Fallout Equestria: Sparkle-Worldby Tower of 0ChaptersChapter 1: The RescueChapter 2: Making FriendsChapter 3: Setting Plans In MotionChapter 4: The Forest of DemonsChapter 1: The RescueIt's your mission, as chosen by the Overmare..... The mare came to, in a daze as she heard voices talking. Her head hurt and the sun was in her eyes, or at least what could reach though. She was moving, slowly moving. She quietly groaned as she attempted to lift her body off the bottom of this... cart? No, it was a cage on wheels, and a couple stallions were conversing to themselves. Fuck, they were raiders. "Ey look." One of the raiders finally took notice of their captor. "Looks like 'ittle Dweller is awake." "Hit yer head pretty hard, luv." The other smirked. "Don't worry though, we'll take good care o' ya." They both started to cackle out is sick manner and continued back to the path ahead. The mare quickly looked at herself. Still clothed, good. Then she pulled up her Pip-Buck an quickly scrolled through her inventory. Empty. She sat back, literally having nothing but the barding on her body and the reliable device on her fore leg. This wasn't looking good. ~Some Time Earlier~ The Overmare stood if front of the mare, proudly smiling having personally picked her. The mare was scared, she hadn't been out of the comfort of the Stable before. The Overmare started to hand the mare some items: A couple of healing potions, ammo, a pistol, food, water, and a pair of binoculars. "As Overmare of Stable 42, I have tasked you with one mission: Find a new source of food for the Stable." The Overmare announced after giving the mare items she felt was needed. The mare was confused, but no time to rebuttal. "Should you succeed in your mission, you are to immediately return to Stable 42 where we will extract the location from your Pip-Buck." The Overmare grinned one fake grin.... ~Now~ Her memory was broken at the sound of gunfire. "An ambush!" One of the raiders yellled as they hid behind the cage/wagon. "By who?!" The other asked. Being a unicorn, the first whip a scoped rifle from it's case and looked up, his eyes going wide. "It's HIM! The other's jaw clenched and grabbed a knife from its sheath and bore it with his teeth. Charging out and heading off to the front of the wagon. He just barely made it a few meters away before streaks of light turned the stallion into pink ash. The mare had followed where the streaks come from to gaze upon another armored stallion. The armor had covered him from head to tail, showing no signs for slowing. The only raider left took aim with the rifle in his magic, then squeezed the trigger. CLANG The armored stallion didn't slow, only a spark from where the bullet hit. CLANG Another shot hit his visor and did nothing. She could see a bit better now the armor was red, with white detailing. The Armor-clad stallion rushed by her and threw his entire weight in a bash. The raider went down, knocked out cold. The armored stallion just stared at the raider then kicked the other's jaw, ensuring he wasn't getting back up anytime soon. The stallion then turned to look at the mare in the cage. Taking a few steps back from the cage. She didn't need to see his eyes, she could feel his stare on her. He then charged the cage, his entire weight hitting the wagon and tipping it over. Fuck! He's gonna kill me! The patchwork on the bottom of the wagon was shoddy at best. Raiders were more for looking fearsome than making something worth while. Nothing a few good bucks can't handle. The stallion turned around, readying himself for the work. BANG BANG BANG One of the metal sheets came loose, then a another buck sent it into the cage. The stallion peered inside and groaned internally at the sight: the mare was knocked out. He took a closer look at the mare and finally saw the blue barding and device on the fore leg. A Stable Dweller, Alive? The stallion put his fore hooves on the other pieces of metal and pushed, popping it off and tearing it away. Then heading into the cage and grabbing the mare. He slung her unconscious body on his back and left the scene. The raider came to hours later. It didn't take him long before he started to panic. His body was sore and he couldn't feel his jaw, but he pushed on and ran off. He ran until he collapsed from exhaustion, crying out in pain. Then he remembered the healing potions he took off the mare. His horned fired up in a magical blaze and pulled one from his bags and popped the cork, pouring its contents down his throat. Night had fallen and the raider came scrambling through the gates of large settlement. He was pushing slaves out of his way, yelling a name that wasn't quite coming out right as he galloped. The raider stallion bumped into a couple of other raiders who nabbed him and held the pony in place. A hoof slapping him across the face. "Get a hold of yer self mate!" One of them yelled, a mare with a dirty enough coat that the color couldn't be made out. "He, he ambushed us! We gotta tell tha Overboss!" The stallion whinnied. "Who?!" The mare asked, a scowl pointed at him. "The S-Sparkle F-f-fury!" Eyes around the raider went wide, and then he was hauled off in a rush. He soon found himself standing in front of a seated unicorn buck with a grayed coat and darker mane, scars marking all across his face. The stare he gave was cold, especially from his dulled blue eyes. He reached a hoof out to the panicked raider. "And why, 12 Gauge, is it you have the nerve to demand the Overboss? You know they don't see no one for no reason." The unicorn asked, his void like gravel to the ears. "Well.. uh... Sir.. tha Sparkle Fury ambushed me and Cable Cutter while transporting a new slave." Gauge replied. Unsure of his predicament. The unicorn scowled. "The Overboss will not like this news." 12 Gauge nodded. "What should we do? This guy's been harrasin our work." "Well..." The unicorn hummed, ".. YOU should be getting far away from here before the Overboss has your head on a pike." 12 Gauge turned pale and started to hyperventilate. He was a stallion of steel nerves, was. It changed when his ass was kicked by a pony in armor. A legend no less. 12 Gauge just started to scramble out the door, neither wanting to feel the wrath of the Overboss, and praying to Celestia and Luna that the Sparkle-Fury doesn't cross his path again. Chapter 2: Making FriendsWhy can't I ever speak up for myself? The mare woke up, for a second time today. She was in bed now, a rather comfortable bed. She couldn't help but snuggle against the pillow some, missing the feel of a proper pillow. Having only been a few days out of Stable 42 and already having been captured by raiders for... whatever. Suddenly there was a sizzling noise and she was more aware of her surroundings. She was in a room, a back room that looks like furniture was moved and added. A fridge that looked somewhat fixed up sat in the corner across the room. The a pegasus came through the door, trotting by her as he approached the fridge and grabbed the handle with his mouth and pulled it open. His head leaned into the fridge and pulled out a water. Thank Celestia! Some water! The mare was still on edge, the pegasus being a stranger, all she knew, he could be another raider! The stallion approached her and set the bottle next to the bed. "You should drink something." His voice was somewhat rough, but soft. Had a hint of kindness. "You'll feel better." He soon left her before she could open her mouth to thank him. Of course... She steadied the water in her hoof and popped the top off, tilting it up and taking a drink. Her eyes continued to look out the door, just barely seeing the stallion's flank. His tail was short, but jet back, just looking like a dark stub against the pale purple of his coat. He then walked away from whatever he was doing and back into the room. "Name's Dragon Blazer. Your savior for the day." The mare watched him go back to the fridge and stick his head in. "Uh... I'm..." Her voice died off some, "Blossom Cherry." The voice he listened to was sweet, soft, this wasn't a mare for the harsh realities of the Equestrian Wastelands. She took another drink of water and looked at him as his head came back out with a bottle of... something. Blossom Cherry then noticed something about the stallion as he was walking back: His eyes, one was a firey orange that looked like would glow in low light and the other was pale, with three deep gashes going across his coat. "Uhm.. thank you.. by the way. For saving me." Blossom piped up. Dragon Blazer poured the contents of the bottle onto the food he was preparing and set it down. "It's quite alright. Not often I get a slave before they're collared." "Slave?" Blossom gulped. Dragon whinnied and nodded. "Yup. They would've taken you to Sparkle-World. Where you'd have been stripped, raped, collared, and made to do as those slavers pleased." Blossom's eyes grew wide. "Sparkle-World?" "Only been here a couple years, but most pony who's any pony's heard of Sparkle-World." Dragon Blazer did something. "Wh-what is it?" Blossom asked. "The slavers' hub of choice, taken by force and slaves to fill jobs they don't want to do themselves." Dragon explained, sighing bit. "The stories before the war say that this place was once a center of happiness." "Well..." Blossom Cherry shifted on the bed, sitting up against the wall, "...isn't there any kind of ponies that could help?" "Like heroes?" Blossom nodded and the stallion chuckled. "Kid, I know you're out of the Stable, but the wasteland has no place for heroes." Blossom hung her head a bit. "But you saved me." "I'm a just a Stallion trying to do the right thing... no hero." "Isn't that all it takes? A will to do the right thing?" Blossom pointed out. "A will to do what's right by every one." Dragon Blazer's tone was stale. "That ain't this world. Kill or be killed." Before anything else could be said, the stallion went back around the corner. His wing outstretched while he grab a couple of grubby plates with something on them. He re-entered the room, taking on of the plates between his teeth and setting it in Blossom's lap. It looked like vegetables, didn't look decent