Author's Note

Title of chapter refers to an argument by two raiders.

Chapter 2: Jet! Not Dash! Psycho not Rage!

Everypony in the medical room or hospital room as far as I could see what I would assume that this room was. We all fell on the floor landing on our rumps; the ground shaking violently. During the shaking, I screamed out “Thee fuck is going on!?” While I used the teenage unicorn filly as a pony shield. She was wearing a common torn up scavenger outfit that looked to be made out of rags. She would make a terrible meat shield. While I was naked only being covered by my white coat and blonde mane and tail. In all honesty, I felt very exposed. . . and naked. . . oh so very naked. That could be bad or good depending on your point of view. 'weirdos'

Without really thinking about it I tossed the filly away off to the side then quickly throwing myself into the square shaped glass window. Smashing my way out which I instantly regretted. The glass cutting into my flesh and the hard hit to shatter the glass hurt like hell. I felt my head spin as I plummeted two storeys downward. Having been on the second floor? Or would that be the third floor? I was a raider with a low education so what the hay would I know? When I hit the ground I felt the wind knocked out of me “Oof!” I gasped desperately breathing like an excited seal for any stray air in the area. After a minute or two of routine recovery here in the Wasteland. Groaning and grumbling on the floor. My right side was flaring up with heated pain. It felt like I was constantly being burned by a constant burning fire connected to a heated metal rod. I was also pretty sure I had broken a rib or two. . . ‘possibly more?’

I felt a few tears began to leak from my eyes. I hadn't felt true physical pain like that in a long time. . . I felt weak, I felt hopeless. . . I writhed on the floor. Knowing I had to get up. I had to get out of here! I didn't have time to stay for my things. Because it was all replaceable. My weapons and my armor pretty much everything else that I had on me that was also confiscated. . . I still had my pip-fuck at least. My white and gold pip-buck. I didn’t want to risk getting locked up again! ‘This could possibly be my last chance. . . since that stupid Discord did this to me!’ I thought to myself angrily.

I slammed my eyes closed rolling over to my right side making me yelp out loud. I'm pretty sure I rolled on top of some glass shards.
. . 'This blows. . . small stallion dicks. . .' The glass pierced through my hide giving me a sensation of knives slowly sinking into my soft flesh giving me the feeling of the glass shards slowly making their way inside me. Like if small ants were burrowing into my skin. I bit my lip rolling onto all four. Doing a quick push up to stand on my noodle like legs. I wobbled shaking as I stood up. Beginning to walk forward looking around. I really didn’t have any sense of direction. Having been fucked up the whole time including jumping out of windows. It seemed to be an ordinary town. With merchant stands. . . okay, a whole bunch of merchant stands. . . This is probably where the trading is good and keeps the Wastelands economy flourishing greatly.

I saw the ponys around town giving me weird funny looks, some were alarmed, others shocked. I really wanted to give them all a piece of my mind. I wanted to cut them up and slowly drain them of their blood while I hung them upside down. While I used all their children as my personal playthings. Then this town would know to never fuck with me! No one messes with me and gets away with it! Not even Discord! 'You little shit!'

A mare in a ripped up cloak looked over at me. I could see her yellow sickly tooth missing that was her left front tooth. . . was. Judging by her appearance I could easily tell that she was a raider. Looking at her armor that was made of stitched together cutie marks. It was just exposed enough to see under her cloak. I just gave her a cheeky smile either trying to intimidate or threaten or impress even. In all honesty, I did it just for raider times sake. Even giving the populace a small wave.

Being the idiot I was not paying attention to my surroundings. Just noticing that I finally was able to hear yelling of a high number of guards started to shout towards me. I didn’t care what they were shouting out to me. Because it was probably something along the lines of ‘Stop!’ ‘Freeze!’ ‘We’ll shoot!’ something cliche shit like that. Up ahead of me was a huge metal door a gate even; in front of me, I smiled as I limped as fast as I could towards the huge metal door/gate that I had previously knocked on the night before to get in. When I would have happily died with a smile on my face accepting death like an old friend. I was actually surprised that they even heard me with all the rain hitting the thick metal. But the rain had long stopped with the pure white cloud cover blocking the sun, but just enough filtered light to go through. I was actually confused by how that cloud cover got there. I had never seen anything like it. Even back home the kind of cloud cover was alien to me. Something I had never seen before minus today and tomorrow. Though yesterday it was night and nearly pitch black.

With my confused expression, I looked back down to the metal door. Searching for a switch or a lever or a fucking magic button of TRUTH! That would set me free. But was disappointed and I felt kinda stupid walking towards the gate. Noticing that the walls beside the metal gate that were meant to border the town from the outside Wasteland keeping the outsiders and mutated creatures out. I remember when I once had a town. . . a home. . . a family. Seconds later I had noticed guards on the metal walls. Aiming their guns down towards me. Their weapons were either held on either a battle saddle or clenched tightly in their teeth. I didn’t even bother to look what they had. It was most likely standard weapons. My drive for survival was swimming wandering aimlessly. My raider brain just patting me on the back and saying softly “You’re fucked. . ." before leaving me all alone with my devices. I stood stiffly as a board in front of the guards looking up at them with my drive for survival waining drastically like a rollercoaster going down a slope.

Behind the metal door/gate, I heard a thunderous reverberation of noise representing a hoard of thundering hooves with an earth-shaking pair of giant feet. Before a guard on a watch tower suddenly screamed. “She was just a distraction!” He said urgently before a rocket soared through the air. All the guards and the populace of merchants and wanderers stared in horror, as the wooden watchtower blew apart like a playset of Jenga. . .

