Fallout Equestria: Reclaim, Retread

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1

The old ghoul sat. Upon his throne of deceit and lies. His eyes were focused on the doors in front of himself. He had lasted this long. Fear a memory. Neigh, fear had been removed from his mind all together as his sunken, bloodshot eyes stared at the massive wooden doors that stood before him. Gunfire occasionally rang out from almost anywhere that wasn’t his throne room.

“This is it. It’s finally my time” he constantly thought to himself. The world around him twisting and turning in funny ways. He’d lost count too many times of how many injectors, inhalers and used spoons he had in or around himself. His mind, normally hyperactive when dosed up was focused instead, in deep thought. About the doors in front of him; Grand doors of Oak from a time past.

He’d already felt the collapse of his ‘empire’ for months. His intricate plans were being dashed. Everything had blurred together like he was constantly high. High on something that he couldn’t replicate, in spite of many substances that scarred his body and mind, in spite of his own sick lust for pain, nothing could quite give him the same euphoric feeling that he was having right now.

Single mindedness

His mottled and tattered limbs were almost glued to the leather chair he was sitting upon, yet another priceless artifact of the old world that was made of long exhausted materials. Irritation that would constantly cause him to turn and adjust his position were none. Nothing could disturb his thought. One hoof over a small control panel, the other lying limp and unused to his side.

The gunfire got closer and closer to him. Methodically his enemies were killing his followers and rending his beasts, machines, and barricades to worthlessness. Defensive positions were being lost quicker and quicker, the whole situation snowballing into a certain rout of those whom had remained. Screams of pain, begs for mercy, and shouts of fury were drowned by the constant fire.

The euphoria was barely containable for the Ghoul. Something about the nature of his imminent demise was making it torture. Any moment and his enemies, whom he had spent so long trying to keep apart would burst through, and his deed will be done. He just needed focus on the door.

Every bullet that fell a devout follower, every laser that melted another turret, every explosion that tore limb from bloody carcass, they all caused his shaking to violently worsen. His eyes started bulging as the gunfire decreased in intensity. He knew what it meant. And he didn't care about what was next.

A faint ‘pifft’ from outside the room awoke his mind to their arrival. A second later and the two wooden oak doors splintered through the force of the explosion. Wood flew throughout the room at high speed. Even if the ghoul wanted to get out of the way of the piece of timber headed straight for him and his throne it would be a futile effort. It was coming too close, too quickly.

Like a spear of great vengeance and furious anger the giant piece of wood flew into the Ghoul, pinning him to the throne he sat atop. Pain flared as in his eyes readouts began to tell him of his already ruined body being mortally wounded. Blood flowed up his throat slightly. Drooling from his mouth as it flowed liberally through the holes between his teeth.

As the smoke cleared the outlines of several dozen ponies in various armours, with a wide range of weapons, and an even larger range of cutie marks or identifying symbols began walking into the Ghoul’s throne room. Most of the intruders stopped just after the door, but five continued. Although not marching in time with each other they were united, at least for now, in the goal of seeing the crippled ghoul dead.

The Ghoul smiled weakly as he saw the mare in front glare at him with her only good eye, the socket where the other belonged heavily scarred. Her once flowing, glowing mane now reduced to a buzz cut. The sight of the mare made it all to delicious. All too hilarious almost as his euphoric shaking began to die down. Coughing again he was reminded of his own disposition.

Slowly parting his lips the Ghoul began to speak in a ragged voice that seemed too confident for his current position. “S...so I suppose” the ghoul hacked with his blood flowing more. “The ranger and the knight seem to be getting a-” the ghoul coughed again violently. “-long. Please excuse my coughing, my guests, but i’ve got a bit of a lung problem at the moment.” he continued as he looked towards the left wing of the group. The behemoth in power armour and the hermit looking Unicorn didn’t say anything, nor look at each other.

“Who… else did you bring? Ah, it’s Bitter! My girl I hope you didn’t bring your mare friend. You know that you can’t bring her back.” he continued to chuckle as he slowly moved his left hoof towards a group of switches and buttons embedded inside the chair. “Tell me. Did you cry when ‘Grinder shot that pegasus when you were on the train? It must have been sad to see the first of your kind you’ve ever seen being killed only seconds after meeting him.” he coughed again. The pegasus on the far right of the group looked down in guilt, the mare in the center not taking her eyes off the Ghoul.

“Oh stop looking at me like that you old idiot. Don’t you know it’s rude to stare? Just like when I had your town tainted? You should be thankful that I let pinkie only take your eye. It could be worse. Poor thing doesn’t normally know subtlety unless I command it to be.” The ghoul continued, ignoring some of the splutters that were rising in his throat. There was one final enemy in the room he could taunt.

“And the zebra! Tell me, was my little ‘hostage’ stint really that bad? I gave you and your vermin you call your tribe protection, food, shelter, and a chance to stay alive. Your children did turn out to be wonderful followers, too bad you slaughtered them, especially after learning of your own infertility problems” The zebra simply looked away in shame.

“You’ve got a lot of crimes to pay for, Bloodshot. I doubt killing you a dozen times will atone you for what you’ve done. So i’ll be taking it nice and slow!” said the mare in the center as she pulled a machete out.

“Oh I doubt the princesses will forgive you for your wanton trespass and murder, m’lady. You’re stepping on sacred ground, ya’know.” the Ghoul chuckled as his horn lit up, weakly levitating an unused syringe to his limp hoof. “I suppose you’ve given me good entertainment. And you all know what this stuff, in these syringes are, so I’ll give you all the chance to try it out on me. I’ll feel real pain again. And worse. You’ve bought that much. You deserve that satisfaction.” the ghoul continued, his voice getting weaker.

Pressing a large button under his other hoof the Ghoul began to chuckle as his horn’s illumination lost it’s sickly yellow glow. The screech of metal in the doorway the group had walked through caught their attention as a giant metal door careened down. Slamming shut. The ghoul proceeded to flip a blue switch causing high pressure gas to begin splurting out of pipes in the ceiling. Pink Gas.

“YOU MURDERER” Yelled a stallion as everypony realised what was beginning to flood the top of the room. Banging his hooves against the giant metal door. The ghoul simply started laughing as the gas quickly descended from the pipes towards the ground. His laughing was harder than any other he had had for nearly a century. Tears actually forming in his eyes as he pushed the rest of the switches. Nothing could stop his laughing.

Except the machete the Mare suddenly used to hack through his throat. Pain again erupted for the ghoul, the laugher suddenly died. Another rush of blood came, this time from the massive deep gash. Staring into the mare’s eye he tried to mouth the words ‘thank’s for playing’. But it was taking too long as the gas landed ontop of him, melting the flesh on his head. Stares of hate in the eyes of those he had just condemned to death. The worst death.

Then nothing.

Fallout Equestria:

Rebuild, Retread

Chapter: 1

“For a Free equestria young ponies are dying.”

“From Canterlot and Ponyville, Equestria’s volunteers!”

“Young ponies are dying for the freedom of the kingdom, Princess Luna we’re all with you now! Young ponies are dying for the freedom of the kingdom, Princess Luna we’re all with you now!”

I stood there in that heavily padded recording room in front of the fancy looking microphone that was picking up every single word I attempted to sing.

“Heroic Luna and her heroes. Brave ponies from Hoof and Appleloosa will be glorified.”

“Heroic Luna and her heroes. Brave ponies from Trottingham and Stalliongrad will always be remembered”

“Young ponies are dying for the freedom of the kingdom, Princess Luna we’re all with you now! Young ponies are dying for the freedom of the kingdom, Princess Luna we’re all with you now!”

I stopped singing as the frankly confusing music that was playing through my headphones wound down. Giving a sigh as I brushed my beige mane out of my face. Whoever wrote those lyrics was crap. Seriously. Crap. The music wasn’t any better.

Weird electric whines with accordion music were apparently going to be the next big thing once the record hits the market. Obviously I had my doubts. But apparently my voice was easy enough to edit, and I was offered a crap ton of money for it, so why not?

It was about 8:34am and I hadn’t slept at all that night, trying to get my lines through properly. There was some relief when the music had stopped. I’d be able to soon rest my eyes. Coffee could only take me so far after all.

The ponies in the mixing booth were already hard at work, even at this late stage, doing their magic. Whatever they really did. Audio thingie miggigies. That was enough of an explanation for me. I put in what was required for my contract and they’ll do their jobs. Above me the lit sign saying ‘Recording’ suddenly died as it was turned off.

Sliding the headphones off my head somepony opened the door. And inside walked one grinning earth pony with fancy sunglasses and in a costume that I’d rightfully call a glorified dressing gown, it was the one and only Basso Continuo.

If you were to ask some pony on the street if they knew who Basso Continuo was, they’d reply with a resounding ‘Who?’ It didn’t really matter to him though, this new genre was going to be his calling to fame.

“I have to say” he began with his oh so perfect, stuck up canterlot accent. “You’ve done a wonderful job. Cathode says that you’ve been doing this all night” he said as some random crew member came in with drinks.

“To be honest Snow Berry, I was having doubts. Me of all ponies! It doesn’t help ponies in Canterlot have been telling me to come back for a party. One to be remembered one said even! I honestly couldn’t give two shits.” His voice changed to a more serious tone

“I’m finally bringing back the family honour after many generations of failure and shame!” Basso gave a little frown before taking two full glasses full of… What I assume was whiskey. “Now, my friend, give us a few weeks and you’ll be a star! The envy of Sweetie belle even.” he proudly proclaimed.

“Are you sure? I mean She is pretty big.” I asked, looking at the drinks..

“Trust me Snow Berry. You’ll be the biggest thing in Equestrian history!” He said taking one of the glasses and drinking all of the contents in one big gulp. Giving me a look so greasy it could lubricate a Robopony for a year.

Levitating the other glass up to my nose I gave it’s contents a good sniff… Ugh. My assumptions were right. Why Whiskey? Don't these Canterlot ponies pride themselves on excessive champagne consumption?

“That’ll have to wait until i’ve had a good night’s rest Basso” I replied taking a small sip of the Whiskey. My first reaction to the amber liquid was of shock. How could whiskey be this strong?

I swallowed the foul drink as to not offend Basso Continuo, because spitting it in his face would be a bigger mistake. The burn of the ‘refreshment’ was the exact opposite of what i’d call appealing. Making a good face I tried to convince Basso that it was alright. His frown however told me that i’d probably just offended him.

For a few minutes we both stood there saying nothing until Basso began talking again in the canterlot upper class voice again.

“Oh well. I assume you must be very tired Snow Berry, please I must escort you home, I don’t want you falling down a well and killing yourself” He chuckled bit with a sadly serious tone. “Please just lead the way and i’ll make sure nothing horrible goes wrong” he continued with a small grin.

We both walked out of the recording booth, a few mares gave the two of us… Well I assume mainly Basso happy, content smiles. I smiled back as we walked down the expensively carpeted hallways to the elevator. Next to the elevator was always a pane of glass that looked out onto the city of El Alimane. The Los Pegasus for those who weren't quite there yet.