but she wasn't going to say anything to upset the stallion. The two continued to eat in silence. The taste of the cooked veggies was surprisingly delicious. Was it that liquid he had in the bottle? The stallion had finished first, quite a bit fast also. Dragon Blazer just sat there, observing his guest. She was light pink in her coat, her mane a dark red, but her eyes were a beautiful shade of green. He started to smile and didn't even notice. "Uhm... are you okay?" Blossom Cherry asked, looking at him strangely. "Oh uh. Yeah." Dragon Blazer was snapped out of his daze by her silk-like voice. "Just been a while since I was with another pony, really." Blossom soon finished her meal, leaning back against the wall. Before she knew it, the plate was gone from her lap and the stallion taken both of the dishes out of the room. The night became young and Blossom found herself listening to the radio. Wasn't any Stable-Tec Approved programming, not that she minded. Yet, in the background were faints sounds of hammering and welding. She got curious and climbed out of bed. As unfamiliar as this place, it was cozy. Not too small like the Stable, neither too big like an atrium. Blossom continued on, into the small hall and around the desk jutting from the wall. She soon found herself in the doorway to a garage, staring at a rather familiar red suit of armor in the middle. Dragon Blazer with a set of welding goggles on and working on the armor. "Is that..." Blossom started. The welder ceased and he looked up at her. "Yes, it is the Sparkle-Fury." Blossom Cherry nodded a bit. "But, what exactly is it." "An old suit of Steel Ranger armor from before the war. Promotional only, but I've made a few upgrades." She could get a good look at the armor. The red paint was faded, the white looked worse. It bore marks and scars, having seen it's fair share of battles. On one side was a heavy weapon of sorts, almost like a machine gun but more. She couldn't quite describe it though, her expertise wasn't weapons. Across the breastplate and flanks were the words "Sparkle-Cola." "Magically powered armor with a package courtesy of yours truly." Dragon Blazer announced, almost sounding proud. "What's that weapon?" Blossom asked, turning her head to the stallion. "A.. uh.. magical energy gun...." Dragon answered, unsure. "I saw it fall from the cloud curtain. There's another weapon I'm after that would make the Sparkle-Fury a true legend." The mare only looked to him a spark of something in his eyes. The next day, Blossom Cherry woke up in the bed to a storm outside. She heard the rustling of the pegasus in the front room. Blossom walked out of the back room and tilted her head. Dragon Blazer had some sort of outfit on and a mask. A battle saddle was over the outfit with a single rifle. He was muttering to himself, checking off things mentally. "Where are you going?" Blossom asked, finally speaking up. "To go get more food. With two of us gonna be eating, I'll have to double efforts." Dragon explained from under his mask. "It's storming though, won't the food get wet?" Blossom asked. "No. That's a Rad storm out there. No water, but worse." Dragon Blazer trotted to the door. "There's assorted Sparkle-Cola in the fridge, food and water also. Help yourself." Blossom nodded and he left. It had been a couple of hours, and the storm outside was still raging. How long will he be? The there was a sudden crash towards the front of the building and a door opening. She rushed out of the room yet again and was glad to see the pegasus, but he was coughing up a mess. "Dragon?" Blossom Cherry piped up again. "Bottom shelf. Counter. Should be a medical box. Grab it and slide it to me." Dragon Blazer ordered, tearing the mask off and tossing it into a corner. Doing as she was told, Blossom Cherry found the yellow box and set it on the floor. Sliding it over to the pegasus where he firmly pressed down on the box with a hoof. He then flipped it open, taking an orange pouch into his mouth and downed it all. IT tasted bitter but then he started to take off his torn outfit. "Well, there goes that." Dragon said before kicking it away, revealing the scars on his body. "What happened out there?" Blossom took a step forward. "Heh. Feral ghoul ponies." Dragon smirked. "Mindless animals with nothing on mind but blood at all costs." "Oh my Celestia... will you be alright?" "Yeah, ferals ain't nothin' like the abominations you'll find in Sparkle-World." Dragon Blazer looked to her. "Not all is lost." Dragon Blazer dropped a bag at his hooves. The bag looked full, almost looking like it was about to burst at its seams. Dragon had chuckled a bit then leaned against the wall. Blossom was staring wide at the bag then looked to Dragon Blazer. He looked exhausted, like he hadn't slept yet. "How long has it it been since you last slept?" Blossom inched forward some, looking at him. "Hm... not since I arrived here. It's been hard to properly sleep around here." Dragon Blazer slumped over some, looking up at the mare. "I need a drink." Noon. I hate noon The stallion thought to himself as he looked out towards the center of Sparkle-Town from the patio of Colatop Grille. His muzzle contorted into a scowl as he turned away from the sight and towards the bar that he used as his desk for the Overboss. A glorified receptionist for someone who's afraid to show they're goddess-damned face. His ears perked up at the sound of the lift motor whirring to life. One of his scout ponies, hopefully with good news. Once the platform reached the top, he was there. The scout looked a bit worried. If there was anyone who was second to the Overboss in fierceness, it was this pony he was about to report to. "Anything good?" The stallion asked the skittish raider. "Uhm.. no.." The pony's answer was met with a growl before a kick was suddenly delivered to their face. The stallion's kick was full of enough force that it sent the pony stepping backwards. The body fell from the platform and down to the ground, breaking the pony's legs. "So. What's a Stable Dweller like you doing so far out here?" Dragon Blazer asked, taking a swig from his Sparkle-Cola. "Well... I was sent on a mission from my Overmare to find anew source of food." Blossom Cherry explained, just holding her own bottle of Sparkle-Grape. "Sounds like she's planning on moving out of that Stable." Dragon pointed out. "Maybe, for a while, the soil for our crops have been plentiful. Now, we have fewer of a harvest the year after year." Blossom looked down. "Hm... I may have an idea for a place, but we may need some help." Dragon mused, his gaze going to the door. Chapter 3: Setting Plans In MotionThis is crazy, but I hope he's right... "Memorized what you need to say?" Dragon asked. "Eeyup" Blossom responded. "Hold on. I ain't sending you out there without some armor and a gun." Dragon Blazer trotted off into the garage. He came back with a piece of armor in his mouth, offering it to the mare. Blossom smiled at his a bit, taking the chest piece and quickly putting it on. Dragon Blazer soon went back to the other room and came out with a pistol. Blossom Cherry took it from him. "The armor may be a little weighty, but it shouldn't affect you too much." Blossom Cherry was too busy putting on the armor to respond. "Remember what rules to follow out there?" Dragon Blazer asked when she finished. "Be Aware, Be quick on your feet, and..." Blossom trailed off trying to remember. "Don't pull a trigger unless you have to." Blossom nodded, then tilted her head at him. "What will you do while I'm gone?" "I'm going to tear down the boards over the windows and start fortifying the place." Dragon looked around, then back to the mare. "Don't forget to grab some food and healing potions in case." The mare just nodded and went to grab a small saddle bag. Dragon Blazer went to work kicking the boards out from the windows, listening to them hit the dust outside. Blossom soon left with her small bag of supplies to head back to her Stable and discuss their idea. It had been a few hours since she left, Dragon had built some barricades out of the small bit of wood he had on the windows. He managed to build a few turrets on the roof of the station with what else he scrounged out from the nearby areas. Not particularly big in caliber, but they will have to do for the time being. Dragon Blazer had his own gears working of a full fledged plan. Over the horizon, Dragon could see Blossom coming back with about five other ponies. Blossom Cherry was feeling rather safe having these five security ponies following her. Each one had a certain weapon assigned to them. Dragon Blazer came out of the station to meet them. "Quite the squad you got there." Dragon said to the mare. "Five of the best Stable 42 guards." Blossom chimed, trotting up and standing next to the pegasus. Dragon took a good long look at the security ponies in front of them. He noted the rocket launcher strapped to the back of one earth pony, the minigun saddle on the other pegasus, both unicorns had different shotguns, and the last pony had a rifle saddle. "You ponies have enough ammo for those guns?" Dragon Blazer asked, a bit curious. They all nodded in unison. Dragon leaned in close to Blossom's ear. "I didn't know you're stable had quite the arms." He whispered. "Neither did I" She whispered back. Dragon and Blossom led the group inside. Dragon had a small map on the counter sitting next to a couple of pictures. The five security ponies stood at attention on one side of the desk, helmets on still and visors down to cover their faces. Dragon and Blossom stood on the other side, looking at them. Then Blossom started to play something on her Pip-Buck. "Greetings, the pony known as 'Sparkle-Fury,' I'm the Overmare for Stable 42." A voice began on the recording. "As I'm aware, you save our scout from danger and have a plan for out Stable to live out in the wasteland. It seems like a crazy idea and I have no reason to trust you, but I will for now. Along with the scout should be five of the best ponies on the Stable 42 Security Force. They have been assigned to work with you as well as put you down if should be