A red pony with a black mane ran down the hallway of the stable quickly towards the workshop. He pushed past several ponies pushing past them to get to me. He had some enveloped in his magic, but hid it well enough so no pony could see. When he turned the corner that lead to my workshop he ran in quickly and sealed the door.
"Pixel!! Help me please!!" He screamed, he was looking key I said Crimson with chocolate hair, his cutie mark was a single bullet since he was the one who made bullets here and he was my best friend, they all called him Little Buck since he was the littlest pony in the stable..
"Ok ok what's wrong buck"
"My son broke his toy and he is gonna be home any sec, please fix it before he gets home" he floated over a small what looks like one of the first toy cars. It was a oval blue car with teeny black wheels. A little pony with a black helmet sat in the drivers seat ready to win a gold cup.
I nodded inspecting the car, several chips and a popped off wheel. I set it on my workshop and dug in my left pocket pulling out a screwdriver while having him open the clamp that I could sit it in. I placed the wheel in its proper place, grabbed a screw and slowly started to screw it in. First time it didn't move and neither did the second time. The third time I tried something different. I pushed while screwing and apparently....third times the charm. When I was dis hied I tested the wheel a few times to make sure it didn't fall off and handed him the car.
"Here you go, your race car is all set." I handed him the toy and he beamed happily shooting towards me with a hug. I quickly shot my hoof up to stop him.
"Nice try buccaneer, I hate being touched remember" he sighed with his head down before I quickly booped his nose and he ran out giggling like a filly.
I smiled closing my door again and laying down to take a nap. So who am I exactly. My name is pixel, I'm the size of as lightly above average mare by like 2 inches, I was born to my mother and father in vault 117, my mother was a white pony with pretty blonde hair with a single, cute black streak in it. My father was a grey pony with a shaggy beard and a shaggy Afro thing going on. I was born on July 3rd of 2257, my father died a year later of lung and liver cancer, he never told anyone he had it because he said he couldn't afford the treatment even though it was free in the stable.
But back to me real quick, I am a repair pony of stable 117, I fix everything from toy cars to busted water pipes to even malfunctioning robots. Sometimes, I have to fix the overseers computer and when I do he is also standing behind me staring at my ass, or I'm guessing he is. Yuck! Anyways, I have chocolate hair with pink zagged streaks in it surrounded by brown hair in the back, I'm a whitish grayish bat pony (I'm not well liked for that) no my tail is black and pink except for the outside which turned out to be a blue color. Um my ear fluff is green and blue with some hint of chocolate colors.
I'm a hacker to be honest, I hacked my pip-buck to be the color read instead of green or yellow which is standard issue. I hacked the overseers terminal so when he wakes up to open his email and creates some animation that says "good morning" to him on it, he actually hasn't gotten tired of the same animation yet which is surprising....it is a year old.
My mother was heartbroken and became depressed my child hood years, but she never attempted anything. Except drinking. She became a huge drunk stealing mostly vodka rations from others and just drinking away sadly. I learned to deal with it was to just be myself.
When I was young I never got my cutie mark. I enjoy working on things it is my life's passion, but for some reason it must not be a talent. The overseer made me head repairpony of stable 117 and trust me, I'm happy to work. Well it seems that I am rambling again.
I was just a bout to start dreaming when.
"All residents of stable 117. This so the over stallion, a major attack from the outside has once again ended in failure, but these creatures are not stopping. They have damaged the door with some sort of explosive device and don't seem to be stopping until they are eliminated or blocked off. I need head repairpony Pixel in my office please"
As I walked out ponies that were panicked stopped to look at me only to murmur as I walked by.
"Did you hear that she could fix this?"
"Yea I heard she can fix anything."
"she could fix our water talisman if she wanted"
I ignored the rumors and headed to the stairs that lead to the over stallings office. The door that belong to him was guarded by 2 guards with nothing, but batons and a small revolver. One of them went in as I came up to pen the door for me. I walked in the room with the guard following behind me and when he turned around to leave he tail whipped my ass. I growled grabbing his baton and knocking him upside the head with a loud crack.