Below us were many thousands of ponies going about their normal lives. Basso pressed a button for the elevator to come to this floor.

“So….” I asked leaning against a wall. “Do you think the Ministry of Image are going to let you sell this new genre of music? I mean for a first thought it’s patriotic, I guess. But what if they think it’s inappropriate for our current day?” I asked, given how a possible career was on the line. My boss simply chuckled.

“I have ponies who have contacts. And the family name still has some influence in Canterlot, even though I personally don’t. Anyways, the population needs to have more motivation or else national morale will collapse! Sweetie Belle isn’t getting any younger and she’ll probably lose popularity in a few months.” Basso replied with an ever so punchable Canterlot grin.

“By the way Snow Berry. I read in your resume and it had happened to tell me that you used to be a soldier. Is that correct?” he asked as a faint ‘Ding!’ sound interrupted him as the elevator’s doors opened. Obviously Basso walked in first. I followed after him.

“Yes, Bass… Mind if I just called you Bass?” I asked, looking at him. His head shaking in a disapproving manner. “Alright, Basso. I was indeed in the army” I said pressing the ground floor button. The sensation of slowly falling in a metal box making me feel a little uneasy.

“I was, drafted because I was unemployed, sent through basic training like everypony else. And after basic I was assigned to number 204 Brigade about three years ago. About six months later I was lucky enough to see an… associate of mine who had become a Colonel.” I gave a good chuckle remembering the good Stallion Creme Fraiche.

Although for the most part a good pony he wasn’t very honest with his missus. Especially when I walked in on him in basic training making out with an army nurse. Obviously I told him I’d keep his secret but in return for a favour in future.

“I… Uhh, convinced him that I should be able to go back to civilian life, it wasn’t like I was a good soldier anyways. The talk about fighting and big heroic battles wasn’t exactly as advertised” I said staring into my boss's eyes. Raising his sunglasses he looked back at me suspiciously.

“I only fired my gun two times and that wasn’t even in a big battle. It was just skirmishing, irrelevant pop shots. ‘Go here Private. Go dig a hole Private. Private you’re going to be in a supply convoy to another section of the front’.” I gave a sigh. “So when I saw my associate I threatened to let loose a little secret of his unless he’d discharge me. He accepted and i’ve kept his secret and his identity under wraps.” I was giving Basso a smug look.

“I couldn’t go back home, too dangerous, there’s a war on you know? So i’ve settled here in El Alimane. Got my own room in the Lazy Hay backpackers. And hey i’ve been able to do a few jobs to keep me afloat. I may or may not have also got some money from my associate” I gave a little chuckle. Why wouldn’t I? I wasn’t near the front. No danger.

Basso just looked at me. It took him till the end of our little elevator ride for him to finally respond. “Well… I’ll make sure that you’re not around me when things happen.” he finally said in a notably shakier voice as the elevator doors once again opened.

The two of us walked out into the foyer, ponies were going about their jobs. Couriers, Ponies with appointments, Business Ponies, the whole lot. Business as normal. The sun’s glorious light filtered through the giant glass windows. Obviously this wasn’t Basso’s own company. He’d just been able to hire one of the recording studios for a few months with a good sum of that which was left of his family ‘fortune’.

“So what have you done all these years?” I asked Basso Continuo with a sheepish grin. “I mean since the war began.” He looked back at me suspiciously for a second before relenting.

“Dodging the draft” he sighed. “The frontline of any war is scary. Too many ponies can die at any moment. I would have joined the Ministry of Peace but I have nothing they need. No medical ability, no way to help patients recover from the myriad of different issues war brings out. Why would I?” Taking off his sunglasses and cleaning them on his dressing gown he shook his head. “I’m Canterlot Material without the number one most important thing to be part of the aristocracy: Money.” Basso sighed again “So what do I do? I try to do something to gain my rightful place”

As we walked out of the building I was reminded by the brilliance of the clear blue skies, Pegasi flying freely in the air, some pulling sky wagons, others just using the sky for their daily commute into and out of the city.

“I’ve already tried many times to get a music label going Snow Berry. Every time i’ve been denied, Sweetie Belle being only the most prominent pony that’s caused failure. Disagreements with how the lyrics should be handled almost got me thrown in the Ministry of Morale ‘fun house’ on more than one occasion. If it wasn’t for my otherwise harmlessness I’d probably never be talking to you” Basso continued as we walked out into the streets. My focus still on the sky.

“You know. I’ve thought of just trying to get away from this all” I murmured to myself as a group of at least a dozen or so ponies in expensive attire quickly totted past us towards the city center. Bumping into one snapped me back into the domain of the Unicorn and Earth Pony. The streets were not unlike the skies in many ways. Foot traffic instead of the lanes of flying pegasi.One thing that was different were the vending machines, street merchants, and the occasional begger. All helping to make the already dense streets even more so.

Construction work was always happening on the old roads. Obviously. The old infrastructure of the city was poor and frantic upgrades were often made with little to no consideration towards the future need to expand. This had caused whole blocks to be torn down constantly as the thoroughfares and streets had to be more elaborately catered for by architects. El Alimane was by its own right a marvel in that respect.

El Alimane, once a small city that merely connected several farming, sandstone mining, and special animal herding communities to the rest of the kingdom. It was now the last stop ‘till the front lines in this corner of the war. And with the number of soldiers who would come back with pay on rotation the city became a magnet for merchants. Chocolate, Mares, clothes from a more civilized area of Equestria, music, drugs, and so many more were bought by homesick soldiers readily and without second thought.

“What?” Basso asked with his head tilted towards me. “What do you mean get away from this all? You should be saying ‘i’ve thought of trying to get away from all of this.” he said giving me a smug, Canterlot, ‘you poor illiterate peasant’ look. One more of those and I don't think i’d be able to hold back the punches. Sighing I looked up again.

“I don’t know. Just get out of the city. Away from all the war. Live somewhere out there, in the prime areas full of fertile fields, live the rest my life a farmer or something like that. Cities are killing us anyways.” I began to ramble. “I just want this to end and for everypony to go back to their normal, pre war lives” Basso looked at me for a second.

“But what about those colts and fillies who were born into this war Snow Berry? Have you had any thoughts about them? This is normal to them. Goodbye the days of manual labour. Hello industrialised… well everything! Hell, we're even religating thinking to machines nowadays with terminals and calculation devices.” I looked at Basso again as he returned a concerned look.

“And I thought you Canterlot ponies were all backwards looking idiots” I said to him, rather bluntly. “You know, being from the capital you surely do have a grasp on what’s happening, rather than just sitting in a comfy apartment and drinking wine till you develop gout. I mean you’re still a pompous bastard with that stupid fucking smile you use but. I dunno, you’re bearable I guess?” Basso simply chuckled.

“How could I not? I was born into what is essentially social poverty, even though i still make off interest more than most ponies get in a decade. I have to do something or i’ll just waste away. And trust me I do not want to waste away like some over dramatic fool who drinks even more copious amounts of whiskey than I do. But then he… or she would be an interesting one to follow. Would they not?” shaking his head Basso looked upwards as well. It was just beautiful enough to make me envy pegas- wait where’s the ground?

I looked down to see I was already falling down an uncovered access hole into the sewers. I screamed something along the lines of ‘fuu’ as i fell at least three metres into the sewage. Thankfully however, there was enough liquid feces and such to break my fall. But only just.

As I floated there, face down, in the water I noticed something odd. Something in front of me. It wasn’t like say a gem. It was something else, beyond my logic or reasoning. Some sort of stone tablet with something engraved on it? It didn’t look pony made. Was it some Zebra sabotage device? The burning of my eyes and lungs alerted me to the fact that I was still face down in a river of feces.

Lifting my head up, out of the sewage I could hear Basso yell. “Are you quite okay there? It seems like we’ve got to look where we’re going Snow Berry.” He didn’t really need to yell. I was still within talking distance. If you counted raised voices as still ‘talking’. Waving my hoof up and taking a deep breath in of the foul air in the sewer I began to gag.

“Yeah, I guess. Can you help me out maybe?” I asked before gagging again. Chuckling Basso nodded

“Yes, i’ll get somepony with a ladder, and a fumigation squad. For good measure obviously.” Basso laughed a little. Oh it’s all fun and games while you’re not in the sewer. “I’ll be back momentarily” Basso quickly said before running off.

Looking down, I saw the tablet once again. Something about it had changed though. The engravings seemed to have moved. Curiously I picked it up with my magic and brought it above the waterline. For some time, I’m still not sure how long I just stared at it as the symbol on it kept creeping around and around in circles formations.

I was entranced. This was surely Zebra sorcery. There was no doubt! The look of it sent shivers down my spine and caused my blood to chill greatly. But I liked it. It was mine. I found it.

I was indeed so overcome with its seemingly unnatural ability to hold my attention I didn’t notice the pitter pattering of hooves coming from down the sewer until whoever it was basically arrived. Turning my head around I saw him. A zebra staring hatefully at me. Opening his mouth I got the all too creepy zebra rhyme talk.

“What do you do you pony fool?” the Zebra asked. “Give it to me and I promise you go free” the Zebra continued. Why did this prick want this tablet? It’s mine. I found it fair and square. I shook my head in disapproval to the Zebra's demand.

“No, zebra, I found this tablet, it belongs to me” I replied staring him down. “You can fuck off and find another nice tablet. This here is mine” I thought to myself that this must have been some Celestia given luck, i’ve found some really amazing artifact and caught a zebra spy! Now the tricky part will be to capture the little bastard. But details details. The tablet began to warm up and emit a faint blue glow

“You do not see, it was made for me. So give it pony fool or I’ll have to kill you” the Zebra snapped back. Pulling out some sort of weapon. “I will count to three and you’ll have given the tablet back to me” the Zebra threatened.

“Hey Snow Berry I just Got a ladder cre-” Basso began before seeing the Zebra standing right infront of me. The Zebra looked up at Basso. “Shit ZEB-” a quiet ‘pfft’ I looked up at the shocked Basso, blood pouring from a hole in his throat. He gave a little whine before collapsing into the sewer water. Dead.

I glared at the Zebra. The sound of an air raid siren slowly began to rise. An Air raid? This far behind the lines? I didn’t really care though I was safe. I was in a reinforced sewer. Their petty zebra bombs couldn’t reach me in here. So I did the one thing I knew to do.

It’s a little obvious that I have a heavy bit of rock that is probably very effective at smashing in skulls. Especially when paired with the fact i’m a unicorn that’s… decent with levitation magics.

The Zebra saw the tablet coming of course. When it’s glowing with unicorn levitation magic's it isn't exactly hard to miss. The little bastard jumped back the first time I tried to swing at it. In retort the Zebra lept forward and kicked me in the chest. Pain erupted across my chest as I was sent flying backwards.

Slowly, I began to stand back up in the water. The pain in my chest was excruciating. “The tablet is mine pony fool, don’t make me kill you too” the Zebra taunted as I struggled to fully recover.

