Chapter 9

--- Hydra Junction ---

Dark, it was so dark that I felt like I was drowning. I saw nothing as I floated in pitch darkness, my thoughts blurred. Where am I? How did I get here? These questions repeated in my head, but everything felt so distant. Suddenly, memories floated to the surface of my mind, images appeared out of nowhere, filling my point of view. Images of my home, the halls, and corridors as gray and dull as ever. After a while, the images started to focus on some familiar faces.

Mom, I could see her in our quarters back in the stable. She had a worried look on her face, tears were in her eyes that she was trying to hold back. Seeing her like this made me want to hold her, comfort her as she had done for me. But the darkness was so heavy that I couldn’t move, only allowing me to watch my mother’s sadness. After some time passed, the image changed again, and another face appeared.

Silver was in the library, reading a book, or that’s what she would like you to believe. I had been around Silver since we were foals, and I knew her habits. She was only pretending to read to try and keep her mind off her troubles. Her eyes gave it all away, just skimming across the page, not truly enjoying the book. Reading was Silver’s favorite pastime, and when she read like this, it was obvious that she had other things on her mind. I had seen her do this plenty of times, and I would always be there to cheer her up and listen to her problems. But yet again, the crushing void prevented me from reaching her. And just like before, the image faded, revealing another of my loved ones.

Keira, my best friend, was in the melee training hall practicing on some dummies. Her whip lashed out wildly at the figures, slicing them to ribbons, but her technique was sloppy and sporadic. She could fight better, and the only reason that she would be like this, was if she was really upset. Keira had a habit of blowing off steam with training, despite Master Broadsword’s advice against it. This kind of training would create bad habits, and these habits could be detrimental to one’s fighting style. Keira knew better, but emotions would often cloud her judgment.

She finished off the last of the dummies, and as the pieces flew across the room, Keira stood there, unmoving. Suddenly she collapsed in the middle of the room, tears visible on the floor beneath her. She was crying, I had only ever seen Keira cry a couples times. And when she did, it was painful to watch. Keira always kept a cheerful and playful attitude, especially around me. She always made it her goal to brighten my day when we were younger. But this was a rare moment where she let it all out, but unlike every other time, I was not there to comfort her. The darkness tightened its grip around me as I tried to reach out for my best friend. And just when I thought I could reach the image, it shattered like glass. As the shards flew across my vision, I began to fall again, belly up into the abyss.

The decent felt longer and faster than before like I had broken the last of the restraints holding me in place. I fell for what felt like hours, but could have been only moments, the darkness made my perception of time dilate. I continued falling, and after a while, I grew the courage to look over my shoulder to see a light, moving closer with each second. When I reached it, the light blinded me, and the darkness faded around me.

I bolted awake, panting and sweating profusely, the images going through my mind as I tried to calm down. My necklace flailed a bit due to my sudden movement, making it land on my chest. I placed a hoof on it as the memories of the images came flooding back to me. My surroundings were still blurred, and I couldn’t focus on anything.

“Oh thank the goddesses you’re awake, you’ve been thrashing in your sleep for the past hour,” a mare’s voice said from my side.

I looked to my right to see an earth pony mare in a white nurse’s hat looking at me with concern in her eyes. She had a pink coat, with a candy cane striped mane. My vision had returned, and I finally got a look at my surroundings, and I could tell that I was in some kind of clinic. Surgical equipment laid scattered around the tables and countertops, while an IV was in the corner. Monitors and other equipment were around my bed. I never liked clinics, they always made me feel on edge.

I turned back to the nurse and tried to clear my mind of what had happened in my dream, although it didn’t feel like a dream.

“Where am I?” I asked her, trying to piece together what had happened.

She smiled at me, “This is the Hydra Junction clinic. You were brought in here two days ago by Chili Pepper.”

Two days! Was I really out for that long? And she said Chili brought me here, so does that mean the mares were ok? And what about Lemon and the fillies?

“What happened to the mares I saved? And the fillies, where is everypony?” I asked, growing more worried and confused by the second.

The nurse put her hoof on my shoulder, “You saved them. Everypony made it here in one piece, the fillies too. Lemon was especially worried about you.”

