Fallout Equestria: Reclaim, Retread

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.