My second attempt to smash the Zebra didn’t yield much of a difference result as I tried to catch pummel it with the now fully glowing, and quite hot tablet. However I was granted some semblance of an advantage as I dodged the second kick by the striped bastard.

A third time swing however wasn’t exactly what the Zebra had expected. I simply swung it round his head. Causing it to start charging me given how I was now, practically, defenseless. As he charged I pulled back the tablet with my Magic quickly and struck a blow right in the back of the Zebra’s head.

The blow was enough to make the Zebra go limp. A little surprising but that wasn't the biggest issue right now.

No hesitation kept me from charging back to underneath the hole I fell through. The air raid sirens continuing to scream their ominous sound. Again I smashed the tablet into the back of the Zebra’s head. Causing the Zebra to bleed all over my poor tablet… Was it me or was it getting even brighter?

“YOU FUCKING ZEBRA BASTARD” I yelled as I continued to bash. “YOU KILLED.” I smashed again. “MY!” Again “FUCKING!” Again! “BOSS” As the tablet was introduced to the Zebra’s skull again I heard the Zebra whimper something in their tongue before finally dying. Alright the tablet was getting worryingly hot now.

Looking up into the sky I saw such a wonderful blue sky with the sun just outside my view. Above the sound began to filter in. Ponies were screaming in horror as something was happening. The Air Raid Sirens didn’t help.

A sudden flash of sickly Green light suddenly filled every inch of the sewer. The heat of the concentrated light was horrifying, hotter than the tablet which I brought close to myself in spite of the Zebra greymatter that seemed to have stuck to the tablet.

The sewer shook as a massive blast of sound? Pressure? Whatever it was it blew over me with such great force that I couldn’t do anything but get pushed further into the sewer system like a ragdoll. When i finally stood back up I saw that behind me, catching up quickly was more of that sickly green light.

Not wanting to know what it was I started running, as fast as my legs could take me.

The light chased me. Catching up. Getting closer. Getting onto my four hooves. The green light was an unnaturally green light that caused me to shriek in terror. The sounds of destruction above and to my surroundings masking my horrified scream.

A blinding white flash and the rush of immense heat suddenly hit me. My whole body burned and twisted as I melted in the intense heat. Flesh turned into a viscous liquid and flew away from me, still holding the tablet with my magic.

And I was gone

The world slowly shifted and turned as I gained my senses. Cold surrounded my body, nothing touching me, no sound ringing out. The burning green light, the force of the blast, the all powerful sounds of ponies screaming in it all. All gone, replaced with nothing. Was this it? The end? The sensation I had of my flesh melting off my bones wasn’t helping my hopes of being alive. I tried opening my eyes. Nothing.

I had to be dead.This had to be the life after. How in the world would I be able to survive… that. My thoughts drifted about what happened. Was this an isolated thing? Was the world destroyed? Was it just some elaborate Zebra illusion to make me divulge something? I didn’t know. And was all afraid to know.

Sweet Celestia what about the government? Canterlot? The ministry mares? Was the whole country a war zone now? Gah, I wasn’t even sure if I was dead or not.Yet I’d already raised more questions than this black void could divulge.

The cold air picked up slightly, okay. Alright. So now I know either death was prone to small gusts of wind, or I was in fact alive. That last part gave me hope. But it’d defy common sense. I’d just been overtaken, melted, and presumably killed by that green fire.

Questions questions. And by the feel of i’d be in this state for a while. Maybe enough time for me to reason what had just happened. I mean we had news of new war winning weapons being ready to be deployed. Did the Zebras have something else, even bigger and scarier? There was enough of an outrage when the Zebras tested a successful megaspell. We had drills in case of an attack… oh no. Did they actually use megaspells on us?

Now it was even worse for me to think about what just happened. And even more so it made sense. The Zebra in the sewers, the green fire, the screams. All of it was right there and I didn't even think about it, because of that tablet.

There was an overriding sense inside my gut, and mind, to reject what just happened. We couldn’t have just been wiped like that from the world. Somepony must have seen it coming before the sirens began. We can’t have just whimpered and taken it. There had to be something to prevent it.

There had to. We couldn’t have been caught off guard. We had the wonders of modern science and magic…

I slowly felt myself slip into what felt like sleep. My eyes, or the area where they were felt heavy enough to sink me in a pool of the dead. And why did it make everything feel so warm? So fuzzed. The little sense of touch I had across my whole body was turning into pins and needles as everything became heavier, and harder to keep together.

A final whimper in my mind passed as my eyelids opened and saw a pair of magnificent eyes. They looked at me. The eyes seemed mostly dilated but with some pink around them. They stared at me as if analyzing the remains of my existence. The stare was cynical, cold. Behind it was a blinding light.

Something in the eyes did catch what little attention I could muster as the fuzziness continued to grow. I could just pick up small circles within the pupils that were slowly turning in either direction. Reminding me of the slowly turning symbol on the tablet I fought bloodily to keep. A small piece of grey matter slid down one of the eyes, yet it didn’t seem to notice in the slightest.

We just gazed at eachother for goddesses know how long. Just there. No blinking, even with the brilliant light behind those two eyes.

Aeons passed, mountains became lakes, deserts became jungles, cities crumbled and left plains, it was all passing me. Yet I still looked into those deep purple eyes. Calling to me. Whispering things I couldn’t understand.

As the melenia tumbled away like discarded paper and the fuzziness continued to expand and grow I finally started to do something. As the insanity of my own small part continued to play out I moved a hoof to touch those eyes, empires rose and fell every millisecond. More war and death unfolded, unseen by those cynical eyes.

FInally, after nearly a billion years had spun past at an alarmingly fast rate I finally made contact.

Only an eyelash was touched, but it was all that needed to be. The pupils of those pink eyes shrank smaller than I could see. Causing me to pull back my hoof in surprise. Time stopped around me as the fuzziness quickly gave way to focus. The eyes continued to stare at me as the light behind them turned that sickly green.

I tried all I could to back away. Those eyes beaming hate towards every fiber that was left of me. The Green slowly infesting the… space, surrounding me and the eyes. Encircling me quickly the eyes reversed their look and dilated into massive pupils, the symbol from the tablet clearly spinning inside both of them.

A single word entered my mind. A voice that nopony should ever deserve to hear. The green light shooting tendrils towards me. Like the scrams of a thousand dead ponies, burning in the purest of fires.

“Reclaim” it said as the eyes glowed pink, and blue where the symbols rotated. The image and sound was instantly etched into my mind. It was like a task. The tablet? Wouldn’t it have melted with me?

Whispers of some tongue crept inside of me. Tendrils of knowledge and confusion spun something into my mind, like a spider web. The green getting closer and closer. My eyes straining.

“Reclaim” the voice said again. And again. And again. Over and over.

A bright white flash… again.

Footnote added: Level Up!

Chapter 2

“Momma” I cried. “Momma, please” I continued to wail. I’d been woken up by a bad dream.

My ever so faithful and tireless mother after about a minute and a half peered through the half open door to my room. I couldn’t really notice at the time but anypony else could obviously see the large bags below her eyes.

“It’s okay, Snow Berry. I’m here.” She said, pushing the door open and trotting over to my small bed. I moved my stumpy little legs up to her, struggling to keep balance as she got closer. The embrace of my mother was every bit as precious to me as my favourite toy. Warm, safe, reassuring. I could never find a better cure for nightmares.

I looked at her smooth grey coat as I began wailing into the softness of it all. Nothing else could stop me from doing so. I’d been terrified by the most harmless of things, looking back. I somehow found a pile of pillows and a blanket in the corner of the room the scariest creature to ever stalk my bedroom.

Slowly my mother rocked me. Sweet Berry, such a beautiful name for a mother, and appropriate for what she’d given me. I continued to cry my eyes out. But she was there. Always for me. Her cutie mark of two Haskap berries always helped to calm me. Slowly my sobbing started to die as I looked up at her with puffy eyes.

“M...Mom?” I asked as she looked at me with tender green eyes. “Where’s dad? You said he’d be back from his tour in the royal guard soon, but why is the guide so slow? I wanna see him.” I begged, feeling more tears well up inside of me. “Is the bus tyre flat? You can use my money in my piggie bank to buy a new one.” I whimpered a little. “Just please get him back.”

Mother looked down at me sadly for a moment before pulling me back into her chest. “Don’t worry Snow Berry. He’ll be back soon, I promise.”

My eyes shot open. First thing I felt was my headache, like somepony had just gone at it with a brick for a few minutes before giving up. Above me was a frozen ceiling made of two large, crossed beams of steel or something, at least thirty feet above me and covered in massive stalactite like icicles.

Below me, I had my second sense come back. The feeling of being frozen to a cold metal walkway held in place by a large, blackened gantry. The sound of water was faintly filling the room. The air was almost as cold as the metal I lay upon. My breathing was erratic, not exactly the best thing to pair with a massive headache.

My lungs burned and my lips felt almost frozen together. My whole body felt like it had been snap frozen before being revived. Hardly the most comfortable experience for somepony who’d just felt their body die a horrible, melty death.

Slowly melting the ice that was between my lips with my tongue, I started to slow my breathing down. The ice keeping my lips together had a quite… nice slightly metallic taste. Not exactly what I would say could count as a five star Canterlot meal, but given what I’d just gone through it wasn’t like I didn’t appreciate some weirdly nice taste in my mouth. It kept my mind off asking where the hell I was.

First thing I knew to do was to stretch my back, it’d be a start, help me figure out if I was paralysed or something. Then maybe moving my legs. Yeah, good start. Make sure I wasn’t stuck to the platform then figure out how to get out of here. Wherever here was.

Arching my back upwards was hard enough. Some of my fur was adamant in keeping me glued to the metal beneath me. Pulling again I felt some of my fur separate from my body and possibly a little skin as well, I mention this because I was quite surprised to realise there wasn’t much pain to feel, even though some of my coat and skin underneath had been pulled off my back.

Was this place… Alimane? I last remembered Alimane and the fire. The thought of being melted sent shivers down my spine, not exactly on my list of things I want to repeat. This cold however wasn’t much better. Seriously, being frozen to a walkway wasn’t good. It can’t be Alimane though. Alimane was basically an oasis in the desert, there’s no way snow, at least this much, if at all could be here.

What happened? The fire I remember, then the symbol on the tablet and something saying ‘Reclaim’. Then bam, here I was in the middle of a massive cylindrical hole. Dammit, where in the name of all that’s holy was I?

I shook my head from side to side trying to make sure that my head wasn’t also stuck to the metal and I was mercifully given a reprieve from having to tear my own mane off. It wouldn’t be particularly fun. I looked around the giant room, taking great note of how most of the frost thickly covered most of the area, plus a ladder to my left.

As I continued to wheel my head around I noticed that even though the sun’s glorious rays weren't coming down from the skies, and the clouds were looking as thick as I was when it came to understanding things like applied astro science or economics the moon surely couldn’t be bright enough to allow me to see like the sun had only just gone down,regardless of where I looked.