I sighed in relief and smiled at the nurse, “Thank the goddesses, I’m so relieved to hear that. Thank you for taking care of me, who are you?”

She blushed a bit, “you’re quite welcome, my name is Lotus Blossom, and I’m the nurse here.”

“It’s very nice to meet you Nurse Lotus, My name is Shadow Strike,” I said, holding out my hoof to shake hers. She accepted the hoof shake, and I tried to get up from the bed.

“Oh no Shadow please you need to stay in bed,” Nurse Lotus said, putting a hoof on my chest to try and keep me in bed. I looked into her eyes and saw genuine concern, so I complied and laid back onto the bed.

“Just stay here and let me get Doctor Cactus, he’ll want to give you another examination before you go,” Nurse Lotus said, before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

After Nurse Lotus left, I just laid my head down on the pillow and tried to collect my thoughts. I remembered the fight at the gate, the potion that I had used being the cause of my condition. I hated using it, but it was the only way to survive that encounter. It was my fault, I should have known that the raiders I killed would be noticed.

The door opened again, and a green earth pony stallion with a dirt brown mane came in wearing a doctor’s coat. He looked at me with a look that had a hint of distrust. A look I was used to seeing on a daily basis.

“So, you’re the hero that saved our ponies from those raiders?” He said, picking up a chart from a nearby table. Nurse Lotus came in behind him, giving him a disappointed look.

“I guess I am, Doctor Cactus I presume?” I said, keeping my voice level. I could tell by the tone of his voice that he didn’t trust me.

He nodded without looking at me, reading my chart. Nurse Lotus walked up to me with a bottle of water. She said that it was purified, so I took it with a look of gratitude.

“I’ll say this, you are an odd one. I’ve never seen a zony before, but I know that their anatomy shouldn’t be this different from a normal pony,” Doctor Cactus said, looking confused about my charts. Not surprising, considering my mutations.

“Care to explain?” Doctor Cactus asked, putting the chart down on the table again.

“Sorry Doctor, but I’m not at liberty to share that information,” I said, trying to be as polite about it as possible.

“What’s that supposed to mean? We helped you, you owe us,” he said, looking quite annoyed with me.

Nurse Lotus got in front of him, and glared. “Cactus that is enough. He doesn’t owe us any kind of explanation considering what he risked to bring our ponies back. Or did you forget your daughter was among those fillies he saved?”

Doctor Cactus looked shocked before he glared back, “he’s a stripe Lotus, even a half stripe is still a stripe. Have you forgotten what zebras have done to our kind?”

Nurse Lotus got right in his face, making him backpedal, “that was over two hundred years ago, he had nothing to do with it. Stop being so pig-headed.”

Doctor Cactus snorted in frustration, “alright Lotus, that’s enough. Let’s just finish his examination so I can get him out of my clinic.”

He shook his head and cleared his throat, “Right then, you should be clear to leave the clinic. I recommend some sleep and a good meal to help you recover. I don’t know what the potion Chili spoke about was, but I am guessing it was the cause of the internal damage we found while working on you.”

I nodded and got up from the bed, “Yes, it was dangerous to use, but necessary in defeating those raiders. I don’t use it unless I absolutely have to.”

I looked around the room and noticed that my belongings weren’t here. My barding was also gone, leaving me with just my pipbuck and my necklace.

“Nurse Lotus, where’re all my belongings? My barding, weapons, and my saddlebags?” I asked the nurse who smiled at me reassuringly.

“Don’t worry Shadow, Lemon has your saddlebags and weapons. She also took your barding, I believe Lemon took it to her father’s shop. She said that she and her family would have a surprise for you when you woke up,” Nurse Lotus said, as she and Doctor Cactus led me out of the room.

The doctor and nurse showed me out of the clinic, and upon exiting the slightly run-down building, I was intercepted by Chili Pepper and a blue earth pony stallion in a cowpony hat.

“Shadow, it’s good to see you back on your hooves, you had us worried sick,” Chili said, giving me a warm smile.

“Sorry to worry you, I miscalculated on when the potion would wear off. ---I glanced over to the blue stallion--- And I’m guessing this is your husband?” I said, pointing to the stallion.

“Guilty as charged, name’s Wrangler, and as the mayor around these here parts. Let me be the first to welcome you to Hydra Junction,” Wrangler said, shaking my hoof vigorously.