His eyes went idea and as he fumbled to get his helmet off he passed out. The other guard tried hitting me before the over stallion told him to stop. "Sorry sir"
The guard and his friend ran out with their tails between their legs. I smirked and,looked to the head of stable 117. "Thank you,sir" he smiled and motioned me forward to come closer.
"No problem my dear. I called you up here for a certain....reason." As I came closer I began to realize what that reason was. He suddenly grew a fifth leg between his back hooves
I blushed dark red and backed up quickly "um no."
He suddenly got up, it still dangling there as he trotted up close and began nuzzling on me "come on Hun. Just let me ask you out" I pushed him away slightly and taking my chance to run out the door to my room till I couldn't stop leaving behind a very....let's say happy stallion.
I shut my door quickly and panted in exhaustion "that was disgusting....I'm getting out of here...." I shuddered and grabbed the only saddle bag I had. I packed in about 12 bottles of water and filled up my official issued 117 canteen with water from my workshops/house. Packed some things from her medical kit including bandages, and med-x including all the tools I could afford to carry with me. With my bag slightly packed and my tools all ready I ran towards where the restricted armory was somehow sneaking past the guards and stole my dads assault rifle along with all the ammo I could use in it along with my beanie.
I punched in the override code to the shut down elevators and after a good minute or so in the cramped metal box I made it directly to the door of my stable. I approached the terminal and punched in another code opening the door.
"Stop in the name of the over stallion!!"
I quickly turned and seeing the amount of guards I ran towards the door slipping out.
all the guards came to a stand still at the door with their tails between their legs "oh hell no. I ain't going out there" one said only for the others to try to, but they kinda wimped out.
"Oh come on just get her" the others shook their heads "I ain't crazy enough to do that"
"They don't pay me to do that"
"Then shut the door what are you waiting for" the bearded high rank yelled as the others scurried to do his bidding. After several moments of me watching the door began to close with its eerie beeping alarm. The Door slowly swung closed and the camera above the door watched my every move. I looked At it again and left towards the screen door towards the unknown ahead.
As I made my way towards the door in the rocky cave, I had the sudden feeling to turn back. To stop what I had started, but if I went back they would either kill me or just leave me out here. So I continued on. I placed my hooves on the door and pushed it open. At first the hard Rays of the sun stabbed into my eyes like needles. The pain was so bad I had to cover my eyes and when my vision cleared this is what I saw.
Nothing but a dark, tan landscape with brown hand like trees reaching up to the sky like poor creatures reaching for salvation. As I walked down to the road I began to notice little things. Little smells and sounds I had never heard or smelled before, to be honest it was unnerving, not only that was unnerving but being alone was quite the same as well.
I looked back one more time at the top of the hill I had just came from and sighed "goodbye home..." I smiled at it and turned back towards the sign as I approached I examined the sign carefully. I noticed the "long" part was spray painted by some pony and that the bolts were almost cut off by some pony who attempted to cut, but was either killed or gave up on the task at hand. I heard a faint beep and looked around for the source. Scanning the rocks and things till I heard it again.
"Beep"
I looked down at my pipbuck and noticed two notifications and they were as shown.
"Highway 32 and highway 29 intersection"
"Optional mission added: find a place for settlement"
I scratched my mane in confusion wandering how could this device just create missions like that and tapped on the screen. Nothing happened so I shrugged my shoulder and began digging in my stable utility pockets "maybe dad left something"
As I dug in the first pocket, pulled out a pair of needle nose pliers, the 2nd pocket had a screwdriver and some screws, the next had nails and a small brass hammer. The last pocket had a small saw about the size of a knife in a sheath.
As I picked it up another blip came on my pipbuck "levitation talisman online" suddenly I felt the saw jump out of my hoof and levitate in mid air. I stumbled back with my eyes wide in shock and adjusted my beanie slightly
"That's new...." It was enveloped in a small reddish light and floated in mid air as if waiting for a command. I looked at my screen and there it was. A small command screen. I read over each choice and finally chose the best one at the bottom"
"Add to inventory?"
