - I was aware that I’d have to run after the rest, and since my legs were already aching I had no desire for the distance to grow too large - but I knew that I couldn’t do much more than record whether they were unicorns or earth ponies, their coat colors, some distinctive features such as scars and cutie marks.

If I already hadn’t been convinced that raiders weren’t sapient beings anymore, the sight of their cutie marks would have done it. All of them seemed to revolve around pain and suffering. The worst was the cutie mark of a head of a teddy bear, with nails in his eyes and bloody tears falling down.

I wonder what that Red Eye pony would have thought if he’d see such a cutie mark? I wondered as I began recording the last body, all five blood sample already taken. Probably that the pony should have removed it the moment they got it, I replied with a roll of eyes, banishing the thought. It wouldn’t do me good to start laughing the futility and pointlessness of removing a cutie mark, much less the very faulty reasoning behind it.

A movement on my E.F.S. caught my attention, making me pause for a moment. Mindful that I was alone and what I had promised Burst, I had kept in mind to check it constantly. Until recently the others were still within its range (as only a few minutes had passed since they left; I did say I wouldn’t be far behind, after all), but when their bars had disappeared, I noticed that there was currently a single bar moving on the edge of my vision. However, it was a green bar, so I relaxed immediately. As I couldn't hear any hoofsteps, I guessed it must be Jack, flying back to check on me… or possibly to start dragging me away by my tail, as I took too much time.

Finding the idea not appealing in the slightest, I hurried to finish my audio recording. I described the raider’s cutie mark and looked over the rest of the body to see if there were any scars worth noting when he spoke.

“Hi-”

Pausing the recording briefly, I quickly interrupted him. “Yes, I know,” I said, waving him off without turning around, “I’m almost done, sweetie, just checking whether there are some distinctive scars on this last body.”

“Oh, okay.” He stayed silent for a few seconds, but then asked me: “Why are you doing that, exactly?”

I sighed, annoyed at another interruption, and paused the recording again. “Like I said, I’m trying to gain more information regarding pony’s population health in the Wasteland…” I trailed off and paused, frowning and flickering my ears.

Something was… off with Jack’s voice, that in my fixation on the bodies I hadn’t realized at first. Namely, that it wasn’t Jack’s voice. Or Burst’s, or anybody else from our little group. Confused, I turned around.

A sprite-bot was hovering behind me.

I blinked, surprised. After a heartbeat, I lifted my left leg and unpaused my recording on the PipBuck. “End log,” I said, turning it off. Tilting my head in confusion, I moved closer to it. “You’re that sprite-bot from before,” I stated.

A short chuckle emitted from the robot. “Well, sorta,” the metallic voice said, “I actually just hacked into this thing to talk with you. You can call me Watcher.”

My ears flickered when he said ‘hacked’. “I’m doctor Angel, pleased to meet you, sweetie,” I replied. A thought occurred to me, and I frowned. “Wait, if you can talk to me through this robot… does it mean you can hear and see me?”

“Yep. Why?”

I blinked… and then giggled, unable to stop myself. “Oh, that’s clever. Very clever.”

“What do you mean?” Watcher asked; because of the metallic voice it was hard to tell, but I think he sounded confused.

“Back when I left my Stable, I passed a billboard that said ‘Pinkie Pie is watching you forever’ - ‘forever’ written in capital letters - and now I see what that meant. Pinkie Pie was the Ministry Mare of Ministry of Morale, correct?”

“Yes,” Watcher replied; I half-expected the robot to nod.

“And as one of my companions had informed me, those robots were supposed to boost ponies morale with that music, which means that they were, most likely, the property of Ministry of Morale.” (I mean, it’s in the name, right?) “Meaning that they had Goddesses know how much of Equestria under their surveillance, with the cameras right out in the open. You’ve got to admit, that’s clever,” I said, pointing my hoof at the sprite-bot. “Morally questionable depending on the motives behind this idea and what was done with the gained knowledge, but clever.”

“I… suppose you could say that, yes,” Watcher agreed, though I got the impression that he wasn’t in complete accord with me on it. Which, considering what he was using it for, would be ironic.

“If I may ask, sweetie, why were you spying on me and my companions? And those raiders earlier?” I asked, recalling what the raiders had said between themselves before Jack descended upon them.

“Oh, I send the sprite-bot to their camp further up north from here to to see if they were holding anypony.”

“Commendable,” I commented. “Did they?”