I chuckled and returned the hoof-shake as much as I could. He stopped eventually, and I took a moment to get a look at the town. It was a decent sized settlement with a long path in the middle leading to a large shack. Smaller shacks lined both sides of the street, with vendors outside selling their goods. Ponies were moving everywhere, reminding me a bit of the atrium back in the stable. Sand blew through the streets, and it didn’t seem to bother anypony, considering they lived in this desert, they were probably used to it by now.

“Quite the sight isn’t it? My grandfather founded this place over a hundred years ago, and gathered ponies from all across the Badlands to make it a crossroad for this part of the wasteland. You’ll find ponies from all across the north section of the Badlands, trading and resupplying here,” Wrangler said, a hint of pride in his voice.

“It certainly is impressive Wrangler, I had no idea that there were still places like this in the Wasteland,” I said, genuinely impressed with the town. I was lead to believe the surface was hostile and tainted by radiation.

“Yeah, I’m sure this is a bit of a change from your stable,” Wrangler said, shocking me a bit.

Chili saw my shock and quickly spoke, “We saw your stable barding and figured it out on our own. Don’t worry Shadow, we won’t ask about your home.”

I sighed in relief, “Thank you Chili, I don’t mean any disrespect, but I’d like to keep my stable a secret as much as possible.”

Wrangler chuckled, “no worries partner, where you came from doesn’t matter. All that matters to me is the fact you saved my wife and daughter. In fact, a lot of stallions here are grateful for what you did. Most of them promising you a drink at the saloon.”

Chili chuckled, “And all the mares are grateful as well, if there is anything we can do to repay our debt, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

I blushed at the praise, “I didn’t do it for a reward, but I appreciate the gratitude.”

I suddenly had a thought, “But if I may, there are a few questions I would like to ask you if that’s alright.”

Wrangler chuckled, “Shoot partner, you are a rare one if that’s all the reward you’re after. Ask away, if we can help ya in any way, we will.”

Chili interrupted before I could talk, “How about we talk over some lunch, I’m sure being in a coma for a few days has made you a bit peckish?”

Almost on cue, my stomach growled at the mention of food. I hadn’t had anything substantial since I got out of the stable. I blushed in embarrassment and chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my head.

Chili giggled at my embarrassment, “I thought so. Shall we show him the saloon dear?” Chili said looking over to Wrangler with a smirk.

“Shoot, you know I can always go for a bite Chili, come on then Shadow, we’ll treat ya to the best food Hydra Junction can offer,” Wrangler said, wrapping his hoof around my shoulder and practically dragging me along the road. Chili following beside us, with a look of amusement on her face.

The saloon was down the road a bit on the left, ponies moved in and out of its wooden doors like the atrium back in the stable. When they saw us approaching, they stopped and made a path for us, which made me a bit uncomfortable.

“Something wrong there partner?” Wrangler asked, having noticed my discomfort.

“Not exactly, I’m just not used to this kind of treatment is all,” I said, trying to put on a smile.

Chili came up to me and smiled brightly, “Well you’re kind of a hero after what you did Shadow. How did you expect to be treated?”

“Honestly, I’m used to getting dirty looks or being spat on,” I said, my mood growing a bit morbid with memories of my stable flooding back.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that here. Anyone gives you a hard time ‘cause of your stripes, you let me know. I’ll straighten them out,” Wrangler said, smirking back at me.

The saloon was a decent sized establishment, having around fifteen tables with four chairs each around the center of the room. To the side, I could see a staircase leading up to an upper floor with rooms along the wall. This place must also act of the town’s hotel, I should ask about a place to stay for the night. Looking over to the other side of the building, I saw a bar with a shelf full of all kinds of drinks. Wonder what kind of brew they got out here? Doubt it’s as good as Master Cross’.

We made our way to a table in the center of the saloon and took our seats. Sitting on a wooden stool felt different from the metal ones we had in the stable. It honestly felt more comfortable. A waitress came by and smiled at us, a notepad floating in her magic next to her.

“Always a pleasure to see our Mayor in our establishment, and you too, of course, Chili,” the mare said, a friendly grin on her face.