really be a raider." Dragon looked down at the Pip-Buck with the only raised brow that wasn't clawed off. "My scout seems to believe you're intentions are to help us, so I'm trusting her to make sure this message reaches you." The recording stopped with a beep. "Well, now that's out of the way. As a team, we will be taking Sparkle-World for those goddess-damned slavers that inhabit it." Blossom's draw dropped out of sheer surprise. "The park itself is split up into different sections: Bottling Plant, Fluttershy's Forest, Braeburn Canyon, Party Palace, Future Zone, and Sparkle-Town." Dragon's hoof pointed to each spot on the map. "The slavers main hub is Sparkle-Town and haven't been able to reach the other parks. Either out of sheer laziness or there are some nasties keeping them out." "Well, if the raiders couldn't get anywhere, why would we?" One of the security ponies asked. "We aren't the raiders... so out first move will be to take over the surrounding parks before we go after Sparkle-Town." Dragon explained. "These raiders follow a pony only known as the 'Overboss' and the right hoofed stallion named Sickle." The ponies just looked at the pictures of a scarred up stallion and a heavily armored pony. "Where do we begin?" Blossom asked. Dragon smirked a bit and pointed a hoof to the map. "Fluttershy's Forest. There's a treehouse in the center of that park we could place a sniper. Only one problem." "What is it?" The rifle pony asked. "The park is overrun with some beasties that took my left eye. I call 'em Demonclaws." Chapter 4: The Forest of DemonsWelcome to the Jungle. The group was wading through the empty park walk ways, keeping their wits about as they approached the gate to Fluttershy's Jungle. Dragon Blazer had donned his Sparkle-Cola armor again and was in lead of the group. Blossom added a few pieces of metal to her legs. The five security ponies just followed silently, looking around the wide open area. The heavy steps of the armor stopped in front of the front gates to the Fluttershy's Forest park. The seven ponies lined up in a fashion like a military force ready to sweep in and take back what was theirs. Only they were seen ponies with determination and a mission. Dragon Blazer was the first to step forward and enter the once zoo, then Blossom followed by her Stable's supplied security team. The park was quiet save for some ambient noises of the other wildlife still hanging around. Though somewhat harmless mutated creatures there were, the air was a bit tense as the group was on approach to the visitor center. Dragon's eyes peered out from behind his visor, scanning the area and spotted a tree with a large structure built on it. His eyes soon became fixed on the earth pony with the rifle, the pony caught the gaze and looked back. Silent words were exchanged between the two as Dragon pointed the structure out. The security pony nodded and trotted off. Not soon after a horrendous roar was heard and the rifle pony was galloping back and jumped back on to the platform with the others. Blossom went pale hearing that roar, but Dragon took on a battle stance. "I was hoping to avoid this...." Dragon muttered as heavy steps of a large creature were heard. "Everypony form a circle!" Without hesitation the five security ponies formed up in a circle with their guns facing out and ready. The first of the demonclaws to have shown their nasty mug was fired into immediately after. The beast fell over, riddled with bullets and bleeding from all of the wounds. It didn't take long for the entirety of Fluttershy's Forest to be filled with the same roars and heavy steps. Sickle looked beyond the balcony of the grille to the rest of Sparkle-Town. The stallion looked at the rest with disgust before his ears perked up to some sounds in the distance. The more he tried to listen, the more it became clear what was going on. Gunfire and loud roaring, he turned his head to listen more. Something was going on, something one of the other groups were planning? The space outside the visitor center had turned into a battlefield. Bodies of demonclaws were piling up and two of their members had already gone down as a result. Dragon lost his helmet in the fray but kept fighting as he went hoof to hoof with one of them. Blossom had grabbed the minigun saddle and rained down hell upon the relentless monsters. "Get to the nest!" Dragon ordered, using his back legs to kick a demonclaw down. "Quickly, while it's clear!" Blossom and the three remaining security ponies made a break for the center of the park. Dragon soon followed suit but was still behind due to the heavy suit of armor. Dragon quickly turned around and started to open fire with his heavy magic gun. The barrels spun up and a spray of pink lasers lit up their pursuers. Blossom and her group navigated the hedge maze to make it to the base of a large tree. Dragon could be heard coming, the armor of his whirring and shaking the very ground beneath him. The roars and hissing continued as the demon claws lurked the corners, not nearly as fast but trying to keep up. Dragon made it to the tree base before they did and took the lift up to the treehouse by himself. A sigh of relief came over him when he saw the rest of them up here in safety. The five soon gathered at the tree houses bar, soon after finding out that this was really a restaurant itself. Each had a Sparkle-cola near them and some food. Dragon's Sparkle-Cola armor stood in idle while the rest had weapons leaned up against the bar. All five of them sat in silence for the fallen. "So... I never got you names. I know Blossom Cherry here." Dragon piped up, looking down the bar. A mare was the first to break the silence, being a unicorn with both shotguns now, "I'm Flower Powder. Most call me Powder." The stallion was next, a built earth pony who had to carry the missile launcher, "I'm Buffalo Step." The last one stayed quiet a bit longer, then spoke, "I'm Spring Leaf. Also called 'Long-eye.'" "Dragon Blazer." The pegasus stated. The rest looked at him. "So, Question." Blossom piped up, looking at Dragon. "How did you get a name like 'Dragon Blazer' as a pegasus?" "Well," The large pegasus started, "'Dragon Blazer' is more of a nickname. My real name is Sky Blaze." "How'd you get it?" Buffalo asked, now interested in the origin. "Ever burned a dragon from the inside?" Blaze looked at the stallion, his face wearing a dead grimace. "It isn't pretty." The group fell silent as their lead just stared down the bar towards the stallion. The group finished up their meals and dissipated around the vantage point to tend to their own businesses. The Stable ponies looked over their weapons of choice while having checked over their ammo. Blaze and Cherry were off on the other side of the restaurant. The pegasus worked on his armor with what little tools were around. Most of the damage was minor, some scraped off paint here, a couple of scratches there. "Dragon?" Blossom looked over at the preoccupied pegasus. "You can call me Sky, few ever get to call me by name." He responded and looked over to her. "Sky, what do you think our odds here are? Y'know, of succeeding in taking territory from these raiders without them noticing?" "Somewhat slim, they will notice eventually." Blaze replied to her as he finished up his maintenance. "We take enough territory and somepony's bound to notice" Blossom hummed out in thought as Sky stood up on all fours and turned to face the mare. He took a step forward and placed one of his fore legs on the railing and gazed out to what remains of the amusement park. He scanned the streets, seeing what was left of the toothy monstrosities they called Demonclaws. Then his gaze shifted to the horizon, looking towards the sky to gauge the time. He was focused for once, and it felt like ages to him since he last was. "I have a plan." Sky blurted out as he spun around to face the group. "We split into two teams. One will get in the visitor's center and see what they can find out, the other team will seek and destroy these monsters." "Oh..'kay. Who are the teams?" Powder ended up asking after a brief moment of silence. Sky just pointed a hoof in the stable ponies direction, "You all are the Visitor Center Team." "Then that just leaves you as the other team" Blossom pointed out. "Of course, my armor and magic gatling should allow me to hold my own. Once you all are in, I'll make my way to you when I think the coast is clear." The four other ponies just sat in silence as they stared at the stallion. Powder was the first to use her magic to cock both shotguns and stash them on her back. Blossom looked at the trio now as they started to gather up supplies and their weapons without much of a fuss. "You can't be serious." Blossom said as she seemed to pout a bit, "You're just agreeing to this plan?" "Well, yeah." Buffalo poke out. "We got nothing else to go on but Sky, and it sounds like he knows what he's doing." Blossom looked at Sky now. "That's suicide! Fighting raider ponies by yourself is one thing but facing those monsters is another!" "Blossom, you're going to have to trust me on this. I do know what I'm doing and they're not that many right now." Sky gave her a bit of a knowing smirk. Blossom couldn't give much of a rebuttal as the ponies around her were starting to leave the treehouse haven. Behind her were the whirrs and hiss of Sky's armor as he stepped back into it and it enclosed his body in a heavy steel shell, save for his head. Blossom just sighed in defeat and grabbed her saddle gun and slid it over her backside. She looked over to Sky with some visible concern on her face. "Don't you worry you're little head about me. Remember what the mission is." Sky said to her, briefly locking eyes and showing his determination. Before Blossom could say another word, he hopped the railing and landed with a loud thud. A cloud of dirt covered his landing before he made off in a sprint and leaving behind a crater. The other Stabledwellers reached the ground and looked over the crater for a moment while they waited for Blossom. Before they started moving, they could hear Sky's fire off in the distance. "Guess that's our