"Drop item"
"Use item"
I clicked it and clicked the next button "cut". I approached the sign and began to cut the bolts with a slight grinding sound. The metal searing away from the ages old bolt until...
SNAP!
The sign fell halfway off the sign pole it was on because the other bolt still held it. I approached the other side and tried the same. About halfway through the bolt the saw began to stick. I eventually shut down the spell and grabbed the sides of the knife with my hooves to no avail. It was totally and absolutely stuck. I scratched my head for a moment when I looked around for something to try to get the saw free. Sticks and...Rocks!!
I ran over a couple feet to a nice sized rock and picking it up with my hoof I trotted back over to the sign and started bashing the saw out. It finally gave and flew out falling to the dirt below. I tossed the rock back over to its respected place and grabbed the saw. This time I tried cutting with it in my mouth. Moving my head back and forth while gripping the disgusting wooden plastic handle combination in my teeth. As I pulled my saw back one more time the bolt finally snapped and the sign came tumbling down landing face up, I activated the pip-bucks talisman and levitated back to myself. After going back through my pockets, I found some duck tape and taped it to my shoulder over the metal pad I had found in the armory.
Suddenly I heard screaming, my heart pounding as I looked across the distance quickly and ran towards the sound somepony needs help!!
I ran as fast as my hooves could carry me over the dusty and rock covered hills towards the pound sliding a new clip into my rifle. As I ran over the hill I looked down towards the terrified silhouette of a pony cornered by 2 other bigger ponies with. One with a knife in his mouth and a unicorn mare with a shotgun leveled at her head backing her into the trunk of a long dead tree.
"Don't worry little mare...my friend Here will make sure your ready for dinner tonight" she said with an evil grin as the stallion approached her with a muffled cackle.
I quickly aimed my rifle running down the cliff and fired a warning shot. A single shot. The bullet hit the dirt causing dust to fly up in response causing both the mare and the buck to jump in fear looking for the shooter. As they spotted me, the unicorn mare dropped the drum currently loaded in the shotgun and loaded a new one in less than a couple secs. She squeezed the trigger with her magic sending a pellet shot in my direction and dare I say she was a horrible shot.
The buck came running with a determined look as he jumped with the knife pointed towards my chest. I jumped back and with the spell grabbed a rock next to my hoof where I just landed and sent it flying to the side of his head. CRACK!! Blood spluttered to the ground as the recoil from the shot sent him flying across the dirt kicking up dust. The mare yelped in shock and then charged at me only to receive a 3 round short controlled burst into her chest, dropping her with a fountain of blood from deep inside her. She gasped one last time and went quiet. I turned to my left where the stallion who received a rock to the head, eyes went wide with fear, he tried to stand up, but stumbled and fell over. His eyes closing one last time.
The mare backed up against a tree looked up to me like she had just seen a ghost "ma'm are you ok?" I asked and then was suddenly greeted by a huge hug.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you!! Oh goodness I would be dead if you didn't come to save me" she squeezed tighter making me wiggle in her grip trying to gasp for breath and finally relief came as she let go. "Here take this. I don't need it anymore"
She handed me a saddle bag with some medicine food and water inside it along with a leg strap with 4 clips of ammo attached to them. "No ma'm you will need this"
"Take them Hun. You earned it" she patted me on the shoulder and ran off quickly, but not before stopping and kicking the stallion in his stomach, then continuing her marathon into the distance. I bent down to the mare with the shotgun and floated her shotgun away from along with the 2 drums of ammo she had, one after close inspection was half full. I also took off her armor and cut away the stomach plate attaching it to my suit. All together I looked like a pony who had just been through hell, I was covered in sweat, blood, and dust from jumping from a psycho pony with a knife. I trotted over to his body with my rifle raised and cautiously took the knife from his mouth. After inspecting his body as well, I took a package of food from his bag and a sheath for his knife. I placed the sheath on my belt and the knife inside of it and continued on my journey.