“Always a pleasure being here dearie, you seem to be back to your chipper self,” Chili said, taking the menu on the table in her magic.

The mare brightened even more when she saw me, “Oh yes, and thank you so much for rescuing us. My husband is busy in the kitchen, but he said if you ever came in here, the first drink and meal is on the house.”

My eyes widened when I realized that I had no idea what kind of currency they used in the wasteland. In the stable, we never had to worry about money, most of the time we wanted something, we’d either trade or work for it. I need to ask about currency when I get the chance.

“You are very welcome miss, and your gesture is very kind,” I said with a smile towards the mare, who beamed at me.

“Well that’s a few less caps we have to worry about with this meal,” Wrangler said, chuckling at my slight blush from the gratitude.

The mare took our orders, some purified water to start us off. She left to get our drinks and gave us a chance to look over the menu. Honestly, there wasn’t much variety in the food, but given the environment, I doubt they would have the means of keeping a stock of different items for meals. There were two major sections, one in particular made me uneasy.

“Hey Wrangler, do you get carnivores out here often? I noticed the meat section, and I’m pretty sure we are herbivores,” I said the mayor who gave me an odd look at first, then it changed to one of understanding.

“I keep forgetting you’re from a stable. Yeah, we get griffons through here every now and then, but ponies sometimes get a taste for meat,” Wrangler said, making my stomach turn.

“We can digest meat, but it isn’t exactly healthy for us. But you can’t be picky with food in the wasteland,” Chili said, seeing my discomfort. I could understand her reasoning, but I think I’ll pass on that.

I looked through the menu, and could feel the eyes of just about every pony in the saloon. It made me nervous, but I managed to tune it out and focus on food. I was starving, and I would need to nutrition after using that potion.

“So Shadow, before we get into your questions, that potion you took has been bothering me for a while. What was that potion, and what did it do to you exactly?” Chili said, her voice slightly worried and hushed, like she was afraid I would be offended.

“I’m sorry you girls had to see that, but it was necessary for the situation. The potion is something my tribe created a long time ago. It’s called Nightmare’s Rage, it nulls the pain receptors in the body, basically taking away my ability to feel pain,” I said casually, earning a horrified look from the two ponies.

“But that’s dangerous! Pain is how the body restricts you from damaging yourself. If you take that away, you wouldn’t know if the injury is serious, like a broken bone,” Chili said, scared out of her mind.

“I’m well aware that it is dangerous, that is why we are taught to only use it when the need is great. The internal damage it does can be worse than the initial injuries that come from the battle itself, but we have other potions to compensate for that. That was what I was going for after I killed the leader, but I miscalculated the duration of the potion and couldn’t make it,” I said, trying to calm her down.

Chili was about to say something else, but Wrangler put a hoof on her shoulder. “Calm down hon, I’m sure Shadow knows how dangerous it is. Besides, Doc Cactus fixed him up good, no need to give him a hard time about it.”

Chili glared at her husband, but relented at his bright smile. “You’re right. I’m sorry Shadow, you know what you’re doing, and I should trust you,” she said looking to me with an apologetic smile.

“No need to apologize Chili, thank you for your concern, it’s nice to see such kindness out here in the wastes,” I said, smiling back at her.

The waitress came back with our water, and we gave her our orders. A salad for Chili, radhog bacon for Wrangler, which made my stomach churn thinking about it. I went with the fruit platter to stay away from any meat on the menu.

“So Shadow, you wanted to ask us some questions?” Chili said, taking a sip from her water.

“Oh yes, I was hoping to get some information about how things work on the surface. For example, you said something about caps earlier?” I asked, taking a sip from my own water.

“Bottle caps is what the wasteland uses for money nowadays. Pre-war bits are worth something in bulk but not too much. Most merchants will want to be paid in caps,” Wrangler said, putting his hat down on the table.

Using bottle caps as currency, well I guess the surface had to work with something. I wondered for a minute how that practice started, but quickly got back on topic.

“Thank you, Wrangler. Next question, were those raiders the only ones working in this area?” I asked.

“Oh goodness no dear, raiders are all over the wasteland. That particular group was the largest group that bothered us, but there are smaller groups that try to mess with our caravans every now and then,” Chili said, rolling her eyes for a second, making me think she wished I was right.