cue to get moving." Blossom stated s she reached the ground. Blossom led her group to the visitor center of the park. It was quiet for the most part, save for the occasional explosive in the background. Bodies of the monsters littered the ground to the center. They did spot the mangled bodies of their once allies. Blossom put herself on point, Spring on over watch, Powder and Buffalo flanking the sides of the doors. She looked to the each of them. Both nodded to her and she nodded back. Blossom inched herself closer to the door. The door to the visitor center creaked open to the large, open lobby was empty of life it seemed. Blossom poked her head in before taking a step in and looking around the room. She then leaned outside and waved the other two in. As she was coming back inside, that's when it awoke. A Demonclaw larger than any they seen so far. It let out a guttural, deep growl as it rose from behind the lobby desk. "Oh buck." Blossom muttered with a kick to the saddle gun. The minigun barrels spun to life as it wound up. The monster started to charge, the minigun hailed bullets towards the beast. It was to no avail as the Demonclaw seemed to have just shrug off the bullets as it cleared the room in mere seconds and knocked Blossom off to the side. Before the monster could make another strike against the mare, two shotguns were shoved into its face. "Bueno dias, motherbucker" Powder quipped as she pulled the triggers with her magic. The beast roared out in pain as it backed away, grabbing at it's face. Blossom was pulled back out of the center with Powder's magic and soon replaced with Buffalo's ready missile launcher. A loud FWOOSH erupted from the tube and smoke bellowed out the back. The missile headed right for the monster and collided. The resulting explosion sent the beast flying backwards into a wall, still kicking but now majorly injured. Blossom stood in the doorway again and spun her gun up. The demonclaw started to get back up, letting out another growl. The minigun let loose a stream of fire again and tore down what was left of the monster. With the area now secure, the group moved on into the lobby and start what they guessed was an investigation for something. Blossom trotted over to the lobby computer and started to pick through the files stored there. "Ugh! There's nothing on here!" Blossom slammed her hooves against the desk. "It's just welcome messages and useless notes!" "Blossom!" Her ears perked up at the sound of Spring calling her name. "You should come see this." Blossom left the front desk to follow the sound of Spring's voice. There she found a security gate hidden just out of sight and around a corner with a sign that read "Research and Development." This definitely didn't look like it belonged here. She tried to access the terminal close to the gate, but it was password locked and no amount of attempted hacks was bearing any fruit. Just then the door to the center opened again and this time, it was Sky. He had a slight limp to his step as he came in. Blossom peeked around the corner and her eyes widened. "Sky!" She rushed on over to the armored stallion and looked him over once. Sky just smiled at her some and limped on over to the desk. He leaned against it as he reached into one of his spare bags and pulled out his lost helmet. Blossom just looked at him, trotting over to the desk and looking at his helmet. Sky then reached into his saddle bags again and pulled out a holotape between hi teeth and handed it over to Blossom. "What's this?" She asked before taking the tape and shoving it in her pip-buck. "No idea. Found while out there and figured you might use it." Sky responded as he huffed a bit. "What happened to you?" Blossom looked to Sky as the tape loaded. "One of those bastards surprised me." With the tape now loaded, Blossom started to flick through it. It was a journal of one of the science ponies that used to work here! The journal detailed plenty they needed to know. Like the demonclaws being created here in this section of the park to attract more guests and the password to the security gate. "Here, take this." Blossom said, pulling a healing potion from her own bag and placing it on the desk next to Sky. "Thank you." He took the top off the bottle and started to down it. Sky started to feel the effects of the potion and watched as Blossom trotted off. He grabbed his helmet with his front hooves and slid it back on to his head. He then followed the mare to the gate and gazed at it with the rest of the crew. Something felt off to him about the sight before him. Blossom got into the terminal and the gate unlocked in a matter of minutes. "Now why would a park need a R&D for a zoo?" Sky remarked. The gate swung open on its own and the team filed through it one at a time. Blossom silently putting herself on point, followed by Powder, then Buffalo, the Spring. The last to step through the gate was Sky. The halls were silent as they made way deeper into the facility. Sky eventually made his way up to the front, trotting next to Blossom. "What do you think went on here?" Sky asked. "I guess this is where those monstrosities came from." Blossom answered. "That holotape you gave me belonged to a science pony called Test Tube. He led the project." "What for?" Sky peered around a corner. "To gain guests." The team ended up in the main lab. First thing they saw were three of the demonclaws. Two of the regular sized ones and another larger beast. There was also a large machine behind them. Sky just scanned the room and motions for the crew to fall back. So they did and Sky started up in hushed whispers. "Here's the plan. Buffalo, whatever that machine is, you blow it to hell. Spring and Powder, focus fire on the little guys. Blossom and I will take down the large one with our guns." Every pony seemed to be in agreement with the set up. Blossom breathed an internal sigh of relief. She was just glad he wasn't fighting these things alone again. The ponies started to get in some sort of position, the respective three staying out of sight the best they could. Blossom and Sky both descended the stairs. A missile went flying over their heads and the heads of the creatures after the duo met the bottom of the staircase. It collided with the machine in the back, causing it to explode in a glorious manner. Sky and Blossom spun up their gun and the monstrosities let out guttural roars as they turned their attention to the ponies. A well placed sniper bullet put down one of the regular-looking beasts and buckshot took care of the other one. Yet this only served to piss off the larger of the demonclaws. It let loose a roar that shook the very building. Sky and Blossom started firing away in unison at the beast. It only shrugged off the magical and small arms fire as it started to charge the two. Powder rushed to intervene but was simply pushed aside by the hulking beast. Blossom soon charged at it while firing away with her minigun. "Blossom! Wait!" Sky called out. It was too late. He helplessly watched as Blossom was smacked out of the way and knocked unconscious. Thump-Thump Time seemed to slow down now. Thump-Thump He scowled underneath his helmet and stopped firing. He turned his back to the charging monster and raised his hindlegs in an upward kick. The power he put behind his legs combined with the added strength of the armor snapped the creature's head up. It reeled back as it howled in pain. This gave enough room for Sky to perform his own charge against the monster. With a powerful bash against it with his head, the demonclaw struggled against it. The rage built, fueling his fire. Sky took some more steps back and charged again with the added fire of magic gatling. He threw his entire body into the monster this time around. The beast started steeping backwards towards the fire, struggling to keep ground. Then another bash, this time sending it into the machine and flames. Sky only stepped back as it watched the thing burn alive. Teeth were gritted as he refused to take off his helmet. Save for the raging inferno, the entire room are silent, the smell of burnt flesh filling the room rather quick. Sky stomped over to the unconscious body of Blossom. "Blossom." The voice sounded familiar, but far off. "Blossom!" This time, the voice was louder, unmistakable now. Blossom groaned out as she came to outside the gates of Fluttershy's Forest. What she was laying on was not all that comfortable. As she gained more of her conscious, the clearer the voice was. Sky was calling her name as he was marching away from the park. "Sky..." Blossom muttered "Blossom! Good, you're awake. I was worried we lost you back there." Sky stated, not breaking his march. "Wh..where are we?" "Heading back to the garage. You took a thrashing. I need you to stay awake tho." Blossom just groaned out again and shifted on the stallion some. Sky's march continued all the way back to the Red-Dragon Garage an quickly got her inside. He gently set her down on the bed and went to the main garage to get out of the armor. When he came back inside, he started to tear through his stuff for a medkit. "Where are the others?" Blossom meekly asked. "I left Powder and Buffalo to guard the front gates incase some raiders get curious. Spring is on his way to the Stable to let them know they can move in on that area." Sky was soon by her side at the bed with the kit open and examining her. Blossom's armor was cracked, he assumed from her impact with the wall. It was also pushed in on her chest, might've been from the force that beastie smacked her. Sky was quick to pry the chest piece off her body then peel the Stable barding off to get a better look at her. No blood. Good "How many times you gonna save me?" Blossom ended up asking through her groans. Sky doesn't seem to answer as he's just bandaging her. "Sky." "I don't know. This place was more dangerous then I thought." Blossom could feel herself going out again. "Blossom, I need you to stay with me. Okay?" She just nodded, grumbling while trying to stay awake for Sky. "The next park we go to, you get in trouble so I can save your flank next." Author's Note So, after probably what has been four years, this has laid dormant. No longer. I do hope you all enjoy.