“No, fortunately, just more raiders,” Watcher said, causing me to sigh with relief; I highly doubted I would be able to convince the others to go rescue them. “As for you, well, I was curious. You don’t see many ponies arguing about sparing raiders.”

I sighed. “If you’re going to berate me, like my companions, know that I learned my lesson.”

“Yeah, I saw.” The sprite-bot stayed silent for a few moments, then added: “I’ll be honest, I don’t know what to make of you.”

“Well, sweetie,” I said, smiling friendly, “that makes two of us. What should I make of somebody that spies on others, Watcher?”

"Fair point,” Watcher replied. Again he paused for several seconds. “Are you friends with those ponies and that griffin?”

I raised my eyebrow, surprised by the change of subject. “It… would depend on you definition of friend, sweetie,” I said slowly. “I would say that Apple Core is my friend, certainly - despite her tolerance issues - but as for others, I had met them only yesterday. Well, Jack earlier today to be precise,” I added with a roll of my eyes. “I do like all of them though.”

“That’s good to hear,” Watcher said. “You can’t survive long in the Wasteland without friends. What did you mean by tolerance issues, though?”

“You would understand if you had seen her reaction to me kissing Ditzy,” I sighed. “Or how she talked about her.”

“... Ditzy Doo?” Watcher asked after a few seconds.

“Yes.”

“The author of ‘Wastelands Survival Guide’?”

“That’s correct, sweetie,” I replied happily.

“... the ghoul pony?”

I immediately frowned. “I suggest you chose your next words carefully, sweetie.”

“No no, I didn’t mean anything offensive! Just…” Watcher struggled for words, then finally sighed. “You do realize that’s a bit… unusual, right?”

“It has been brought to my attention, yes,” I replied, shrugging. Slightly mollified, I added: “I won’t let such little things as ‘unusuality’ stop me from displaying affection on somebody I like, though.”

“That's… commendable,” Watcher immediately said. “I’ve got to admit, you’re certainly an interesting pony. I would love to talk more, but time is almost up.”

Time? Can he hack into those robots only for a certain amount of time? I wondered, frowning.

“I will try to talk with you again if I spot you through one of the sprite-bots in the future. Quick advice before I go; stick close to your friends. You… well, don’t exactly look like you could make it on your own.”

I rolled my eyes hearing that, but as I opened my mouth to retort, the sprite-bot suddenly began to once again play the March of the Parasprites, turning around in the air and slowly flying away.

Well, that was… that was weird, right? I asked, hoping Fluttershy would reply.

I was not disappointed. Um, yes, I think so, the apparition said, raising an eyebrow thoughtfully as we watched the sprite-bot slowly drift away.

I wonder how this Watcher is able to hack into them? I wondered. Remotely, I might add. If I am not mistaken, such a feat would require a powerful transmitter… that was really high up… I trailed off, staring into the far away.

Ever since I came outside of my Stable, there were those structures I could see in the distance. Huge, cloud-reaching towers, which apparently were scattered across all of Equestria. When I asked ponies about them, however, all they could tell me was that they were something ponies had built during the war. Aside from one drunk pony in Appleloosa adding that they were columns keeping clouds for falling down on us, nopony offered any more explanation.

Do you think it might be connected to those towers? I asked Fluttershy.

I wouldn’t know, the tiny pony replied. But, um, Angel…

I mean, there has to be a reason why ponies built so many of them… I continued, entrapped by my musing.

Angel-

Not to mention why they are so big-

Angel!

I almost jumped, startled. Fluttershy, sweetie, you’re in my head, you don’t need to yell, I told her, turning my attention to the tiny pegasus.

Um, yes, I’m sorry, but… you remember that you’re out here alone? Fluttershy asked, sounding concerned.

I blinked, and looked in the direction where the others had went. I couldn’t see them anymore.

And that you were supposed to hurry up? Fluttershy added.

Sighing, I looked up. Jack was still visible in the sky, and, just as Fluttershy had suggested, he was flying towards me.

Well, it’s a good thing I had already finished, I thought, taking a last wistful look at the bodies before starting to follow after the rest. Do you think he really plans to drag me by my tail?

Um, I hope not.

Though he had undoubtedly noticed that I had started to move, Jack continued to fly towards me. “I thought I told you to hurry up,” he said as he stopped above me, glaring down at me.

“I’ve done my best to accommodate your command, sweetie,” I replied; I decided it would be best to not mention about the Watcher. For all I know, it would yield similar results as mentioning that there was a tiny pegasus in my head trying to play my conscience.