“Why are you so interested in raiders? One gang ain’t enough for ya?” Wrangler said, chuckling a bit.

My face grew morbid after he said that, and both noticed the change in my demeanor. “My stable was attacked by a group of ponies that might have been raiders. They had similar armor and weapons, led by a cloaked mare.”

Wrangler’s ears drooped behind his head, “I’m sorry Shadow. I shouldn’t have joked about it.”

Chili turned her eyes to her drink, a look of deep thought of her face. A few minutes passed before she looked up at me, “This cloaked mare doesn’t sound familiar, but raiders are pretty common in the wasteland. It’s not uncommon for raiders to take contracts from slavers and other unsavory characters.”

I looked up after hearing the word slavers, “Slavers? What do you mean slavers?”

Wrangler sighed, “Yeah, we got slavers out here. Those raiders were most likely gonna sell off Chili and the rest to the slavers down south. They got a huge business down there.”

My stomach turned, and my expression became one of disgust, “Enslaving ponies for profit, even foals. That is vile and despicable, how can ponies justify something like that?”

Chili sighed, “Caps will make ponies do just about anything nowadays. Killing, enslaving, and pillaging settlements all in the name of profit. Hell, some raiders just do it for fun.”

If I ever run into these slavers, I will be sure to give my personal opinion on their lifestyle choice. But back to the matter at hoof.

“So, you never heard anything about a mare in a cloak wandering around, tougher than the average pony?” I asked, both ponies giving me odd looks.

“Shadow, lots of ponies, especially ones with not so friendly intentions walk around in cloaks and in the shadows. Sorry, but we can’t help ya there,” Wrangler said, before finishing his bacon.

“That’s alright Wrangler, at least I have some more understanding of who could have attacked my stable. Raiders, and possible slavers if they wanted to take us,” I said, pondering over the ponies that assaulted my home.

They seemed poorly equipped, and these slavers sounded like they had a business out here. So I doubt they were slavers, most likely just a raider gang looking for caps and a good time. Too bad for them, but they weren’t prepared for our strength.

“Well Shadow, if you have any more questions, I’m sure we’d be able to help…” Chili said, before a loud noise came from outside.

“AAAHHH!!” A mare’s scream was heard from outside, drawing all of our attention. I immediately got out of my seat and ran outside. Chili and Wrangler not far behind me, we ran towards the crowd that was growing near the center of town. Ponies let us pass after seeing their mayor, and the sight that greeted us was horrifying, to say the least.

A green earth pony mare was cradling a young colt’s body, or what I assumed was a young colt. The body looked drained, and dried out, like it had dried out in the intense heat. A red-coated stallion was standing across from her, looking as if he had lost the will to live, head hung low and eyes so dull.

Wrangler walked up to both of them, “Lettuce, what happened here?”

The mare just shook her head and cradled the body tighter. The stallion lifted his head to look at the mayor with a defeated look.

“I tucked him in last night, Mayor, and he was fine. He must have left the house to explore around the gate. He had always said he wanted to be a guard, and they must have got him,” The stallion said, hanging his head yet again.

Chili walked beside the mare and wrapped a hoof around her. The mare stiffened, but after looking to see who it was, she leaned into Chili and sobbed in her shoulder. It was then that I walked up and looked closely at the body.

The stallion had finally seen me and rushed to grab me by the shoulders, “You’re the stripe that saved Lettuce and the others from those raiders aren’t you?”

Wrangler glared at him, “Brussels sprout, call him that again, and I’ll break your jaw.”

I gestured for Wrangler to calm down and put a hoof on his shoulder, “I’m so sorry for your loss, tell me what happened.”

Brussels sprout’s eyes suddenly grew, “I know! You can get rid of these monsters for us. If you can take out a whole gang of raiders, then you can take these varmints down no problem.”

I tilted my head at him in confusion, “Sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about? What did this to your son?”

Wrangler stepped in and removed the stallion from my shoulders, “Bloodwings. That’s what did this, Shadow.”

I was even more confused, “I apologize for my ignorance, but what’s a bloodwing?”

Wrangler looked at me with a dark expression, “bloodwings are nasty creatures, large mutated bats that’ll suck a pony dry in seconds. We’ve been having trouble with them for about a year now, but nopony has been brave enough to flush them out of their caves.”