Chapter 1: The RescueIt's your mission, as chosen by the Overmare..... The mare came to, in a daze as she heard voices talking. Her head hurt and the sun was in her eyes, or at least what could reach though. She was moving, slowly moving. She quietly groaned as she attempted to lift her body off the bottom of this... cart? No, it was a cage on wheels, and a couple stallions were conversing to themselves. Fuck, they were raiders. "Ey look." One of the raiders finally took notice of their captor. "Looks like 'ittle Dweller is awake." "Hit yer head pretty hard, luv." The other smirked. "Don't worry though, we'll take good care o' ya." They both started to cackle out is sick manner and continued back to the path ahead. The mare quickly looked at herself. Still clothed, good. Then she pulled up her Pip-Buck an quickly scrolled through her inventory. Empty. She sat back, literally having nothing but the barding on her body and the reliable device on her fore leg. This wasn't looking good. ~Some Time Earlier~ The Overmare stood if front of the mare, proudly smiling having personally picked her. The mare was scared, she hadn't been out of the comfort of the Stable before. The Overmare started to hand the mare some items: A couple of healing potions, ammo, a pistol, food, water, and a pair of binoculars. "As Overmare of Stable 42, I have tasked you with one mission: Find a new source of food for the Stable." The Overmare announced after giving the mare items she felt was needed. The mare was confused, but no time to rebuttal. "Should you succeed in your mission, you are to immediately return to Stable 42 where we will extract the location from your Pip-Buck." The Overmare grinned one fake grin.... ~Now~ Her memory was broken at the sound of gunfire. "An ambush!" One of the raiders yellled as they hid behind the cage/wagon. "By who?!" The other asked. Being a unicorn, the first whip a scoped rifle from it's case and looked up, his eyes going wide. "It's HIM! The other's jaw clenched and grabbed a knife from its sheath and bore it with his teeth. Charging out and heading off to the front of the wagon. He just barely made it a few meters away before streaks of light turned the stallion into pink ash. The mare had followed where the streaks come from to gaze upon another armored stallion. The armor had covered him from head to tail, showing no signs for slowing. The only raider left took aim with the rifle in his magic, then squeezed the trigger. CLANG The armored stallion didn't slow, only a spark from where the bullet hit. CLANG Another shot hit his visor and did nothing. She could see a bit better now the armor was red, with white detailing. The Armor-clad stallion rushed by her and threw his entire weight in a bash. The raider went down, knocked out cold. The armored stallion just stared at the raider then kicked the other's jaw, ensuring he wasn't getting back up anytime soon. The stallion then turned to look at the mare in the cage. Taking a few steps back from the cage. She didn't need to see his eyes, she could feel his stare on her. He then charged the cage, his entire weight hitting the wagon and tipping it over. Fuck! He's gonna kill me! The patchwork on the bottom of the wagon was shoddy at best. Raiders were more for looking fearsome than making something worth while. Nothing a few good bucks can't handle. The stallion turned around, readying himself for the work. BANG BANG BANG One of the metal sheets came loose, then a another buck sent it into the cage. The stallion peered inside and groaned internally at the sight: the mare was knocked out. He took a closer look at the mare and finally saw the blue barding and device on the fore leg. A Stable Dweller, Alive? The stallion put his fore hooves on the other pieces of metal and pushed, popping it off and tearing it away. Then heading into the cage and grabbing the mare. He slung her unconscious body on his back and left the scene. The raider came to hours later. It didn't take him long before he started to panic. His body was sore and he couldn't feel his jaw, but he pushed on and ran off. He ran until he collapsed from exhaustion, crying out in pain. Then he remembered the healing potions he took off the mare. His horned fired up in a magical blaze and pulled one from his bags and popped the cork, pouring its contents down his throat. Night had fallen and the raider came scrambling through the gates of large settlement. He was pushing slaves out of his way, yelling a name that wasn't quite coming out right as he galloped. The raider stallion bumped into a couple of other raiders who nabbed him and held the pony in place. A hoof slapping him across the face. "Get a hold of yer self mate!" One of them yelled, a mare with a dirty enough coat that the color couldn't be made out. "He, he ambushed us! We gotta tell tha Overboss!" The stallion whinnied. "Who?!" The mare asked, a scowl pointed at him. "The S-Sparkle F-f-fury!" Eyes around the raider went wide, and then he was hauled off in a rush. He soon found himself standing in front of a seated unicorn buck with a grayed coat and darker mane, scars marking all across his face. The stare he gave was cold, especially from his dulled blue eyes. He reached a hoof out to the panicked raider. "And why, 12 Gauge, is it you have the nerve to demand the Overboss? You know they don't see no one for no reason." The unicorn asked, his void like gravel to the ears. "Well.. uh... Sir.. tha Sparkle Fury ambushed me and Cable Cutter while transporting a new slave." Gauge replied. Unsure of his predicament. The unicorn scowled. "The Overboss will not like this news." 12 Gauge nodded. "What should we do? This guy's been harrasin our work." "Well..." The unicorn hummed, ".. YOU should be getting far away from here before the Overboss has your head on a pike." 12 Gauge turned pale and started to hyperventilate. He was a stallion of steel nerves, was. It changed when his ass was kicked by a pony in armor. A legend no less. 12 Gauge just started to scramble out the door, neither wanting to feel the wrath of the Overboss, and praying to Celestia and Luna that the Sparkle-Fury doesn't cross his path again.
Chapter 2: Making FriendsWhy can't I ever speak up for myself? The mare woke up, for a second time today. She was in bed now, a rather comfortable bed. She couldn't help but snuggle against the pillow some, missing the feel of a proper pillow. Having only been a few days out of Stable 42 and already having been captured by raiders for... whatever. Suddenly there was a sizzling noise and she was more aware of her surroundings. She was in a room, a back room that looks like furniture was moved and added. A fridge that looked somewhat fixed up sat in the corner across the room. The a pegasus came through the door, trotting by her as he approached the fridge and grabbed the handle with his mouth and pulled it open. His head leaned into the fridge and pulled out a water. Thank Celestia! Some water! The mare was still on edge, the pegasus being a stranger, all she knew, he could be another raider! The stallion approached her and set the bottle next to the bed. "You should drink something." His voice was somewhat rough, but soft. Had a hint of kindness. "You'll feel better." He soon left her before she could open her mouth to thank him. Of course... She steadied the water in her hoof and popped the top off, tilting it up and taking a drink. Her eyes continued to look out the door, just barely seeing the stallion's flank. His tail was short, but jet back, just looking like a dark stub against the pale purple of his coat. He then walked away from whatever he was doing and back into the room. "Name's Dragon Blazer. Your savior for the day." The mare watched him go back to the fridge and stick his head in. "Uh... I'm..." Her voice died off some, "Blossom Cherry." The voice he listened to was sweet, soft, this wasn't a mare for the harsh realities of the Equestrian Wastelands. She took another drink of water and looked at him as his head came back out with a bottle of... something. Blossom Cherry then noticed something about the stallion as he was walking back: His eyes, one was a firey orange that looked like would glow in low light and the other was pale, with three deep gashes going across his coat. "Uhm.. thank you.. by the way. For saving me." Blossom piped up. Dragon Blazer poured the contents of the bottle onto the food he was preparing and set it down. "It's quite alright. Not often I get a slave before they're collared." "Slave?" Blossom gulped. Dragon whinnied and nodded. "Yup. They would've taken you to Sparkle-World. Where you'd have been stripped, raped, collared, and made to do as those slavers pleased." Blossom's eyes grew wide. "Sparkle-World?" "Only been here a couple years, but most pony who's any pony's heard of Sparkle-World." Dragon Blazer did something. "Wh-what is it?" Blossom asked. "The slavers' hub of choice, taken by force and slaves to fill jobs they don't want to do themselves." Dragon explained, sighing bit. "The stories before the war say that this place was once a center of happiness." "Well..." Blossom Cherry shifted on the bed, sitting up against the wall, "...isn't there any kind of ponies that could help?" "Like heroes?" Blossom nodded and the stallion chuckled. "Kid, I know you're out of the Stable, but the wasteland has no place for heroes." Blossom hung her head a bit. "But you saved me." "I'm a just a Stallion trying to do the right thing... no hero." "Isn't that all it takes? A will to do the right thing?" Blossom pointed out. "A will to do what's right by every one." Dragon Blazer's tone was stale. "That ain't this world. Kill or be killed." Before anything else could be said, the stallion went back around the corner. His wing outstretched while he grab a couple of grubby plates with something on them. He re-entered the room, taking on of the plates between his teeth and setting it in Blossom's lap. It looked like vegetables, didn't look decent but she wasn't going to say anything to upset the stallion. The two continued to