Then, as my head rotated fully back, I saw what exactly had happened to my body. All over my body my beige fur was matted and falling off all over the place, my skin looked old and grey, pockmarks completely covered my body from… well at least neck to hoof. But by far the most disgusting and disturbing change to my physique is that small parts of my flesh were missing! Like somepony thought that they could use a nice new mural, and blood was the only way to get the red colour just right.

My reaction to the severe lack of flesh was…. horrifying, to say the least. I just stared at it for about a minute or two before beginning to dry heave. Curling slightly into myself as my body tried to force up food that apparently wasn’t there.

My second reaction to the fact I looked like a cadaver in some detective movie was me struggling to form words, as I tried to shout at the top of my lungs. So instead of what most ponies would do I simply blabbered out random stuff that resembled words, barely.

“Ph'nglui mglw'nafh, g’klugh?” I half said, half yelled into the empty place. In reply I was given an echo, the voice I claim as my own distorting every time it bounced off the large continuous wall. One thing I noticed was how gravelly my own voice was. Was it always like I’d need several dozen throat lozenges?

I closed my eyes begging that this had to be a dream. How could it not? I not only looked like a freak, but I also now sounded like one too. Why couldn’t I just have died in that giant melty flame gust of doom? I felt shivers down my spine again, all of this had to be a dream, no damn way I could be some weird zombie pony.

I began to debate to myself how exactly this must have been a dream, however I was most disturbed to hear a loud, metallic whine from below, then followed by the sounds of several pairs of hooves walking across another walkway.

Scratch that, it sounded like a small group of ponies were getting too close.

I slowly pushed my head over the edge, and introduced myself to the sight of five ponies in heavy winter furs, two unicorns and three earth ponies. One of the earth ponies in the middle carrying the… was that another pony’s corpse?

“You sure you’re going to be alright? I knew you and Snapper were… close.” A lime green stallion around about my… age (If you could still call my pre mutilation age current) said. “You two were practically siblings since you met. I still can’t forget that time I caught you two trying to get in a quickie while on duty. Oh dear how he stammered as he tried to explain. And I still can’t resist grinning at your blushing.” The stallion continued.

“Leave the young mare alone, Fuzz, she’s just lost her closest friend. You should knock it off. She deserves that much.” Another, much older, dark brown stallion sternly said. “We may be a gang, but at least we have some decency.” he continued.

The buck he interrupted began speaking again, but was cut off almost instantly again by the much older stallion. “Not like those sadistic bastards ‘cross the city in the old cathedral. They’re real fucking degenerates. My old buck spent something like eight years organizing this shithole’s crime rings before the war. I ain’t resting till we show them how they did it in the old days” Geez, this old stallion did like to talk.

“I still call bullshit on that, Malt, you’ve told us thirty times. Where’s the proof your daddy was the king of Alimane?” a mare scowled, dirty enough to make her blue coat the same colour as the oldest in the group. “Oh yeah. You told me that it’s in the same stable that Stable-Tec flooded with radiation. Or was it the Stable where they compressed all the gang lords in the area into a stable with only enough turf for one? I always forget.” she snickered.

“And I told you thirty times, Chains, little miss know it all, that both of those were happening in Stable 80. I’ve already shown you my banged up Pip-Buck.” Malt retorted.

“I mean it don’t work much now. But it still recognises me when I put it on. You can’t use the Eyes Forward sparkle or the bag management stuff. Hell even the radio is getting rusty. I swear it wasn’t showing any signs of breaking. But as soon as I left the stable it’s gone to shit.” He continued, staring down on Chains.

“Can we just shut the fuck up and get to burning my dead lover’s body already?” an angry sounding mare firmly asked. “I know you all like to bicker, especially you, Boss, but can we just get this over with before I start crying again? The Raiders don’t cry, remember?”

“Oohrah!” Malt yelled.

“And anyways. I swear I heard some mutant. So let’s get my coltfriend’s funeral over with and get out of here. This place creeps the shit out of me anyways.” The angry mare sighed.

“I agree with her to be honest, when you’re this deep into the sewers you’re in the domain of the Ghouls and the other nasties. And I’d prefer to minimise my likelihood of being torn to shreds, if we can avoid that.” Another, slightly more beige than brown stallion interjected.

“Sure, sure, keep your panties on, Fritz.” Malt casually replied. “Chains, you remember to bring the flamer jelly along?”

“Yeah, yeah, gramps. Five hundred grams to get it going. Another five hundred in case it goes out.” Chains groaned. “It’s cover the poor sod, light, then push it off the walkway, right?”

“Ayup. Let the rest of the sewers sort the remnants out. Should keep the rats away.” Malt sighed. “Alright, give your last respects to Snapper everypony.”

“Raiders don’t cry..” Muttered Fritz as he put some small trinket in one of Snapper’s pockets.

“Semper Fi.” Chains moaned, starting to open up two red and grey containers and passing them to the other mare.

“We all die, but the Raiders live forever!” Malt proudly claimed.

“See ya on the other side.” Fuzz snorted as all eyes looked at the last mare, as she started rubbing some of the contents of the containers on her late lover's corpse. “Come on, Blitz, we don’t have time to give him a nice luxury massage.” Blitz glared for a moment at Fuzz.

“Fine.” Blitz growled quite angrily as she simply turned over the first container and shook it out on Snapper. Quickly rubbing the rest over the body before standing back up, already starting to sniffle. “Goodbye, my love, I hope we’ll meet soon. For both our sakes.” She muttered.

“Right, so now we say goodbye to a good friend, a comrade, and a traitor who redeemed himself in our eyes with his sacrifice. May he be forever remembered as such. As he passes to beyond our own world, blah, blah, blah. Something Celestia, something the ever after, amen.” Malt droned as he got out something from his pocket.

A moment passed as everypony remained silent. All looking at the corpse in front of them. I could appreciate the silence. What exactly had this Snapper done? I’d probably never know.

A minute or two slowly crawled by. “Do it.” Blitz finally said as Malt got out an old lighter. Lighting the lighter he let the flame burn. “Just fucking do it.” Blitz said, turning to Malt.

“Oh, right.” Malt got down on his front knees and slowly brought the lighter to the corpse covered in flamer jelly. The jelly caught light almost immediately when exposed to the flame. A whoosh and the flames spread across the whole body. “Bon voyage.” Malt said as everypony stared at the flames.

Another minute or so passed as the body was consumed in flames and began to char all over. Blitz started to sniffle.

“Alright, it’s starting to stink. Time to push him into the cistern.” Chains said as she took her eyes off the flames. Fuzz picked up a slightly blackened pipe from his side and presented it to the sniffling Blitz.

Taking the pipe Blitz moved it around before resting it at a low angle beneath the burning corpse. Giving a good push downwards Blitz tilted the burning her former lover’s cadaver over the edge of the walkway. “Goodbye, my love.” She quietly and painfully said before pushing down once more and allowing the burning pony to roll off, down into the lower parts of the giant cylindrical room.

A few seconds later the sound of a large mass slamming into the water filled up the room.

“You’ve always done good, Blitz, remember that. I’m sure Snapper will as well.” Malt said as he turned to Blitz, putting his hoof on her shoulder. “Alright everypony. We’re going to take the main route back. No reason to try slinking off in the other tunnels. It’s a maze and a death trap in those, y’all remember?”

“Rodger that Malt, and yes we do.” Fuzz said, turning towards where the group came from. “Let’s move. I don’t think any of us want to contemplate the dead tonight.”

Everypony except Blitz started walking out silently. Looks were exchanged, but nothing else really. The sounds of their hoofsteps drowning out the waters below. Blitz continued to look down before finally turning to go back.

I pulled my head from looking at where those five were having their funeral. And to be quite frank, I now had more questions about what the hell is going on more than ever. Raiders? Psychopaths? Ghouls? If this really was real life, then it’d require a lot of explaining on how exactly we got here.

I had to get out of here. Spending the rest of my life on this platform wasn't exactly the most appealing thing in the universe. Especially given those ponies’ concern for whatever lurks in the sewers. And the only way out would be by following them.

Standing fully up I quietly moved to the ladder. It was in about as good condition as you’d think, heavily rusted and covered in ice about a millimeter thick. There wasn’t any other way down though. If I jumped I’d probably break my legs.

Climbing down ladders was already quite difficult on account of how easy it was to slip on your hind legs. So almost dangling off the metal rungs and trying to get your hoof down on the one rung below was fairly difficult. But I was… at least kinda tough, I mean sure I got out of the military the cowardly way, but at least I survived basic training. It had to count for something, right?

When I reached the bottom I looked around again. I hadn’t missed anything that I hadn’t already picked up when I was on the above platform, it was actually quite disappointing. The sounds of ponies walking away were slowly fading away from me.

Right. I needed to follow them before I got completely lost.

It’s almost stunning to see how well things, at least underground, have been able to hold up. Going by what Malt said earlier it was at least thirty years since El Alimane was subject to the end of the world. Yet still most of the generators I passed that weren't stripped for parts were functioning. Even a lightbulb every now and then was still burning. Was it like this all across Equestria?

Another example of how well things were made were: when I got to them, the subway cars for the network under Alimane were still intact. Sure they’ve already started to rust, but the rust didn’t cover them. Paint was only flaying off the cars at the corners. Inside the cars was a different story. It seemed like several animals in the horror had decided to make nests inside the white subway carriages by ripping up all the leather seats and laying eggs inside.

I was looking through one of the carriages, hoping that I’d find something as a weapon. I didn’t like the thought of killing another pony, but by the names of those ponies in the cistern, and their amour I doubted they were the friendliest sorts. And although in training I’d learnt what was the right way around to hold a gun, I doubted learning the more exquisite ways of insulting a stallion and his incestuous mother was going to save my skin.

I was about to give up and try to catch up to the group that I was stalking when I noticed a pair of saddlebags. Right, rational things to get. I don’t know what exactly I was going to find. Picking them up with my magic seemed hard though. I’d normally be able to juggle full saddlebags, but something made them feel three times heavier, even with nothing inside of them.

Putting them on was anticlimactic however, given how much I struggled to simply levitate them. They were heavier than they looked though. Was it just because I’d been asleep for Goddesses know how long? At this point I was getting pretty frustrated with questions, and I’ve only spent twenty minutes in this new world. What else was I going to need to ask?

Noting the fact I’d just mentally asked another question I jumped out of the carriage with both saddlebags secured on my back as I rushed further up the subway tunnel the group was leading me up. I suddenly noticed that the tunnel ended at a massive junk wall with two floodlights beaming down the tunnel.

“OI. IT’S MALT!” The old stallion from before yelled. “FUNERAL’S OVER. LET US BACK IN!” He continued yelling, the echoes stirring something deeper in the tunnels. Faint growls and scurrying in the side tunnels and pipes could be heard. A small gust of cool air pouring over my backside, too slow to forget, too quick not to notice.