Jack frowned, but he seemed to accept my reply. “Trot faster,” he said, slightly increasing his fly speed.

Frowning, I increased my pace to match him. Um, Angel?

Yes Fluttershy?

Maybe… um, he seems upset with you, so maybe you should apologize? I mean, it would be a nice thing to do…

I hummed to myself, thinking it over. Maybe you’re right… he did express his annoyance with me several times today.

“Jack, sweetie?” I called out, causing the griffin to look back.

“What now?” he asked, glaring.

I slowed down and stopped, finding talking and borderline running at the same time to be too strenuous. And inelegant. Jack growled, but he circled around and landed before me.

“I wanted to apologize. I… realize I can be difficult to work with,” I said, my ears dropping as I looked away. “I’m afraid I can only imagine how annoying I must be to you, given our surroundings and dangers that could be lurking in them. I didn’t mean to cause you any grievances, but I did, and for that,” I added, turning to look him in the eyes, “I am sorry.”

It was difficult to read Jack’s reaction, but he seemed to accept my apology. He nodded and started to turn around. “It’s alright. And, ugh…” he hesitated, looking back as he spread his wings. “Sorry for threatening to drag you by your tail and stuff.”

“It’s alright, sweetie,” I replied, smiling pleasantly at him.

Nodding once again, Jack took to the sky. “Now start moving.”

I sighed, then whined unhappily as I looked at my hooves before resuming my trot. Above me, Jack also sighed, but before I could turn to ask him why, he suddenly flew right at me. I uttered a shriek, surprised as his forepaws grabbed me, but after a second I realized he hadn’t attacked me, or anything of that sorts. He just… grabbed me.

And continued flying.

Realizing what had happened - and, more importantly, what continued to happen - I gasped, looking around. The ground was below us, just several feet away, maybe a dozen at best. With the way my heart was beating and how wind blew in my face, it was difficult to focus. And for the moment, I didn’t care about it. Or about Watcher, the towers, the raiders, how much my hooves ached or anything.

I was flying.

Though my forehoof clang to Jack’s forepaw, I leaned my head a bit forward, enjoying the sensation of wind brushing past my mane. Of being unhindered by gravity.

Of being free.

Footnote: Level Up!
New Perk: Empathy - You have studied other sapient beings, giving you a better knowledge of their emotional reaction to you. You get a better idea of what to say to others.

Author's Note

Thank you all for reading the second chapter in a row that turned out to be sooo long. The next two should be shorter. I hope... Thank you for reading this story, the thought of my scribbles and bizzare imagination entertaining people is one of the best things ever!^^

Anyway, just wanted to address one correction I had to make in the previous chapter. As you might remember, the term "sentient beings" had been tossed around quite often and... what I had ment to write was "sapient beings". So yeah, screw up on my part. Though in my defense, from what I read on the internet, a lot of science-fiction works often use the term "sentient" when they mean "sapient", too. And also english is my second language, so, you know Anyway, wrote it right this time and corrected it in the previous chapter.

Also, since I am already here, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Kkat for creating this amazing universe of Fallout Equestria (I still remember how reading it the first time I was like "Oh my God this is so awesome!" every chapter). Also Somber for creating Project Horizons, which is considered in my story as much canon as the original FoE (there are not enough words to describe how much I love Project Horizons^^) And lastly but not leastly, I want to thank my editing/proofreading team, especially Zaleros, Bazing, and guardianxela, who all worked on this chapter, correcting some of my stupid mistakes and advising me in places where I had doubts. Also thanks to Lazygamer313 and Sage Probo for their work too; even if they didn't work on this particular chapter, like the rest they've been working with me for long time. Sorry I don't tell all of you more often how much I appreciate you all.

And lastly... I will mention this on my blog later too, but I will be attending IX Wrocławski Ponymeet (9th Wroclaw Ponymeet) on June 17th. I doubt that any of you live anywhere nearby or would travel such a long way to meet me (seriously, don't, I'm not worth it), but I thought I would still bring it up. It's not big enough (and I'm not big enough) for me to have my own booth or anything like that, but if anybody wants to say hi to me or something, I will be wearing a badge or something saying Borsuq... and t-shirt with Blackjack holding a bottle of Wild Pegasus and word "Whiskey" underneath her^^ (I did mention I love Project Horizons, didn't I?^^)

All the best guys^^

PS: See, this is why I try to not write author's notes too often, I end up writing a wall of text under what is already a wall of text.