eat in silence. The taste of the cooked veggies was surprisingly delicious. Was it that liquid he had in the bottle? The stallion had finished first, quite a bit fast also. Dragon Blazer just sat there, observing his guest. She was light pink in her coat, her mane a dark red, but her eyes were a beautiful shade of green. He started to smile and didn't even notice. "Uhm... are you okay?" Blossom Cherry asked, looking at him strangely. "Oh uh. Yeah." Dragon Blazer was snapped out of his daze by her silk-like voice. "Just been a while since I was with another pony, really." Blossom soon finished her meal, leaning back against the wall. Before she knew it, the plate was gone from her lap and the stallion taken both of the dishes out of the room. The night became young and Blossom found herself listening to the radio. Wasn't any Stable-Tec Approved programming, not that she minded. Yet, in the background were faints sounds of hammering and welding. She got curious and climbed out of bed. As unfamiliar as this place, it was cozy. Not too small like the Stable, neither too big like an atrium. Blossom continued on, into the small hall and around the desk jutting from the wall. She soon found herself in the doorway to a garage, staring at a rather familiar red suit of armor in the middle. Dragon Blazer with a set of welding goggles on and working on the armor. "Is that..." Blossom started. The welder ceased and he looked up at her. "Yes, it is the Sparkle-Fury." Blossom Cherry nodded a bit. "But, what exactly is it." "An old suit of Steel Ranger armor from before the war. Promotional only, but I've made a few upgrades." She could get a good look at the armor. The red paint was faded, the white looked worse. It bore marks and scars, having seen it's fair share of battles. On one side was a heavy weapon of sorts, almost like a machine gun but more. She couldn't quite describe it though, her expertise wasn't weapons. Across the breastplate and flanks were the words "Sparkle-Cola." "Magically powered armor with a package courtesy of yours truly." Dragon Blazer announced, almost sounding proud. "What's that weapon?" Blossom asked, turning her head to the stallion. "A.. uh.. magical energy gun...." Dragon answered, unsure. "I saw it fall from the cloud curtain. There's another weapon I'm after that would make the Sparkle-Fury a true legend." The mare only looked to him a spark of something in his eyes. The next day, Blossom Cherry woke up in the bed to a storm outside. She heard the rustling of the pegasus in the front room. Blossom walked out of the back room and tilted her head. Dragon Blazer had some sort of outfit on and a mask. A battle saddle was over the outfit with a single rifle. He was muttering to himself, checking off things mentally. "Where are you going?" Blossom asked, finally speaking up. "To go get more food. With two of us gonna be eating, I'll have to double efforts." Dragon explained from under his mask. "It's storming though, won't the food get wet?" Blossom asked. "No. That's a Rad storm out there. No water, but worse." Dragon Blazer trotted to the door. "There's assorted Sparkle-Cola in the fridge, food and water also. Help yourself." Blossom nodded and he left. It had been a couple of hours, and the storm outside was still raging. How long will he be? The there was a sudden crash towards the front of the building and a door opening. She rushed out of the room yet again and was glad to see the pegasus, but he was coughing up a mess. "Dragon?" Blossom Cherry piped up again. "Bottom shelf. Counter. Should be a medical box. Grab it and slide it to me." Dragon Blazer ordered, tearing the mask off and tossing it into a corner. Doing as she was told, Blossom Cherry found the yellow box and set it on the floor. Sliding it over to the pegasus where he firmly pressed down on the box with a hoof. He then flipped it open, taking an orange pouch into his mouth and downed it all. IT tasted bitter but then he started to take off his torn outfit. "Well, there goes that." Dragon said before kicking it away, revealing the scars on his body. "What happened out there?" Blossom took a step forward. "Heh. Feral ghoul ponies." Dragon smirked. "Mindless animals with nothing on mind but blood at all costs." "Oh my Celestia... will you be alright?" "Yeah, ferals ain't nothin' like the abominations you'll find in Sparkle-World." Dragon Blazer looked to her. "Not all is lost." Dragon Blazer dropped a bag at his hooves. The bag looked full, almost looking like it was about to burst at its seams. Dragon had chuckled a bit then leaned against the wall. Blossom was staring wide at the bag then looked to Dragon Blazer. He looked exhausted, like he hadn't slept yet. "How long has it it been since you last slept?" Blossom inched forward some, looking at him. "Hm... not since I arrived here. It's been hard to properly sleep around here." Dragon Blazer slumped over some, looking up at the mare. "I need a drink." Noon. I hate noon The stallion thought to himself as he looked out towards the center of Sparkle-Town from the patio of Colatop Grille. His muzzle contorted into a scowl as he turned away from the sight and towards the bar that he used as his desk for the Overboss. A glorified receptionist for someone who's afraid to show they're goddess-damned face. His ears perked up at the sound of the lift motor whirring to life. One of his scout ponies, hopefully with good news. Once the platform reached the top, he was there. The scout looked a bit worried. If there was anyone who was second to the Overboss in fierceness, it was this pony he was about to report to. "Anything good?" The stallion asked the skittish raider. "Uhm.. no.." The pony's answer was met with a growl before a kick was suddenly delivered to their face. The stallion's kick was full of enough force that it sent the pony stepping backwards. The body fell from the platform and down to the ground, breaking the pony's legs. "So. What's a Stable Dweller like you doing so far out here?" Dragon Blazer asked, taking a swig from his Sparkle-Cola. "Well... I was sent on a mission from my Overmare to find anew source of food." Blossom Cherry explained, just holding her own bottle of Sparkle-Grape. "Sounds like she's planning on moving out of that Stable." Dragon pointed out. "Maybe, for a while, the soil for our crops have been plentiful. Now, we have fewer of a harvest the year after year." Blossom looked down. "Hm... I may have an idea for a place, but we may need some help." Dragon mused, his gaze going to the door.
Chapter 3: Setting Plans In MotionThis is crazy, but I hope he's right... "Memorized what you need to say?" Dragon asked. "Eeyup" Blossom responded. "Hold on. I ain't sending you out there without some armor and a gun." Dragon Blazer trotted off into the garage. He came back with a piece of armor in his mouth, offering it to the mare. Blossom smiled at his a bit, taking the chest piece and quickly putting it on. Dragon Blazer soon went back to the other room and came out with a pistol. Blossom Cherry took it from him. "The armor may be a little weighty, but it shouldn't affect you too much." Blossom Cherry was too busy putting on the armor to respond. "Remember what rules to follow out there?" Dragon Blazer asked when she finished. "Be Aware, Be quick on your feet, and..." Blossom trailed off trying to remember. "Don't pull a trigger unless you have to." Blossom nodded, then tilted her head at him. "What will you do while I'm gone?" "I'm going to tear down the boards over the windows and start fortifying the place." Dragon looked around, then back to the mare. "Don't forget to grab some food and healing potions in case." The mare just nodded and went to grab a small saddle bag. Dragon Blazer went to work kicking the boards out from the windows, listening to them hit the dust outside. Blossom soon left with her small bag of supplies to head back to her Stable and discuss their idea. It had been a few hours since she left, Dragon had built some barricades out of the small bit of wood he had on the windows. He managed to build a few turrets on the roof of the station with what else he scrounged out from the nearby areas. Not particularly big in caliber, but they will have to do for the time being. Dragon Blazer had his own gears working of a full fledged plan. Over the horizon, Dragon could see Blossom coming back with about five other ponies. Blossom Cherry was feeling rather safe having these five security ponies following her. Each one had a certain weapon assigned to them. Dragon Blazer came out of the station to meet them. "Quite the squad you got there." Dragon said to the mare. "Five of the best Stable 42 guards." Blossom chimed, trotting up and standing next to the pegasus. Dragon took a good long look at the security ponies in front of them. He noted the rocket launcher strapped to the back of one earth pony, the minigun saddle on the other pegasus, both unicorns had different shotguns, and the last pony had a rifle saddle. "You ponies have enough ammo for those guns?" Dragon Blazer asked, a bit curious. They all nodded in unison. Dragon leaned in close to Blossom's ear. "I didn't know you're stable had quite the arms." He whispered. "Neither did I" She whispered back. Dragon and Blossom led the group inside. Dragon had a small map on the counter sitting next to a couple of pictures. The five security ponies stood at attention on one side of the desk, helmets on still and visors down to cover their faces. Dragon and Blossom stood on the other side, looking at them. Then Blossom started to play something on her Pip-Buck. "Greetings, the pony known as 'Sparkle-Fury,' I'm the Overmare for Stable 42." A voice began on the recording. "As I'm aware, you save our scout from danger and have a plan for out Stable to live out in the wasteland. It seems like a crazy idea and I have no reason to trust you, but I will for now. Along with the scout should be five of the best ponies on the Stable 42 Security Force. They have been assigned to work with you as well as put you down if should be really be a raider." Dragon looked down at the Pip-Buck with the only raised brow that wasn't clawed off. "My scout seems to believe you're intentions are to help us, so I'm trusting her to make sure this message reaches you." The recording stopped with a beep. "Well, now that's out of the way. As a team, we will be taking Sparkle-World for those goddess-damned slavers that inhabit it." Blossom's draw dropped out of sheer surprise. "The park itself is split up into different sections: Bottling Plant, Fluttershy's Forest, Braeburn Canyon, Party Palace, Future Zone, and Sparkle-Town." Dragon's hoof pointed to each spot on the map. "The slavers main hub is Sparkle-Town and haven't been able to reach the other parks. Either out of sheer laziness or there are some nasties keeping them out." "Well, if the raiders couldn't get anywhere, why would we?" One of the security ponies asked. "We aren't the raiders... so out first move will be to take over the surrounding parks before we go after Sparkle-Town." Dragon explained. "These raiders follow a pony only known as the 'Overboss' and the right hoofed stallion named Sickle." The ponies just looked at the pictures of a scarred up stallion and a heavily armored pony. "Where do we begin?" Blossom asked. Dragon smirked a bit and pointed a hoof to the map. "Fluttershy's Forest. There's a treehouse in the center of that park we could place a sniper. Only one problem." "What is it?" The rifle pony asked. "The park is overrun with some beasties that took my left eye. I call 'em Demonclaws."