I walked back to the road where I had originally came from and pawed at the road with my hoof for some odd reason. After a second I sniffed the air and my mouth began to water. I had no idea what I was smelling, but it smelled yummy. I tracked the scent for several seconds and concluded it was coming from farther down the road. So guess where I went. I followed the smell for about a half hour when I came apon another sign made of a huge sheet of tin and spray painted on the sign was "Titan"A town named Titan....odd. The sign also had an arrow pointing to the right so I followed the road the arrow pointed to and eventually came across a small town with a pony outside sleeping on the ground.
"Ma'm? ma'm!? Do you have any water....? I'm...im really thirsty"
I nodded and pulled out a bottle of clean water "here you go bud. All yours"
The stallion raised a brow and gaped "w..what? J..just have it? I...I don't have anything to offer you...b...but here le-"
I stopped him and placed a hoof on his shoulder "just take it. Free of charge"
He popped the plastic cap off and took a huge sip wiping his lips off when he was done "celestia and Luna bless you. Bless you" he took another huge gulp and sighed in relief as I walked up to the door. Unfortunately there was no handles to the door and for a moment I was confused. That's when a robot opened a small hatch and looked at me.
"Halt, who goes there?"
"Pixel sir. I would like to seek residence in your fine town. If your mayor allows it"
"One moment please." It closed the hatch and then another pony with a scruffy beard came to the door.
"Hello pixel. Guard bot Sunshine says you wish to seek residence?"
"Yes sir, if you allow it of course"
"I don't mind but I need a question answered. I'm looking for some ponies that are wanted by the law. Do you know where these ponies...are" he ripped a paper off the inside of the door and handed it to me.
"Yea I encountered them trying to hurt a mare. Says here you want his knife as proof of his death. And I have that here" I fiddled on my belt and handed him the sheath with the k I've. The pony quickly took the I foe out and expected the hilt on the bottom of the handle.
"You really did. So old Cutjaw is dead. Good work girl. Come on in." He looked back and yelled "hey Berry. Unlock the gate" no reply was given back but as he closed the hatch the gate lifted up slowly allowing entry. The stallion with the beard was about as tall as me with a hunting shotgun on his side. He was brown and wore a cow pony hat with a star in the middle and had a dusty trench coat on. "names Sheriff Bear. Also known as Mayor Bear. Welcome to Titan. The most secure settlement in the entire wasteland other than Tenpony tower of course. Now come. We have much to discuss"
I followed him past a spraying pipe on the right and walked past several buildings surrounded by huge cement walls till we eventually made it to a metal shack on the other side of the small town "now normally I don't enjoy the company of others, but I'll let you stay here until I sign the deed to the house once I draw it up of course. That and i hope you would come over for dinner, with me and my daughter. Just stay out of trouble and we will be fine agreed?"
I nodded and looked around the town for a small moment "you have a very nice town sir. And might I say your looking as fine as a bottle of purified water"
He chuckled and patted my shoulder with a smile "why thank you. Stay that polite and we shall have no problems. By the way you need directions don't you?" I nodded and he dug in his left pocket pulling out a small piece of paper and unfolded it. "Here is the store. That building there" he pointed out "and here is..." He pointed out each building as he read it off and then had me repeat them all till I got them right.
"Seems like you got it down pact. Anything else you need just come to me. I'm gonna go finish up the deed for the house and sign it over to you. Have a good day pixel" as he walked away I looked over to the spraying pipe that lead to his house. I walked over and began to dig out my tools when I felt two hooves on my back throw me to the ground.
"Ay leave those pipes alone. Me don't want you blowing them up or something. Me don't know who you are so just stay away from them" he pulled out a wrench and leveled it at me "you get what me saying?"
I nodded and stayed on the ground "sir I was a certified repairpony in my stable and I'm familiar with the safety requirements in working on pipes stable-tech or otherwise." I held my hooves up so he didn't get any funny ideas to turn me into paste.