“YEAH? WHAT’S THE PASSWORD?” Somepony yelled back over the junk wall. “WE WERE TOLD NOT TO LET ANYONE WITHOUT THE PASSWORD IN!”

I slowly crept up on the group as they stood in front of the junk fence. All with a faint unnerved look upon them all, save for the angry looking Malt, and the still mourning Blitz. On their left was another ruined subway carriage. Nothing on their right.

“CELESTIA FUCKING DAMNIT, PEANUT, GET YOUR EARS CLEANED OUT. I AM THE BOSS. LET ME THE FUCK IN BEFORE WE STIR SOMETHING UP!” Malt yelled, urgency starting to rise a little in his voice.

I was still advancing slowly up the tunnel, increasingly aware of the fact I was in the middle. Lowering myself and moving to the left edge of the tunnel I continued to get closer and closer. The others in the group in front of the junk wall started to look a little more desperate. Another small gust shook everyone, including myself, to the core for a second. Alright, pissed off monsters weren't something I’d want to see right now. If ever.

“ALRIGHT, IT IS YOU BOSS. GIMME A SEC AND I’LL OPEN THE DOOR. OKAY?” The pony behind the junk wall yelled back.

I continued to advance until I was only about ten metres away from the group. Hiding behind the much worse looking subway car. Behind the wall came several large clangs and chains moving. Another gust of wind, this time everypony turned around to face the tunnel. “FUCK. GET IT OPEN!” Malt yelled.

Everypony took some form of weapon out of their coats as another gust surged up the tunnel. It was getting stronger too. The raiders’ coats started to flap as the gust passed. “Alright everypony,” Chains mockingly proclaimed. “We’re going to have a nice nursery rhyme and dance. No tripping each other up or you’ll have to go to the naughty corner.” She started to giggle as Fritz knocked her in the back of the head in a ‘snap out of it you crazy bitch’ manner.

“Just shut up and do your job.” Fritz grumbled as he produced a nasty looking dual barreled gun. Breaking it open he shoved two red shotgun cartridges inside and snapped the whole thing back shut with a cracking sound.

The others produced a variety of other weapons. Chains levitated an SMG out of her clothing, Malt a fine looking revolver, the still depressed Blitz pulling out two daggers, and Fuzz levitating an old repeating rifle.

All five of them stood there facing down the tunnel before them. Each one seemingly confident in their own ability to shoot and kill as another gust of wind, colder than the last crashed into me.

“Get ready everypony. We’re going into the thick of it.” Malt grumbled. I dared to look back down the tunnel. Nothing as of yet seemed to be coming, save for the wind. And speak of the devil another blast of cool air enveloped me for a second. “PEANUT, ETA?” Malt yelled. Looking back at the wall.

“ONE MINUTE!” Peanut yelled. Another blast of cold air.

“I always hate this part..” Blitz Muttered. From the tunnel a pair of eyes, glowing slightly, peered out of the darkness. Even with my better ability to see in the dark I couldn’t really make out what it was. It slowly stumbled forward until it was in plain view.

A cute little animal, about the size of a rabbit jumped to just beyond the subway cars below. It made a few odd noises for a rabbit however. It looked very, very, cute with its little fluffy ears and cute little nose. And those eyes almost made me squee, something I could only just hold back from doing.

“Fuck, it’s that thing. FIRE!” Yelled Malt as everypony started shooting the poor little bunny. How could those monsters do that? I thought as the tunnel was consumed by the echoes of gunfire, hot lead flying down at the bunny. The bunny didn’t move as it’s body was torn asunder by the hail of firepower.

Finally the gunfire stopped and the sounds of everypony reloading took its place. The bunny was a mere pile of flesh bleeding from everywhere. It’s little head ruined, the feet no more, and a tentacle leading back into the tunnel… What?

Several tentacles, covered in teeth and spikes burst from the darkness as everypony only just finished reloading in time. Another volley almost immediately was fired down to meet the new threats. But these weren't your run of the mill bunnies. To my shock only one went down on account of Fritz unleashing both of his shotgun shells at the same time.

And like that the group scattered, trying to avoid being impaled on the spikes of flesh. Their ability to throw deadly vollies instantly shattered as everypony tried to engage their own tentacles.

Malt, being the obvious leader was blasting in support of everypony else, in spite of the tentacle that wanted a piece of his hide. The heavy duty bullets in his pistol thudding as the firing hammer struck true.

Fritz took his time as the foe before him kept weaving out of the way of his deadly looking shotgun. When his sights did line up for long enough he fired both barrels again, each hit causing the tentacle to reel in pain and shock before trying again. Next to him, Chains began to wildly fire at any tentacle she saw, causing her to chew through fresh magazines every ten or so seconds.

Fuzz and Blitz were back to back as two tentacles continued to dance around them. Blitz left no doubts in my mind as to how she got that name. Every tentacle that came from in front or beside her received several quick stabs before withdrawing from the assault. Fuzz on the other hoof wasn’t inclined to use his revolving rifle in the same fashion, and instead took shots at points that either he or Blitz had already struck.

Yet in spite of their vicious fighting the group slowly looked like they were being worn down. Small jabs and cuts seemed manageable, but the sheer number they faced was a different story. Blitz was covered in her own, as well as the tentacle’s blood. Malt receiving a large gash across his Tankard Cutie Mark as he tried to reload again.

“COME THE FUCK ON, PEANUTS!” Fuzz yelled as he took another shot. “WE AIN’T GOT MUCH LEFT!” He continued to yell as the firing hammer of his revolving rifle hit a spent casing. Flipping open the chamber and levitating another six rounds as the spent casings fell out.

Fuzz was about to shove the fresh rounds into the chamber when one of the tentacles stuck him right through the side of his neck. Nopony except Fritz seemed to notice as the revolving rifle was suddenly released from Fuzz’s magical grip.

I’d already decided that once that gate opens I was going in. I don’t care if they’d shoot at me. It’d be better than facing down whatever those tentacles came from.

Another tentacle made an unblocked assault. This time Chain’s front left leg was speared through. Unlike Fuzz however, Chains simply began to unload everything into the tentacle. I was disturbed by the general lack of attention she gave her wound. Her face suddenly being covered with the tentacles own blood as she let loose another whole magazine.

A sudden thud and the gates behind the group burst open. “HERE COMES THE CAVALRY!” yelled Peanut as over the battle motors began to whine. Suddenly two continuous streams of tracer fire burst out from beyond the gate, reducing the tentacle that held Fuzz’s body to red and green chunks. Sadly the sudden assault also turned the corpse of Fuzz into pretty much the same stuff.

A chilling screech came from down the tunnel as dozens, if not hundreds of little brass bullet cases started to roll out from the doorway. The lines of tracer fire almost seeming like one massive continuous beam of light.

Charging out of the gate came who I could only assume was Peanut in massive metal armour that was probably reclaimed from abandoned vehicles, and with two miniguns strapped to a battle saddle. Sweet celestia. I’d only used one of those in training. Where’d they get that PLUS two miniguns?

Behind the hulking armoured train that was a pony ran another unicorn with an old assault rifle two metres behind. Leaving the gate hopefully unguarded for me.

Bullets continued to rain down towards the monster in the tunnel as I bolted the eight or so metres to the giant wall’s gates. Not slowing for a second I dashed through the gateway and further up the line. There wasn’t any looking back. Not now.

The tunnel didn’t have much further to go. In fact it was leveling out quicker than I thought it would. But then my sense of direction within the sewers then subways wasn’t top notch given I didn’t know wherever the hell I was! Underground, yes, but apart from that I had no clue about what district I was in, or if this was still Alimane or some other place named El Alimane.

Walking out of the tunnel I was greeted by a mess. All over the place were broken bottles, discarded inhalers tinted slightly red, and used syringes. Two of the mattresses I could see were covered in the discarded items. Looking around I began to realize how big of a room I was in.

The building was about two stories, but there wasn’t very much in the way of second and third level floors. They’d already collapsed and decayed. And to some surprise most of the rubble seemed to be piled in the corner quite neatly. The walls weren't intact, about five or six pony sized holes along with the windows. But to my dismay It was obvious that somepony had gone to great efforts to reinforce every conceivable exit.

To my left was a small room with a ‘staff only’ sign on the door. It looked like it had seen better days. Above the door was written on the frame ‘Merchandise storage’ in crude metal words made from what looked like rebar.

To my right was an old table with a large pile of bottle caps, ammo magazines and various medicines. A pile of cards were stacked neatly next to an ash filled ashtray. One of the chairs lay discarded while the others around the table were neatly tucked in. Obviously somepony heard gunfire and had to start running.

And finally ahead of me was another massive junk door. Across it was a giant padlock and chain that left me with doubts about how the hell I could get out of this situation. No way out, and I had no illusion about how long I’d probably have until the group came back.

“Fuck it” I thought to myself. “I may as well check to see what's in that room”. I continued as I walked to the door with the staff only sign. I didn’t really want to know what these ponies called ‘merchandise’, but at least i’d have somewhere to hide and figure out what to do.

“Just open the door Snow Berry” I said to myself, not happy to find my voice was still like gravel. I mean, nothing was going to be worse than two miniguns cutting me down. Slowly creaking, the door gave way. And from inside the stench of feces and dried blood suddenly shot into my nostrils. The reek made me gag. Dammit! I hadn’t even looked at my own body a second time so this wouldn’t happen.

Pushing the door further open I risked a peek inside. Through the doorway sat two unicorns in dirt and blood stained doctors apparel, and with collars chained the wall around both their necks, in the embrace of each other. They both looked at me, eyes wide. The mare looked less so than the stallion. We just stared at each other.

To the right were some cabinets, still in decent nick given the circumstances. You’d probably be even able to fit a pony or two in each of them. To my left were large bins, or where they small dumpsters? Either way the two were had some dried blood on the edges. I doubted I’d ever want to hop into them. And to the side of the two tied up ponies was some improvised surgery table or something.

I slowly closed the door behind me as I walked through. This, somehow, made them relax. I couldn’t tell why, but if it made their faces turn from terror to suspicion, then I was one happy… zombie thing.

“So… uhh. Hi?” I meekly said, still with a gravelly voice towards the two strangers. I tried to give a friendly smile, honest! The two looked at eachother, then back to me. They both looked more confused for a second before the stallion nodded.

We continued to stand there in silence. Looking at each other. The mare started moving her lips but stopped before she could form a first word. The stallion licked his lips before finally speaking “So. The Crown sent a non Feral Ghoul to save us?” he asked in a tired voice with a sniff. “I thought they wouldn’t send somepony for just the two of us.” He said tilting his head a little.

“Who and what now?” I asked raising an eyebrow. The two looked at each other, the mare giving a sigh.

“You’re not a Feral, so you’d know if you’ve been around El Alimane what and where The Crown is. Or have you just been sleeping under a rock for eighty years?” the mare asked with a quite frankly beautiful voice.