I blinked in surprise, “a species of bat that mutated from the radiation no doubt. Possibly from the vampire fruit bat I read about in the stable.”

“Shadow please, you got to help us. I’m sorry for calling you a stripe. Our son wasn’t the only pony those monsters have taken. And now they’ve gotten bold enough to hunt this close to the town. You’ve got to help us, please?” Brussels sprout said, begging on his knees in front of me.

I was shocked, to say the least. But I could understand his desperation. He just lost his son, and I had no idea how many others had lost their lives to these creatures.

I don’t know what to do. The Overmare said not to make a name for myself, and to be discreet. Killing these bloodwings won’t get me any closer to completing my mission. I was about to tell them that I just couldn’t stay and help when another thought ran through my head.

But helping ponies is what Guardians were created to do. Under the guidance of the Goddess of the Moon they would protect all life from monsters and villains. If I walked away from ponies in need, I would be spitting in the faces of my ancestors. I knew what I needed to do right then.

I walked up to the mare known as Lettuce, and she looked up at me. I placed my hoof on hers, “I swear by the Goddess of the Moon that I will avenge your child, and make certain that he is the last victim these foul creatures take from this town.”

The mare smiled at me through her tears and squeezed my hoof, “You are a blessing from the Goddesses.”

Wrangler came up behind me, “You sure you’re up for this Shadow? You just got out of the clinic.”

I looked at Wrangler with the most confident smile I could muster, “I’m sure Wrangler, after seeing something like this, I can’t simply do nothing.”

Wrangler and Chili both looked at me with the brightest smiles I had seen since I left the Stable. I would help in any way I could, taking down as many of these “bloodwings” as possible.

Chili walked up to me, “alright Shadow, we’ll tell you all about these creatures, but I would recommend one of the guards go with…”

BOOM! An explosion rang out, coming from the other edge of town.

“What was that? Another raider attack?” I said, as I jumped into a defensive stance.

“Doggone it, not again!” Wrangler said, stomping off in the direction of the smoke from the explosion.

I was confused, he didn’t look concerned like it was an attack. He seemed pissed and annoyed.
I turned to Chili for an explanation.

“It’s not an attack Shadow, more of a town annoyance, follow me please,” Chili said, then she started towards the smoke. I decided just to trust her and follow.

By the time we caught up with Wrangler, he had made it to a small shack on the outskirts of Hydra Junction. It was in some bad repair, probably from that explosion. A large hole was in the roof, where the smoke was escaping. The windows were shattered, planks of wood could be seen all around the exterior, clearly from some rough patch jobs.

Wrangler marched to the front door, which was surprisingly still standing, “Ratchet, get your flank out here! This is the last straw!”

I could hear coughing from inside the cabin, and soon after a yellowish tan coated earth pony, wearing a gray vest, emerged from the smoke. He had a ginger mane, and a pair of goggles resting on his forehead. He had green eyes that seemed irritated due to the smoke, and a toolbox for a cutie mark.

“Cough, cough, howdy Mayor Wrangler, nice to see you again,” Ratchet said, chuckling as he rubbed the back of his head nervously.

“Ratchet, this is the fifth time in two weeks, I’ve had just about enough of this,” Wrangler said, looking very pissed.

“Hey, hey, easy there partner, it was just a little miscalculation on my part. Besides, you know I’m good to fix this shack up,” Ratchet said, trying to keep a confident smile.

Right after he said that, the rest of the roof collapsed into the shack, making more dust and debris fly into the air. Wrangler glared even harder at the stallion, with a look that could melt steel.

I walked up, “What exactly happened here? What caused that explosion?”

Ratchet noticed me and his eyes widened, “Wow, you must be that zony that all the girls came back with. By golly, it was quite a sight, all the mares and fillies running back through the gate, the stallions all getting teary eyed. You made quite the spectacle for somepony who was out like a light.”

Wrangler rounded on him, “Don’t try to derail the subject Ratchet, I’ve had enough of your experiments. You’re gonna pay me back all the caps you owe, plus the caps for that shack’s repair.”

Ratchet’s face paled, “Well, uh, Mayor, about that…”

Wrangler sighed, “Let me guess, you don’t have the caps to pay, do you?”