He listened and gasped at the end "then maybe ye can help me. Me can't always leave the water plant up yonder, but maybe just maybe I'll hire you to fix up the pipes. Can't darn well leave it alone otherwise somepony might screw some thing up. And the dials in the room up their are acting crazy to. Maybe ye can help me hmmm?"
I nodded "yes sir. May I get up" as I asked a question he put away the wrench and nodded. I went over to the pipe and pulled out my tools fixing it quickly. I turned to see his jaw almost literally hit the floor.
"Me am impressed. Well find the rest and fix the diAls up there and me'll pay ye some caps and maybe some water for yer trouble. Me'll be up there if ye have questions." He walked away jolly as ever.
A half hour later I finished patching up the pipes and had treked my way back to the plant. "All....done"
The water pony jumped in the air almost a mile high and beamed "oh goody. Less work me'll have to try to do in the pitch black. Thanks so much. Now these dials still be screwing up but not as bad."
I walked over tapping the dials with the brass hammer and they returned to normal "just a little tap? Well me be darn. I think you more than earned this" he dug in his jumpsuit and handed me a bag of 50 caps along with 2 bottles of water. "Oh and um do you have a sensor module? I'm gonna set up some along the pipes to catch who has been stabbing them with screwdrivers."
I shook my head again "sorry sir. Haven't been out too much but I'll keep it in mind while I travel" he nodded and returned back to work.
"Me thank you a lot. Go talk to the cute mare at the store a couple buildings away next to the old restrooms. Tell her ol' pure sky sent ya. She give ya a discount for her stuff. Got quite a bit does she."
"Thank you sir. Names pixel by the way" me and him shook hooves before he waved at me and continued work. I walked out and headed towards the store across town again. As I walked in the door a hyper mare squealed out happily "ohhhhh another customer!! What can I get your madam!!? Perhaps a new dress or maybe some new armor!? Anything you need!?"
Startled I jumped back from all the questions and gulped "u...um just here to sell some things and um buy some ammo and food and medical suppli-!" She grabbed me quickly and ran to the counter and smiled "anything you want dear just pick"
I squeaked blushing and grabbed 4 ammo clips of 5.56 ammo, Some scrap metal, a modified spring for a rifle, and a strap with bullets all over it 5.56 to be exact. And a beanie. "Ok dear that will be oh for you 75 caps."
"Oh wait I forgot to say Pure sky sent me over here and he said hi" she squealed happily and clapped her hooves. Her chocolate mane drooping over her face. "Oh he is such a dear. Well that's a good discount for you and since your nice 51 caps."
I sighed and put away the beanie and payed for the rest. As I walked towards the door she stopped me "hey take this" in her hoof she held the same beanie I couldn't buy "b..,but"
"Take it dear. I haven't been able to sell it yet. You look like you need it." She smiled a caring smile and went back behind the counter after I thanked her. I walked out the door fitting the new beanie over my hair with glee. I beamed happily looking up at it when a little colt from nowhere screamed.
I looked to my right and a drunken mare with a bottle of whisky was smacking at him with a stick of some kind. The sheriff ran over quickly to break it up ending with her being walked away from the poor child. I ran down the ramp over to the child "are you ok bud? Are you hurt?"
He looked down with a blush and nodded "she hit me...." I got down and looked at the spots then looked through my bag. I pulled out a small box of bandages and covered his hoof that had blood dripping from it. He looked up at me and back to his hoof before slowly hugging me "thank you pretty pony!! Thank you!!"
He ran off happily towards a group of kids watching from across the street who ran off with him towards the other end of town.
"That was a nice thing ma'm" I turned back to see the sheriff was back.
"Oh I was just helping a pony in need" I said with an embarrassed blush pawing at the ground nervously.
He chuckled a hearty laugh and coughed at the end "well, that's good, we always need ponies like that. I finished the deed while you were helping sky and buying from the store. Here is the key and the deed. All yours." He handed me the key attached to the paper and smiled as he walked away. I looked won at the key and went to where the map he handed me pointed to the house. As I approached the door I placed the key in the handle of the door and turned it with a satisfying click. I opened the door and walked in to meet my house mate.
"Good evening ma'm"