“A feral? Eighty years?” I asked

“Is he really?” asked the Stallion before planting his face firmly within his hooves. “Actually. Forget about it. If you’ve not noticed, me and my marefriend are being held captive by these gangsters. And we’d really like to get out of our little predicament. So if you don’t mind helping us to get out. We’d answer all of the questions we’re out of here… Okay?”

“I… I don’t know how to get out though” I said. “I came in the back way when everypony was distracted” I said giving a slight, forced, smile. The two prisoners in front of me didn’t return the smile. The mare was thinking while the stallion was staring at me sadly.

“We’re all going to die. And to think we have a fascination with your kind” the stallion sighed. Looking towards the mare. “Well Band Aid. You got any ideas? Because apparently me, nor our rescuer have any clues as to what to do” he said.

“I know Peanuts has one set of keys” the mare Band Aid said tapping her left hoof on her chin. “However, I doubt that you’d be able to get them off him. He has two miniguns and a shit ton of armor” She continued, looking at me. “I’d say you’re going to have to get them off their boss, Malt Beer. Do you know which one he is?”

“I followed him up here from some cistern where they were disposing of a body” I said. “Any clues on how I could get him alone?” I asked, tilting my head a little.

“Alone?” The buck said “I doubt you’d be able to get him alone quickly. It’s hardly a time for him to be without somepony he trusts. If you drew the rest of these gangsters away one at a time and… disposed of them, however you see fit. Then you’d probably get him alone eventually” he continued with a far from excited expression.

“Personally i’d prefer if we don’t resort to violence and just talked us out. But I doubt we have that luxury now” Bandaid interrupted.

I looked at the two. Was I going to have to kill another pony in cold blood? Again? It’s quite chilling that only now I’ve thought about the zebra i’d killed with that damned tablet. I mean, in my defence I was… defending myself.

“This is such bullshit. Malt and his fucking funerals.” said somepony beyond the door. Fuck. I looked around the room. I quickly rushed to the cabinets. An easy choice. Locked. The two ponies just looking at me tensely, not making a noise. If they were then it’d probably kill us or something.

“Come on Chains. You’re wounded for fucks sake. I don’t care if you’re still on top of the world, those wounds are going to get infected.” I looked all over the place. Quietly trying to get some cabinet open.

The knob of the door turned. “I know, I know. But can’t a healing potion just fix this up? I mean i’m still not feeling it” Chains replied casually. I acted

The door started to open. And In walked Chains, the heavily bleeding from her speared leg stopped with a large bundle of old paper and some cloth in the wound. Next to chains was “You’ve lost part of your bone, permanent muscle damage. There’s some stuff that could help. But that’s too far from our little treasure trove of horrors.” Said Fritz as he closed the door behind him.

The two captured ponies looked at Chains and Fritz. The two looked back, then at the nasty leg hole Chains had just acquired. “Oh my” Band Aid Exclaimed as the two raiders walked closer to her.

“Yeah, that thing in the tunnels fucked her up. If you fix her you’ll get some more food tonight” Fritz said evenly. “And I’d avoid talking to anypony, I’m not the only one who’s pissed” Fritz continued, helping Chains onto the bench generously called the surgery table. The two chained prisoners stood up at the mention of extra food.

“I’ll see if she’s sustained any other injuries” Band aid said walking to one of the smaller cupboards and opening it. Taking out some medical tools from under the table the stallion started to examine Chains’ wound.

“I’m almost going to regret us selling you two off” Chains said as Band Aid brought a few syringes and some potions over to the surgery bench. Her saying that didn’t seem to make anypony in the room, apart from Chains, any happier.

“You know what, actually?” Fritz said walking towards the door. “I’ve been thinking” He continued as he listened for a minute before sliding a bolt across the door and into the frame. Lifting his head up and returning to where the wounded raider lay. “I say we kill Malt. The prick has been running us down for too long” he said, to a gasp from Chains.

“How could you? It’s suicide. His heir will kill you if you did that” Chains replied as Band Aid pushed a needle into the wounded unicorn. “Wait, don’t put me under yet!” She snapped at Band Aid.

“Either way we’re all dead Chains. If we stay we’re just going to die slowly. You know what I mean? Hell he’s calling our losses right now acceptable. I mean we lost snapper for two fucking foals. Does Malt think it’s a bad thing? No! How are only two fucking foals worth Snapper aline? They can’t fight. They’re not even old enough to understand the world. And now he’s gone and got Fuzz killed for this fucking funeral. two foals and a funeral deep underground aren’t worth two fucking fighters.” Fritz ranted.

“If we got that damn Zebra then it’d have been worth it” Chains retorted. “It’s just that you can’t seem to keep your ammo accounted for”

“I don’t care, Chains, i’m through with Malt. And you’re going to support me, or you’re going to die.”

“Even if, even if you manage to kill Malt, Fritz, how’re you going to take on Peanut? Or did you forget he’s our angel of death here? I’d really like to know how’d you deal with him.” Chains said before turning back to band aid. “Alright, put me under. I’ve heard enough” She said. Fritz simply turned and opened the bolt then the door.

“Tell me when you’ve gained some common sense Chains… Good night” He said closing the door.

Chains sighed as Band Aid Pushed the plungers of the syringes down. It was probably a good dose of med-x or some substitute. As CHains slowly lost consciousness the pair started working on the mangled leg that lay before them.

“Ugh” I moaned a little when I knew Chains was out. I pushed the top of the small dumpster up. I had chosen to hide in the body dumpster. And sweet Luna it stunk. I knew there were at least four corpses worth of body parts inside. The freshest still with a little liquid blood on some of the wounds this pony had sustained.

“You’re lucky” Band Aid said without looking away from her patient.

“Yeah” I said trying my best to get out without falling flat on my face. One leg then the other. Easy as pie! “So, i'm still stuck for what we can do in this situation.” I said. ‘But it sounds like this Fritz is going to want to shake things up”

“Thank you detective” Band Aid replied sarcastically. She and the stallion slowly sterilized the wound.

“Band aid, dear, I think that this could be out ticket out of here though” The stallion said, tapping his chin with his hoof. “You, ghoul” He said

“Hey, I know I look bad but don’t call me that” I replied to the stallion’s deadpan

“He really doesn’t know, doesn’t he?” Asked Band Aid.

“Definitely.” The stallion said to Band Aid before turning his head to me “Anyways, we’ve observed this particular bunch starting to fall apart. What you’ve no doubt seen and heard is only the most recent. Fritz and Fuzz are extremely resentful with how this small band is going.” The stallion said.

“Yeah… So what would stop him?” I asked.

“Well Fritz is trying to convince Fuzz and Chains to join him in taking out Malt Beer. However Malt has Peanuts. If you haven’t seen him already, then trust me, two miniguns up your ass isn’t a pretty thing to watch.” The stallion said with a grimace.

“Yeah, don’t expect us to be able to fix twelve thousand bullet holes.” Band aid casually said without taking her eyes off the still unconscious Chains and the wound.

“You also have a problem with Peanut’s little brother Cashew. Little bastard has an old assault rifle. Those two are inseparable.” The stallion said.

“Yeah, so?” I asked looking at the stallion “Where are you going with this?” I replied.

“Well… Lemmie say I have a plan.” He replied.

“Soothing, please” Band aid said as she started doing somthing medical.

“What my love?” He replied. “I’ve already told you we have to do it. Even though I hate it”

“I know. It’s just that this goes against everything the Doc Soothing I fell in love with stands for” Band aid said.

“What choice do we have though? They’re probably going to sell us off any day now.” He replied

“Uhh… What is this plan?” I asked.

Doc Soothing (I assumed that was his name) looked back at me with a smirk that went away quickly. “I have an Idea that’s slightly crazy.” He said getting out a small key. “Now, this is the plan” He said walking up to my ear.

Footnote Added: Level Up.

Chapter 3

The beat of a drum filled the air. Joined in dance with the constantly changing tunes from the other instruments that flowed, almost like a wave up and down.

“The Zebra army, the black baron. Are preparing littlehorn for us again. But from El Alimane to the Emerald Sea, Equestria’s army is the strongest”

I looked down on the group of gangsters below me. I really hoped this plan of Doc Soothing’s design was going to work. More than quite a risk. Given how they all had guns and I didn’t. The beat of military marching drums in the background reminding me something that I’ve never thought i’d forget.

“So let our magic, grip with power, the bayonet in its glow. And we all must charge, fearlessly, into the last moral battle!”

Below me the gangsters were either playing poker drunk, or getting close to drunk while playing, old military marches playing on a radio that was definitely worse for ware. Only one pony was sleeping. The pony that charged after the massive armoured Peanuts when the firefight erupted: Cashews. It’s almost surprising to nopony that the two are obviously related. I didn’t like what I was going to need to do. Neither did Band-aid, or Doc Soothing. But we couldn’t just stay here forever.

“March Equestrian army, March March! Our princess calls us to battle. For from El Alimane to the Emerald Sea, Equestria’s army is the strongest!”

Slowly I walked further across the exposed beams that were to hold up the second floor of the station we were all in. Sadly somepony else had interrupted the day the stuff was due. At least It now gave me a vantage point for when my part of the plan was to start. I slowly bought the two aluminium cans i’d been given out of my saddlebags and prepared to throw them. I had a clear line of sight to where the tunnel began already, but I needed more space to throw it.

“We are forming a world of fire, their villages and cities we’ll raze to the ground! For from El Alimane to the Emerald Sea, Equestria’s army is the strongest!”

I continued to walk down the Beam I was on, ready to throw if somepony noticed the noise of me walking. Thankfully the proud and loud music was masking that. And everypony was too busy looking down to notice the glow of my horn. The cans also felt off. Like the saddlebags they seemed too heavy for their size. I looked back at my escape route. An air duct lay open not far from the beam I was on.

“So let our magic, grip with power, the bayonet in its glow. And we all must charge, fearlessly, into the last moral battle!”

Almost there. A few more feet and I’ll be in the perfect throwing position.

“So let the magic, grip with power, the bayonet in its glow. And we all must charge, fearlessly, into the last moral battle!” The radio sung again as the music began to die down.

Silence. Save for the faint snoring of cashews, and everypony else, save for peanuts, playing poker. Finally, I reached the perfect spot. Looking around I made sure that nopony was looking up. Thankfully not. I turned to face the tunnel and closed my eyes. On the count of three. One. I lifted the cans up with my telekinesis. Two. I prepared myself for the possibility of being shot at. Three. A little grunt and I threw the two cans as far as I could in the direction of the tunnel.

A few seconds, again silence. Did I actually throw them? All I could do was to hold my breath.

Two cans clanging against subway rails in the tunnel turned out to be the greatest sound i’d ever heard as they struck home.

“The fuck was that?” Asked Malt as everypony, except the still sleeping Cashews, stood up and drew their weapons.

“I dunno boss” Peanuts replied standing up and starting the motors in his miniguns.

I had a short moment before they’d knock off the noise to a rat or something. Next out of my saddlebag was a cinderblock. Even heavier than the two cans. Definitely. The grey block was almost hard to keep infront of me.