Ratchet rubbed the back of his head again, “Eh… no. But I can pay ya back, just give me some time.”

Wrangler shook his head, “Not this time Ratchet, you’ve had plenty of chances. You better come up with the caps, or find something to trade.”

Chili’s eyes widened a bit, “honey, I might have an idea that will clear his debt and help the town all in one.”

Wrangler looked back to his wife, “really, well let’s hear it darlin’.”

Chili looked to me, “Shadow, you want to help us with those bloodwings, and I was going to assign a town guard to help you, and act as your guide.”

She then looked to Ratchet with a sinister smile, “But since Ratchet here has such a steep debt now, and a natural talent for explosives. I bet he’ll be the perfect guide to help you take out their nest.”

Ratchet’s face paled even further, “You want me to go to Bloodwing Caverns?”

Chili nodded, “Yes Ratchet, you will guide Shadow here to Bloodwing Caverns and help him destroy the nest. It’s either that, or we confiscate all your valuables to pay off your debt. Which will it be?”

The smile Chili had on her face made a shiver run down my spine, and poor Ratchet had it worse than me. He gulped and looked around nervously before he eventually gave in and slumped.

“You win Chili, I’ll take him to Bloodwing Caverns,” Ratchet said in a defeated tone.

Chili smiled and clapped her hooves together, “Excellent, I’m sure you’ll be a great help to our new friend Shadow. We’ll let you two get more acquainted.”

Chili walked by her husband and grabbed his hoof, “Come, dear, we have to get back to the office.”

Chili then suddenly stopped in her tracks, “Oh and Shadow, your gear is at the town shop near the gate. Look for a building called Jelly and Jam’s.”

I nodded, and she then dragged her husband away, Wrangler still looking pissed, but he eventually turned and walked with his wife.

I finally turned to the tan earth pony, “So, Ratchet, is it?”

Despite what just happened, he managed a smile as he reached out with a hoof, “Sure is partner, Ratchet Set, at your service.”

I smiled back and shook his hoof, “Shadow Strike, nice to meet you Ratchet.”

“Likewise partner, now let me just go grab my things, and we can head out to Jelly and Jam’s,” Ratchet said before he turned back to enter the shack. I could hear him digging around, metal clanging, and objects shuffling. He eventually came out of the shack, wearing saddlebags and an odd device with a strange weapon attached.

“Ratchet, what is that thing you’re wearing?” I asked, pointing a hoof to the device.

He looked at me with a smirk, “It’s my custom made battle saddle, made it myself from scratch, and hooked it up with my baby here,” he said pointing to the odd looking gun connected to his side. It had a large cylinder near the base of the weapon, just in front of the stock, which was wooded. The cylinder connected to a barrel that had a tube running from the cylinder to the tip of the weapon. Underneath the front part of the barrel was a comfort grip fit for a hoof. A sight was placed on the tip of the gun, used for aiming down the barrel.

I looked at the weapon curiously, “I’ve never seen a gun like this, what type of ammo does it shoot? Shotgun shells?”

Ratchet laughed at my question, “Nah, Shadow, this here is called a railway rifle, it shoots railway spikes at high velocity.”

My eyes widened at his words, “railway spikes? That’s a bit extreme isn’t it?”

Ratchet burst out laughing, “maybe, but it packs enough kick to go clean through helmets.”

I was impressed with this weapon, “did you design this thing?”

Ratchet chuckled, “I wish I could take credit for this beauty, but I can’t. She was developed after the war, you can find schematics out in the wastes if you’re lucky.”

He then stepped past me towards town, “Well come on, let’s get your gear from Jelly and Jam’s, then we can talk about tackling Bloodwing Caverns.”

I smiled and followed the earth pony. I liked him so far, despite an odd first impression.

Jelly and Jam’s was quite the sight when we found it, a building a little larger than the saloon that Wrangler and Chili took me to. A sign hung above our heads which read “Welcome to Jelly and Jam’s, here with all your need and repairs.”

“Quite the sight ain’t it, Lemon was the one who designed that sign. That filly is a chip off the old block I’ll tell ya,” Ratchet said, laughing as we approached the front door to the shop.