Chapter 4: The Forest of DemonsWelcome to the Jungle. The group was wading through the empty park walk ways, keeping their wits about as they approached the gate to Fluttershy's Jungle. Dragon Blazer had donned his Sparkle-Cola armor again and was in lead of the group. Blossom added a few pieces of metal to her legs. The five security ponies just followed silently, looking around the wide open area. The heavy steps of the armor stopped in front of the front gates to the Fluttershy's Forest park. The seven ponies lined up in a fashion like a military force ready to sweep in and take back what was theirs. Only they were seen ponies with determination and a mission. Dragon Blazer was the first to step forward and enter the once zoo, then Blossom followed by her Stable's supplied security team. The park was quiet save for some ambient noises of the other wildlife still hanging around. Though somewhat harmless mutated creatures there were, the air was a bit tense as the group was on approach to the visitor center. Dragon's eyes peered out from behind his visor, scanning the area and spotted a tree with a large structure built on it. His eyes soon became fixed on the earth pony with the rifle, the pony caught the gaze and looked back. Silent words were exchanged between the two as Dragon pointed the structure out. The security pony nodded and trotted off. Not soon after a horrendous roar was heard and the rifle pony was galloping back and jumped back on to the platform with the others. Blossom went pale hearing that roar, but Dragon took on a battle stance. "I was hoping to avoid this...." Dragon muttered as heavy steps of a large creature were heard. "Everypony form a circle!" Without hesitation the five security ponies formed up in a circle with their guns facing out and ready. The first of the demonclaws to have shown their nasty mug was fired into immediately after. The beast fell over, riddled with bullets and bleeding from all of the wounds. It didn't take long for the entirety of Fluttershy's Forest to be filled with the same roars and heavy steps. Sickle looked beyond the balcony of the grille to the rest of Sparkle-Town. The stallion looked at the rest with disgust before his ears perked up to some sounds in the distance. The more he tried to listen, the more it became clear what was going on. Gunfire and loud roaring, he turned his head to listen more. Something was going on, something one of the other groups were planning? The space outside the visitor center had turned into a battlefield. Bodies of demonclaws were piling up and two of their members had already gone down as a result. Dragon lost his helmet in the fray but kept fighting as he went hoof to hoof with one of them. Blossom had grabbed the minigun saddle and rained down hell upon the relentless monsters. "Get to the nest!" Dragon ordered, using his back legs to kick a demonclaw down. "Quickly, while it's clear!" Blossom and the three remaining security ponies made a break for the center of the park. Dragon soon followed suit but was still behind due to the heavy suit of armor. Dragon quickly turned around and started to open fire with his heavy magic gun. The barrels spun up and a spray of pink lasers lit up their pursuers. Blossom and her group navigated the hedge maze to make it to the base of a large tree. Dragon could be heard coming, the armor of his whirring and shaking the very ground beneath him. The roars and hissing continued as the demon claws lurked the corners, not nearly as fast but trying to keep up. Dragon made it to the tree base before they did and took the lift up to the treehouse by himself. A sigh of relief came over him when he saw the rest of them up here in safety. The five soon gathered at the tree houses bar, soon after finding out that this was really a restaurant itself. Each had a Sparkle-cola near them and some food. Dragon's Sparkle-Cola armor stood in idle while the rest had weapons leaned up against the bar. All five of them sat in silence for the fallen. "So... I never got you names. I know Blossom Cherry here." Dragon piped up, looking down the bar. A mare was the first to break the silence, being a unicorn with both shotguns now, "I'm Flower Powder. Most call me Powder." The stallion was next, a built earth pony who had to carry the missile launcher, "I'm Buffalo Step." The last one stayed quiet a bit longer, then spoke, "I'm Spring Leaf. Also called 'Long-eye.'" "Dragon Blazer." The pegasus stated. The rest looked at him. "So, Question." Blossom piped up, looking at Dragon. "How did you get a name like 'Dragon Blazer' as a pegasus?" "Well," The large pegasus started, "'Dragon Blazer' is more of a nickname. My real name is Sky Blaze." "How'd you get it?" Buffalo asked, now interested in the origin. "Ever burned a dragon from the inside?" Blaze looked at the stallion, his face wearing a dead grimace. "It isn't pretty." The group fell silent as their lead just stared down the bar towards the stallion. The group finished up their meals and dissipated around the vantage point to tend to their own businesses. The Stable ponies looked over their weapons of choice while having checked over their ammo. Blaze and Cherry were off on the other side of the restaurant. The pegasus worked on his armor with what little tools were around. Most of the damage was minor, some scraped off paint here, a couple of scratches there. "Dragon?" Blossom looked over at the preoccupied pegasus. "You can call me Sky, few ever get to call me by name." He responded and looked over to her. "Sky, what do you think our odds here are? Y'know, of succeeding in taking territory from these raiders without them noticing?" "Somewhat slim, they will notice eventually." Blaze replied to her as he finished up his maintenance. "We take enough territory and somepony's bound to notice" Blossom hummed out in thought as Sky stood up on all fours and turned to face the mare. He took a step forward and placed one of his fore legs on the railing and gazed out to what remains of the amusement park. He scanned the streets, seeing what was left of the toothy monstrosities they called Demonclaws. Then his gaze shifted to the horizon, looking towards the sky to gauge the time. He was focused for once, and it felt like ages to him since he last was. "I have a plan." Sky blurted out as he spun around to face the group. "We split into two teams. One will get in the visitor's center and see what they can find out, the other team will seek and destroy these monsters." "Oh..'kay. Who are the teams?" Powder ended up asking after a brief moment of silence. Sky just pointed a hoof in the stable ponies direction, "You all are the Visitor Center Team." "Then that just leaves you as the other team" Blossom pointed out. "Of course, my armor and magic gatling should allow me to hold my own. Once you all are in, I'll make my way to you when I think the coast is clear." The four other ponies just sat in silence as they stared at the stallion. Powder was the first to use her magic to cock both shotguns and stash them on her back. Blossom looked at the trio now as they started to gather up supplies and their weapons without much of a fuss. "You can't be serious." Blossom said as she seemed to pout a bit, "You're just agreeing to this plan?" "Well, yeah." Buffalo poke out. "We got nothing else to go on but Sky, and it sounds like he knows what he's doing." Blossom looked at Sky now. "That's suicide! Fighting raider ponies by yourself is one thing but facing those monsters is another!" "Blossom, you're going to have to trust me on this. I do know what I'm doing and they're not that many right now." Sky gave her a bit of a knowing smirk. Blossom couldn't give much of a rebuttal as the ponies around her were starting to leave the treehouse haven. Behind her were the whirrs and hiss of Sky's armor as he stepped back into it and it enclosed his body in a heavy steel shell, save for his head. Blossom just sighed in defeat and grabbed her saddle gun and slid it over her backside. She looked over to Sky with some visible concern on her face. "Don't you worry you're little head about me. Remember what the mission is." Sky said to her, briefly locking eyes and showing his determination. Before Blossom could say another word, he hopped the railing and landed with a loud thud. A cloud of dirt covered his landing before he made off in a sprint and leaving behind a crater. The other Stabledwellers reached the ground and looked over the crater for a moment while they waited for Blossom. Before they started moving, they could hear Sky's fire off in the distance. "Guess that's our cue to get moving." Blossom stated s she reached the ground. Blossom led her group