“Alright, who’s fucking with us? Doc?” Malt yelled down the hall. “Peanuts. Chains (Who had woken up a few hours before) go see what’s down there” Peanuts and Chains both nodded and went to see what caused the disturbance.

I got the cinderblock ready. It was taking much of my concentration just to keep it floating in front of me. And from dropping to the ground and giving me away. I looked down on Cashews as he turned. The shouting waking him from his short slumber. I had to. But how could I to somepony I didn’t even know?

I stood there as the block grew seemingly heavier and heavier. Looking down on the poor pony. And his… cutie mark of an assault rifle magazine. I couldn’t do it. Even if he was with these horrid ponies. I had no quarrel with him, or any of these ponies. Only the fact they’d kill me on sight if I was found out made me agree to this stupid plan to begin with.

“Come on out. I got two miniguns to shove up your ass” Yelled peanuts as he and chains descended back into the tunnel. I turned my head briefly to make sure nopony was behind me. Good, nopony. I turned my head back and found the eyes of the young Cashews looking at me. We both looked at each other.

I couldn’t. I had to. But I couldn’t. He’d raise the alarm. But why? Not like this, nopony deserves this. I’d just need to drop my focus from the cinder block or just stop using my magic in general. But looking at those eyes kept me from letting go. I couldn’t wrench my focus from either the cinderblock or Cashews. New music began to play.

“Reclaim” The word shuddered in my mind. An unknown yet familiar voice whispered into my mind. Making the few hairs I had left stand on edge, and caused my whole body to lock up. The brief moment of terror caused by that single word made the decision of the cinderblock for me.

I didn’t and couldn’t close my eyes from Cashew’s eyes. Even as the cinderblock fell. He knew what was about to happen. I did too.

There wasn’t even the satisfaction of a splatting sound. If there was it was drowned out by the new music. That brief second between me letting go and the cinderblock landing lasted for minutes. Then red as Cashews’ head popped like a rotten melon.

“I saw a peaceful old valley With a carpet of corn for a floor And I heard a voice within me whisper This is worth fighting for” A young stallion sang from the radio as the cinderblock hit. I stared down at the corpse before falling back. What had I just done?

“Cashews” Yelled somepony, dunno who. “Get up. Something's going on” they continued.

“Get up you sod.” Somepony else yelled. I think it was Chains.

“I’ll go kick him awake” Malt grumbled as somepony turned off the radio. I still stood there. Looking down at the corpse for a moment before remembering that if I stayed then I was certainly dead. Crouching down I turned and moved to the air duct.

“Get up Cashews som-” Malt began saying as he turned the corner. “Oh fuck” he said, his somewhat powerful voice was suddenly robbed of any of its power. In fact it almost sounded fearful. “Get Peanuts. Get Peanuts, he needs to see this”

“What? Did Cashews wet the bed? Oh boo hoo.” Chains replied sarcastically.

“This is fucking serious Chains” Malt snapped back. “Peanuts get here now. Cashews, your brother… something's happened” he then yelled. The heavy thudding of a pony weighed down by heavy armour surprised me as Peanuts charged up, out of the subway tunnel, faster than I thought possible.

I continued moving slowly towards where the air duct hung from the ceiling. Its supports near to the beam I was on had either broken or not been bolted onto the roof. It lay at a shallow angle up towards the roof. Only just large enough for me to squeeze into.

The heavy thudding of Peanuts came to a stop next to Malt. “B...broth?” Peanuts loudly said. I risked a look down below. Everypony was quietly moving to where Malt and Peanuts stood quietly. Chains rolling her eyes as she reached the top of the tunnel.

“What’s going on?” Blitz casually asked getting a few looks from the others, save Peanuts. It was the first time she spoke since she’d come back. Nopony replied. When she turned to see she also fell silent, leaving only Chains yet to see the fate of Cashews.

“B...Brother” Peanuts said. “No… no this can’t be, brother, please brother. Please don’t let this be true” Peanuts continued sniffling. “Please boss, tell me this isn’t real.” He asked. “This can’t happen. I promised him”

“I’m sorry Peanuts” Malt replied. “He’s gone” Malt said in a surprisingly sympathetic tone. “Must have been a bad wall or something”

“No” Peanuts said back, sniffling more. “This can’t have happened… Please, boss, I promised him once this job was finished that we’d go home” he began to wail. “I promised him we’d be able to afford to see mom before she died” Hearing Peanuts say that sent another chill down my spine. “Please boss.” He said again as he began to sob.

“I’m really sorry. I know it’s been rough ever since you got kicked out of the tin ponies. But it was going to happen at some point. The Raiders may live forever, but you won’t, nor will I, or the doc and his marefreind” Malt said trying to comfort the sobbing Peanuts.

“No… he can’t have just died like that” Peanuts replied

“Oh boo hoo” Chains said as she finally reached Peanuts. “Guess what shit for brains. He’s fucking dead, get over it. Your stupid kid brother wasn’t doing anything but taking up food anyways.”

“Chains, shut the fuck up” Blitz said.

“Oh really now lover mare? You’ve taken a shit on me ever since you and your lost love got together. I think this is almost due payback for all of your stupid ‘oh I want to be with you forever’ bullshit” Chains snapped back. “This is nature in action. The weak get weeded out and the strong survive. You two should be glad that you’re better than Snapper and Cashews.” She chuckled.

“You…” Peanuts said as he sniffed again, his voice raised. “You’ve got no sense of… of…. Of loss. You’ve lost nothing.” Peanuts continued. “Always complaining about my little bro getting more food… you bitch”

“Meybe yes, meybe no, the point is that you’re pathetic” Chains replied.

“Chains, shut the fuck up, you’re about to say something you’re going to regret” Malt said.

“No.. she already has” Peanuts evenly stated. “And I got something for you” he continued giving a little sniff. A moment later the miniguns on his battle saddle began to spin up. Giving their ominous whine.

“Oh come on you stupid little thick skulled prick” Chains snorted, clearly not intimidated by the miniguns. “I bet you’re going to feel better now your little shithead of a brother isn’t weighing you down. That’s how I felt when I killed my sister. Now i’m one of the meanest bitches in Alimane.”

“You mother fucking… hoof sucking, unicorn… daughter OF A WHORE” Peanuts yelled.

“Come on Peanuts, you don’t have it in you, pussy” chains laughed back. A moment later her laughter was cut off, replaced with a scream as the miniguns roared. Dozens if not hundreds of tracers bursting out from around the corner and ricocheting off the walls, gore splattering onto the same wall a second later

“BIIIITCH” yelled Peanuts.

Alright time to go. I didn’t look back as I pushed my way inside of the air duct. I didn’t want to see this. I squeezed and tried to climb further up. Dust was kicked up as I continued to crawl up the air duct. The minigun fire from Peanuts continuing to roar.

“FUCKING CELESTIA PEANUTS STOP FIRING” Yelled Malt over the roar of lead. A moment passed before the miniguns finally fell silent. Replaced with wild sobbing.

“I’m sorry” Peanuts wailed. “I’m so sorry brother” I grimaced as I managed to crawl to where the air duct leveled out. Loud crying filling the room behind me.

I continued forward for about six metres before reaching the point where this duct met a larger duct that ran to both sides of the building. It was large enough for somepony to stand up in, which was a relief. Being stuck in the smaller duct wasn’t something I’d be looking forward to.

I looked around trying to find the way to the duct grate that ran through the makeshift medical room that Doc Soothing and Band Aid were in. I looked both ways and started walking to my left when I noticed in the far corner somepony skeleton curled up. A scrap of paper in their hooves.

I carefully walked to the deceased, noting the packets of radiation medicines that littered the floor around the skeleton. I took care not to make much noise as I moved up and took the paper. A letter of goodbye was written on it.

Dearest Sunray, I write to you not knowing your fate. I’m hiding in the vents of Victory Park Subways station. I don’t know how, but I wasn’t killed by the balefire. The radiation poisoning is getting to me I think. I’ve taken Rad-Away and Rad-X at regular intervals, but i’m still showing symptoms of severe rad poisoning. To put it short my love, I’m dying. I guess this is my last chance to confess to you.

First - I confess that our foals aren’t yours. When we first got together I was able to go through your medical file, my MoS status gave me access, for security reasons ever since somepony set a bomb for the head of the LHCR Unit’s head. You must understand my dear, this research is...was important for the war effort. In your file was a doctors note saying that you had a low sperm count… So when we tried over and over again to have Foals I knew what was wrong. To put a long story short, I procured the services of a rent stallion for the sole purpose of having foals. In return for him helping us I promised to wipe his slate clean. And my plan worked… I’m so sorry my dear, I just wanted us to be a happy family, together forever. I only pray now that we’re going to be a happy family in the everafter.

Second - I was complicit with research and experimentation performed by the LHCR unit. Some of the rumours are sadly true. Like the 20th of november incident, and the hearthswarming eve massacre. And although I was part of the research and planning I did not intend or support any of those incidents. If anything they almost made me resign, if it wasn’t for our children I would have left after the first test. But they promised our children much, much more. I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. There are no Celestia fucking damned schools or collages for them to go to… If you’re all still alive.

And third- I was the reason behind your brothers dishonourable discharge and ‘accident’ that lead to his death. I’m sorry. But i’ve held too many secrets of national importance. If any of them were leaked or taken it’d be a disaster of unprecedented proportions, on level only with the leak of our Megaspell matrices. And your brother knew everything about what was going on in our department of the MoS, he threatened to take his findings to Twilight Sparkle, and she would have had us all thrown in prison. Or worse, referred to Princess Luna for punishment.

I’m sorry my dear. There are so many things I want to confess to you, but my time is running out. Please, against all odds. Please live, for our children.

Your everloving wife

Balloon.

I looked at the skeleton and then back at the note that was in her hooves. It felt wrong to take the note from her. But maybe her husband did survive. And I’d be able to give him closure.

And besides. Something about this ’LHCR unit’ seemed off. I shook my head and continued moving further down the air duct until I reached the grate that looked down on the improvised surgery table. One very, very dead Chains was laid ontop. I’d expected point blank miniguns to do damage, but not this much. Limbs were held onto the torso by thin skin that wasn’t torn asunder.

“I’m sorry Malt but she’s never coming back. And no amounts of Cybernetics, medicine or magic will do it.” Doc Soothing said sadly.

“Fuck. Are you sure? I’ve seen a few ponies in the old tapes in my stable do some pretty freaky magic, surely you must have something to bring her back. Even if she was a Jackass.” Malt asked.

“To put it bluntly Malt” Band Aid said “Even if we somehow do bring her back she’d die again in a few minutes tops. This sort of damage is too much. We’d have to replace every organ that aren’t her ovaries.” She continued.