I chuckled and opened the door, receiving a flying tackle hug from a familiar filly, who buried her face in my shoulder.

“Shadow, you’re ok, you scared me, when I saw you lying on the ground I thought that the raiders got you, and… and…” Lemon said, struggling near the end.

I wrapped the filly in a hug, “Lemon its ok, I’m fine. No raider could take me down. Don’t cry, ok?”

Lemon sniffled and looked up at me with tears in her eyes, which I wiped away with a hoof. I set her back on her hooves, and she grabbed my hoof and dragged me further into the store.

“Mom, Dad, Shadow is here!” Lemon yelled across the store.

From the backroom emerged Raspberry Jam, and she smiled brightly at seeing me. Behind her came a dark purple earth pony stallion with a navy blue mane. He beamed at me, and rushed to shake my hoof with his.

“Thank you so much for bringing my family back to me, words cannot describe how indebted I am to you,” the stallion said, shaking my hoof vigorously.

Raspberry came to my rescue, “Honey, don’t shake his hoof off.”

He stopped and rubbed the back of his head, “Sorry hon, guess I got carried away.”

Raspberry just giggled and nuzzled her husband, “Shadow, this lug is Blackberry Jam, my husband.”

I smiled at both of them, “pleasure to meet you sir, and no debt is needed. I only did what was right.”

Ratchet came in at this point, “hey, what am I, chopped liver?”

Lemon laughed and hugged his leg, “hi Ratchet, did you blow something up again?”

Ratchet chuckled nervously, “Maybe, but only a little bit.”

Blackberry chuckled at his response, “I’m sure Ratchet. So Shadow, I bet you’re here for your gear, am I right?”

I nodded, and he went into the backroom again, coming out with my weapons and saddlebags. I quickly took Venta and Umbra in my magic, and hugged them close. I then put my saddlebags back on, and was about to strap my weapons to my back when I realized something.

Raspberry chuckled when she saw my hesitation, “looking for this Shadow?” She held up my barding in her hooves, but it looked different.

I picked it up in my magic and looked closely at it. All the damage from the raiders was gone, and it looked like metal plating had been added to it. I looked to the three ponies in confusion.

Lemon giggled at my expression, “we wanted to say thanks for saving us, so we fixed up your barding and made it better.”

I was genuinely touched by this, I had not expected such kindness. “Thank you so much, all of you. I don’t know what to say.”

Raspberry smiled and hugged her daughter, “you’re very welcome Shadow, and it was Lemon who came up with the idea.”

“Well thank you very much Lemon, this will make my job a lot easier,” I said, smiling to the filly whose smile widened even more than before.

Ratchet whistled at the sight of my new barding, “shoot partner, that is some nice looking gear you got there. I’d pay a pretty cap for that kind of protection.”

Blackberry looked at me, “So, what was that about a job Shadow?”

“Oh right, Ratchet and I are going to clear out Bloodwing Caverns,” I said, slipping my saddlebags off to get my barding on.

All three of them looked shocked, eyes wide and filled with worry. Lemon jumped at me, “But Shadow, you can’t go there. The monsters will get you.”

“Lemon, I know you’re worried, but don’t be. I was trained to fight all kinds of monsters,” I said, trying to calm her fears.

Raspberry spoke up, “you don’t need to take another risk for us Shadow. Raiders are one thing, but Bloodwings are much worse.”

Ratchet came to my rescue, “now calm down you lot, no need to worry. I’ll be right by his side the whole way. No bat is gonna eat our new friend with Ratchet Set around.”

Lemon calmed down a bit, and Raspberry picked her up in her hooves. “You sure you want to do this Shadow?” Raspberry asked with anxious expression on her face.

“I’m sure. I won’t let them take another victim. I am a Guardian, and I won’t stand by and let ponies fall victim to these foul beasts,” I said, having finished putting on my barding. I then strapped my weapons to my back and faced Ratchet with a look of pure determination.

“So where are the Bloodwing Caverns?”

Footnote:
Level Up

New Equipment: Armored Stable Barding
DT + 8

New Companion:
Ratchet Set: Earth Pony

Author's Note

Hey guys, Hades here. So sorry for the long wait. Me and Mister Hypothetical were being strangled by our school work.

So, a new companion, how exciting.