to the visitor center of the park. It was quiet for the most part, save for the occasional explosive in the background. Bodies of the monsters littered the ground to the center. They did spot the mangled bodies of their once allies. Blossom put herself on point, Spring on over watch, Powder and Buffalo flanking the sides of the doors. She looked to the each of them. Both nodded to her and she nodded back. Blossom inched herself closer to the door. The door to the visitor center creaked open to the large, open lobby was empty of life it seemed. Blossom poked her head in before taking a step in and looking around the room. She then leaned outside and waved the other two in. As she was coming back inside, that's when it awoke. A Demonclaw larger than any they seen so far. It let out a guttural, deep growl as it rose from behind the lobby desk. "Oh buck." Blossom muttered with a kick to the saddle gun. The minigun barrels spun to life as it wound up. The monster started to charge, the minigun hailed bullets towards the beast. It was to no avail as the Demonclaw seemed to have just shrug off the bullets as it cleared the room in mere seconds and knocked Blossom off to the side. Before the monster could make another strike against the mare, two shotguns were shoved into its face. "Bueno dias, motherbucker" Powder quipped as she pulled the triggers with her magic. The beast roared out in pain as it backed away, grabbing at it's face. Blossom was pulled back out of the center with Powder's magic and soon replaced with Buffalo's ready missile launcher. A loud FWOOSH erupted from the tube and smoke bellowed out the back. The missile headed right for the monster and collided. The resulting explosion sent the beast flying backwards into a wall, still kicking but now majorly injured. Blossom stood in the doorway again and spun her gun up. The demonclaw started to get back up, letting out another growl. The minigun let loose a stream of fire again and tore down what was left of the monster. With the area now secure, the group moved on into the lobby and start what they guessed was an investigation for something. Blossom trotted over to the lobby computer and started to pick through the files stored there. "Ugh! There's nothing on here!" Blossom slammed her hooves against the desk. "It's just welcome messages and useless notes!" "Blossom!" Her ears perked up at the sound of Spring calling her name. "You should come see this." Blossom left the front desk to follow the sound of Spring's voice. There she found a security gate hidden just out of sight and around a corner with a sign that read "Research and Development." This definitely didn't look like it belonged here. She tried to access the terminal close to the gate, but it was password locked and no amount of attempted hacks was bearing any fruit. Just then the door to the center opened again and this time, it was Sky. He had a slight limp to his step as he came in. Blossom peeked around the corner and her eyes widened. "Sky!" She rushed on over to the armored stallion and looked him over once. Sky just smiled at her some and limped on over to the desk. He leaned against it as he reached into one of his spare bags and pulled out his lost helmet. Blossom just looked at him, trotting over to the desk and looking at his helmet. Sky then reached into his saddle bags again and pulled out a holotape between hi teeth and handed it over to Blossom. "What's this?" She asked before taking the tape and shoving it in her pip-buck. "No idea. Found while out there and figured you might use it." Sky responded as he huffed a bit. "What happened to you?" Blossom looked to Sky as the tape loaded. "One of those bastards surprised me." With the tape now loaded, Blossom started to flick through it. It was a journal of one of the science ponies that used to work here! The journal detailed plenty they needed to know. Like the demonclaws being created here in this section of the park to attract more guests and the password to the security gate. "Here, take this." Blossom said, pulling a healing potion from her own bag and placing it on the desk next to Sky. "Thank you." He took the top off the bottle and started to down it. Sky started to feel the effects of the potion and watched as Blossom trotted off. He grabbed his helmet with his front hooves and slid it back on to his head. He then followed the mare to the gate and gazed at it with the rest of the crew. Something felt off to him about the sight before him. Blossom got into the terminal and the gate unlocked in a matter of minutes. "Now why would a park need a R&D for a zoo?" Sky remarked. The gate swung open on its own and the team filed through it one at a time. Blossom silently putting herself on point, followed by Powder, then Buffalo, the Spring. The last to step through the gate was Sky. The halls were silent as they made way deeper into the facility. Sky eventually made his way up to the front, trotting next to Blossom. "What do you think went on here?" Sky asked. "I guess this is where those monstrosities came from." Blossom answered. "That holotape you gave me belonged to a science pony called Test Tube. He led the project." "What for?" Sky peered around a corner. "To gain guests." The team ended up in the main lab. First thing they saw were three of the demonclaws. Two of the regular sized ones and another larger beast. There was also a large machine behind them. Sky just scanned the room and motions for the crew to fall back. So they did and Sky started up in hushed whispers. "Here's the plan. Buffalo, whatever that machine is, you blow it to hell. Spring and Powder, focus fire on the little guys. Blossom and I will take down the large one with our guns." Every pony seemed to be in agreement with the set up. Blossom breathed an internal sigh of relief. She was just glad he wasn't fighting these things alone again. The ponies started to get in some sort of position, the respective three staying out of sight the best they could. Blossom and Sky both descended the stairs. A missile went flying over their heads and the heads of the creatures after the duo met the bottom of the staircase. It collided with the machine in the back, causing it to explode in a glorious manner. Sky and Blossom spun up their gun and the monstrosities let out guttural roars as they turned their attention to the ponies. A well placed sniper bullet put down one of the regular-looking beasts and buckshot took care of the other one. Yet this only served to piss off the larger of the demonclaws. It let loose a roar that shook the very building. Sky and Blossom started firing away in unison at the beast. It only shrugged off the magical and small arms fire as it started to charge the two. Powder rushed to intervene but was simply pushed aside by the hulking beast. Blossom soon charged at it while firing away with her minigun. "Blossom! Wait!" Sky called out. It was too late. He helplessly watched as Blossom was smacked out of the way and knocked unconscious. Thump-Thump Time seemed to slow down now. Thump-Thump He scowled underneath his helmet and stopped firing. He turned his back to the charging monster and raised his hindlegs in an upward kick. The power he put behind his legs combined with the added strength of the armor snapped the creature's head up. It reeled back as it howled in pain. This gave enough room for Sky to perform his own charge against the monster. With a powerful bash against it with his head, the demonclaw struggled against it. The rage built, fueling his fire. Sky took some more steps back and charged again with the added fire of magic gatling. He threw his entire body into the monster this time around. The beast started steeping backwards towards the fire, struggling to keep ground. Then another bash, this time sending it into the machine and flames. Sky only stepped back as it watched the thing burn alive. Teeth were gritted as he refused to take off his helmet. Save for the raging inferno, the entire room are silent, the smell of burnt flesh filling the room rather quick. Sky stomped over to the unconscious body of Blossom. "Blossom." The voice sounded familiar, but far off. "Blossom!" This time, the voice was louder, unmistakable now. Blossom groaned out as she came to outside the gates of Fluttershy's Forest. What she was laying on was not all that comfortable. As she gained more of her conscious, the clearer the voice was. Sky was calling her name as he was marching away from the park. "Sky..." Blossom muttered "Blossom! Good, you're awake. I was worried we lost you back there." Sky stated, not breaking his march. "Wh..where are we?" "Heading back to the garage. You took a thrashing. I need you to stay awake tho." Blossom just groaned out again and shifted on the stallion some. Sky's march continued all the way back to the Red-Dragon Garage an quickly got her inside. He gently set her down on the bed and went to the main garage to get out of the armor. When he came back inside, he started to tear through his stuff for a medkit. "Where are the others?" Blossom meekly asked. "I left Powder and Buffalo to guard the front gates incase some raiders get curious. Spring is on his way to the Stable to let them know they can move in on that area." Sky was soon by her side at the bed with the kit open and examining her. Blossom's armor was cracked, he assumed from her impact with the wall. It was also pushed in on her chest, might've been from the force that beastie smacked her. Sky was quick to pry the chest piece off her body then peel the Stable barding off to get a better look at her. No blood. Good "How many times you gonna save me?" Blossom ended up asking through her groans. Sky doesn't seem to answer as he's just bandaging her. "Sky." "I don't know. This place was more dangerous then I thought." Blossom could feel herself going out again. "Blossom, I need you to stay with me. Okay?" She just nodded, grumbling while trying to stay awake for Sky. "The next park we go to, you get in trouble so I can save your flank next." Author's Note So, after probably what has been four years, this has laid dormant. No longer. I do hope you all enjoy.