“Fuck” Malt muttered in reply “We don’t have enough hooves to see both Cashews and Chains off at the same time. I guess i’ll take Peanuts down with Cashews now and get it over with. I’ll decide on what to do with Chains later. Thanks anyways you two. At this rate you won’t have anypony to heal”

Malt walked out slamming the door behind himself

“You think he’s serious about not having enough ponies at this rate?” Doc Soothing asked Band Aid. “I mean this is still just an outpost. The Raiders can’t be taking these casualties everywhere else”

“I dunno Soothing. With the Tinponies moving to contest the highway and the Winter Rangers are finally doing something to curb the Raiders. And obviously everypony is avoiding the Cathedral. No point wasting lives trying to push those psychotic bastards out. And shouldn’t that ghoul, be back soon?” She asked

“My name is Snow Berry you know” I said through the grate giving Doc Soothing a quiet scare. “Mind getting me out of here?” I asked as Doc Soothing floated a pair of screwdrivers up to the grate and loosened the screws

“You do have a knack for timing though” Doc Soothing said as he took the grate down with the screws.“And even though I’d hate to say it, given how killing isn’t my thing, but you’ve taken out two birds with one stone. Chains was pretty vigilant and Cashews kept Peanuts here. And with Malt taking Peanuts to see off his Younger brother we’ve got an opportunity to get out before anypony else dies.”

“I’m not comfortable with this” I said, Band Aid nodding her head.

“And I’m not?” Doc Soothing asked. “Look, I know you’ve told me you just woke up and before you. So you got a lot to learn, but it’s survival of the fittest out there. I hate it but we have to sacrifice life sometimes to save life” he said looking down.

“Alright.” I said after a short silence. “What are we going to do next?”

“You, Snow Berry, are going to hide in there. And i’ll deal with Fritz when he gets in here. Then we’re getting out of her-” Doc Soothing said as the door opened. I was trapped and there wasn’t time to try and hide. My horn for a moment glowed but nothing happened before the glowing cut out. Doc Soothing quickly looked to me and gave a shocked expression. And in walked Fritz, his excitement clearly visible for all to see.

“Doc, it’s almost a miracle, that gullible old sod is actually going with Peanuts to see Cashews off.” Fritz said triumphantly, ignoring the fact I staring at him from the air duct. “I dunno about what Blitz is going to, but all I need to do is keep the gate locked after they leave and let the monster in the tunnels take care of them.” He said with a chuckle.

Doc Soothing and Band Aid looked at each other. Both of them with expressions of confusion, shock or bafflement on their faces. “It’s… good to know Fritz” Band Aid started. “But what are you going to be doing after this?” She asked cautiously.

“Why my dear. I’m going to take you two and sell you.” Fritz said giving a cheesy grin. “It isn’t going to work when there is one of me and two of you.” He continued giving a little chuckle. “But trust me, i’m kind, you’ll go off to the Rangers or something like that.” Fritz looked into Band Aid’s green eyes.

“Why not try to take over the Raiders? Malt is still the leader, even when he is visiting places like this outpost” Doc Soothing asked, head cocked back. “They’re still rich and control all the Chem production.”

“Because the fucking Tinponies and the Winter Rangers are going to tear this little gang to pieces. A whole twenty year history is crashing down on the Raiders and they’ve got no way out.” Fritz angrily replied through clenched teeth. “It’s one giant shit sandwich and getting out is the only way of me to avoid chow time. And I don’t know about you, but i’d prefer not to lose my balls, or be the fuckpony for some pre war armour worshipers.”

“If you were going to do this, why would you tell us beforehand?” Doc soothing asked. “Why not just do the deed, say bwuhahahaha and then tell us what you’ve done?”

Fritz looked at Doc Soothing for a few seconds. Growling a little at the Doc’s question. “I dunno, maybe I just like stroking my own ego.” Fritz began in a sarcastically playful tone. “Or maybe it’s the fact i’m celebrating that the first time i’m not being dragged through the dirt when everypony that isn’t oh dear leader Malt Beer is seeing where the wind is blowing. I’m fucking sick of the uncertainty that jackass radiates.” Malt started pacing between the bins of gore and the surgery table.

“When I first killed somepony I felt that rush, that sickness, that feeling of guilt, back when Malt was forming the Raiders. And it felt so damn good. And now I have to watch him him grow old and dumb. He’s made too many slip ups, and for such a damn long time till I busted myself to this part of our frozen hellhole I was the one who cleaned up after his failures.” Fritz said slamming a hoof onto one of the bins. “Now when I kill I get nothing. That sick feeling, that rush, all of it. It’s gone! Forever. Even recoil from my gun is starting to feel weak. I’ve had enough of the damned killing.” Fritz continued, slamming his hoof again.

“I can’t really give you any sympathy Fritz, even though I can understand your particular problem.” Band Aid began. Receiving a glare from Fritz. “But neither me, nor Soothing can help you with that. If we could i’m sure we’d be more than willing. But we aren’t psychologists.” She continued softly, in an almost motherly tone.

“Yeah. I guess… That could be nice. Find out how fucked up I actually am. Find why I can’t sleep.” Fritz said turning on his hooves. “But you know what?” He sneered back. “I don’t give a fuck about that. With the caps i’ve got stored away I can go to Los pegasus and die from a heart attack after going all night long with eighteen hookers.” He shouted, eyes bulging, his green mane standing on ends, covering Band Aid’s face in spit.

Behind Fritz the door of the improvised medical room opened slightly. “Calm down Fritz” Doc Soothing said assertively, causing Fritz to turn his head to the Doc.

“You! Of all ponies. I...I'm perfectly calm. It’s the rest of you who are fucking crazy!” Fritz yelled causing Doc Soothing to flinch. “You’re all a bunch of scheming cowards. I...I bet you’re the reason why this place has been fucking up more. First with you blaming Big Boom’s OD on him when you gave him advice on what to take, then you probably tipped Snapper off to my first attempt to kill him” Fritz screamed.

“I did what I had to” Band aid started. Regaining Fritz’s attention. “I know you saw him as a threat and” Band aid was cut off as Fritz punched her square in the jaw, causing the poor mare to slide backwards across the floor to the wall.

“You bastard!” Yelled Doc Soothing yelled as he tried throwing a punch at Fritz. Being knocked back in the same way Band Aid was, only instead of hitting the wall, the Doc was stopped as the chain to his collar snapped rigid. The gap in the door growing slowly.

“Oh i’m a Bastard?” Fritz asked. “By that logic you’re all fucking murderers!” He continued kicking Doc Soothing in the gut. The Doc giving a yelp of pain as another hoof landed on his chest. “I know you’re always scheming something” Fritz yelled kicking yet again.

Watching Doc Soothing being kicked in the gut repeatedly made something in me die a little as my horn glowed again before fizzling out with an audible pop. And in that moment making all eyes turn to me.

“A HA” Yelled Fritz staring at me. “So we have a THIRD conspirator against my life! How wonderful.” Fritz yelled. “How long have you been under these two fucker’s control?” He asked jumping up to and trying to hang onto the air duct. I scarpered back as he tried to pull me back through. Even through his flailing I noticed the door open fully and somepony walking inside the room.

That brief moment of focus I lost was just enough for Fritz to catch my leg. Latching on he pulled me with surprising force back towards the access hole of the air duct. As he pulled I stretched out my legs in the hope of being able to counter his weight.

I instantly regretted that decision as my legs brought me back to the problem of seeing my body being this horridly melted and worn mass of flesh. The sight made me go suddenly lightheaded, my stomach turn in several directions at once, and my muscles lose any power they had as I tried to avoid being pulled into the medical room.

As my legs failed me I was flung into the room, landing just forward of the surgery table and losing what breath I already had. Fritz landing on top of me, one leg over my throat as he tried to choke me. Pain seared through my throat as Fritz tried to crush my windpipe. I flailed my legs, trying to get him off me. But he had me fully pinned. Even as I squirmed.

“I’ve” Fritz yelled as he punched my head “Had” He yelled again as he punched me in the other side of the head. “Enough” Another punch “Of” Another. Pain was screaming across my throat and head as he bashed me, darkness starting to fill my peripheral vision. “Everypony” Another punch. My head was slowly numbing. I guessed this was the end. Survived a Balefire bomb, only to get beaten to death. I’d almost prefer to have died in the army before I got out then going out like this.

I closed my eyes as Fritz reared up to smash my skull into paste and let my mind calm. And I waited for the end. Every second felt like an hour as I waited. Or was I already dead and didn’t know it? Some warm liquid dropped onto my face.

A thud next to me shook me.

Alright this was taking forever. I thought as I opened my eyes, to find Band AId and Doc Soothing looking down at me with a healing potion. Didn’t they know it was already my time?

I turned my head slightly, seeing Fritz lie on the ground spasming. A knife driven through the front of his throat. Huh… Curious. I tried reaching my hoof over to him, my leg buckling under the weight of gravity.

I looked up at another pony, a mare, dried tears on her face, look down on me sadly, yet also bitterly.

I could remember a face just like that. So long ago. The face mother had when we got the letter of my father’s sacrifice to the kingdom against the zebra hordes. It was on that day I got into a nasty scrap with somepony else over some mundane thing.

Behind her a poster of Princess celestia, faded, save for her eyes glowed purple for a second before turning back to normal. I was about to say something, probably some slurry of words when the healing potion was brought to my lips, and the faint berry flavour poured onto my tongue.

I closed my eyes, something warming my battered head. I opened my eyes again. I wasn’t in the medical bay anymore. And neither Doc Soothing, nor Band Aid were in their collars. In fact they were even armed! I moved my head as I tried to get up.

“Whoh there” Doc Soothing said as he slowly braced me. “Take it” he continued before his voice faded out for a second. “At a time, we don’t know the extent of your injuries yet”

“...have to go… back any minute” One of the two mares who were standing next to me said harshly. I closed my eyes again.

When I opened them I. We were at the front gate of the subway. The mare with dried tears on her face grimaced as she did something with the gate before pulling a rope.

The first thing I felt as the two gates opened was the cold blast of air from the outside. The second was the blinding bright light. And into the blinding white light I, supported by Doc Soothing, and Band Aid, walked. I closed my eyes to save myself from the pain of the light. My hooves walking onto something light and crunchy.

I tried opening my eyes. The image of the bustling El Alimane day before me. Pegasi flying above, and Earth ponies, along with Unicorns trotting down the snow covered streets in winter clothing… Strange. Wasn’t El Alimane in the desert?

I blinked again. The image replaced with a much, much more grim image.

The entire skyline was cloud covered, the skyscrapers we had spent so much on building, which dominated El Alimane, wherever you looked at it from were blasted black and twisted beyond all recognition. A streak of light, flying from one of the many mockeries that were once skyscrapers to another, exploded as quickly as it had appeared. The rattling of guns in the distance echoing off the Urban jungle.

“Well Snow Berry” Doc Soothing said grimly. “Welcome to El Alimane, the weather today is freeze your balls off cold with a change of brutal murder” He continued

But I knew what this place was.

Home…

Footnote Added: Level up

Quest Perk Added: Housekeeper. Increased chance of finding rare loot amongst junk.