I smiled widely as I saw the towers remains shattering crumbling down in the process of the once strong watchtower. The wooden splinters rained down on me and a few others; that made me lose my smile how annoying it could be sometimes I was now going to have to wash my mane! That watchtower guard pony sure as hell didn’t survive the collapse of the sharp jagged wooden ends stook out of the pile of wood coated bright red. “He saw that coming!” I shouted before I burst out laughing at my own joke the reverse one of. ‘He didn’t see that coming’. But the ponys didn’t think it was funny as they gave up shouting at me, and just resorted to just firing at me. I eeped reacting quickly as my adrenaline spiked up. I jumped behind a merchant stand to use as cover. Bullets ripped through the wooden stand. Showering me with splinters of wood. That I so desperately hated. The pain in my seemed to have disappeared covered by all of the adrenaline.

Suddenly I began to hear hollering and a gunfight breaking out near the front of the gate. Coming from the outside world. I was actually glad to whoever was helping me by distracting these pigs. I’m used to fighting in close quarters not out in the open. Even though I am a pegasus. I had an arsenal of weapons stored away but not at this moment. I didn’t want to waste any magic I had left over doing so would mean my demise. . . I was sort of like unicorn now. . . in a weird sorta way I could have a magical burnout. So why was I still even hanging onto the life I still had? I had lost my family. . . I had it so close! And it all slipped away. . . like sand in your hand slowly slipping out of your hand. . . Along the lines of ‘you’ll need this more than I do.’ Why did I give my magic away to her? I needed it more. . . and I spent it all to give her one last goodbye. . . would it really even have mattered? She hated my guts. . . she hated the very presence of me. . . she was brought up to hate me. . . my own. . . *BOOM!* a loud explosion brought me back to reality. Prompting me to quickly scoop up a random weapon. Being as unlucky enough as I was to get behind a food stand.

Having a limited amount of magic and being a pegasus. I felt tired as shit right now quickly snatched a Fancy Buck snack cake. That landed right beside me. 'Thank the gods for their forgiveness!' I smiled widely until I noticed having a bullet hole in the snack which prompted my smile to instantly fall. 'The gods never forget. . .' I gulped with tears beginning to fill my vision my life could never be easy and simple.

Bullets began to hit the food cart that I was using as cover. I poked my head out like an idiot; eyes going wide as I saw a guard standing there quickly ducking back down into cover. Just in time too as bullets flew by where my head had been seconds before. Thinking quick I blindly threw the snack cake hitting a stallion guard in the face with it. Landing it perfectly and totally on accident on his horn. Perfectly were the snack cake was previously punctured by a bullet. His horn impaled it like a sorta ring toss only widening the hole with his horn. The stallion angrily charged at the stand I was behind. My eyes widened as I picked up a Sparkle Cola. I hoisted at him like an Olympic gold medalist. He lowered his head dodging my projectile. Wasting a good soda pop as I did so. He aimed his horn at me as he jumped over the stand like a track star.

Jumping to the side not wanting to get impaled by him. . . in anyway shape or form. I groaned as I landed on my bad side. Feeling my side flare up with pain. I cried out rolling over onto my good side bruising it in the process but was totally worth it. Propping my bad side up so I could survey the damage. What I saw made me groan out. But the groan only made the pain worse. I saw my side bleeding as the glass shards sank deeper into my hide. This wasn't good, not good at all.

The stallion crashed into a building breaking his neck as he went full force against it. I didn’t know if he was dead or not but frankly I didn’t care. Getting up slowly but surely I began to limp away from the battle at the gate. Walking normally just hurt my injured side more. I looked over at the giant metal door. Only to see the town almost empty. The wall beside the metal gate, door. . . whatever you want to call it. The walls beside it were guards were on top of shooting down at my ‘distraction’. I began to limp the opposite direction not wanting to get caught in the mix-up. I only saw merchants packing up their stuff in a hurry.

As I was walking something made of paper flew in my face. Smacking right dab in the middle of my face. I growled pulling it off my face stopping in my tracks as I examined the object. What I saw was a pegasus mare in a suggestive pose. I read the Huge Text on the front cover. “Wingboner,” I said innocently with wonderment in my eyes that seemed to inlarge sparkling in the purest joy in the world. I looked at the mare as my wings poofed out loudly as my cheeks turned bright red. I wanted to do so many things to that mare. . . Especially the way she was looking at from the magazine cover. She was on her side on a lush pink carpet. She had a yellow coat and an orange mane. She was on her side giving me a lustful look. I subconsciously licked my lips feeling a little wet actually. I wish mares in the Wasteland still looked as good as this mare on the cover and like me. . . though I used magic to keep me youthful looking.

Then a loud bang snapped me back to reality. Making me feel nauseous. I don’t like loud noises. My ears pinned back as I turned my head around to see the huge metal gate. From where I entered and where the current battle was taking place from was blown straight off the ground flying through the air smashing a merchant in his stand while he was packing his goods smashed as well. The griffon merchant didn’t even see it coming. He became a smeared chicken nugget in an instant.

What I saw almost made me pee. What stood was a large dragon the size of the metal door/gate to be exact. He wore a colorful leather jacket that seemed to be made out of the cutie marks of ponys. He blew fire at the ponies that were on the walls. Hearing them scream as they were engulfed in flames. Screaming in agony until they were later killed by raiders. Or were unlucky enough to continue burning.

I slowly placed the Wingboner magazine into my mane for safe keeping because a girl makes her mane a high priority target. I think I just made a reason for me to keep on going. . . I needed to pleasure myself to this magazine's secrets then I could peacefully blow my brains out and climax multiple times to its luscious contents. I thought rather dumbly walking away from that fighting. Not looking back if I did I would surely get killed or raped. . . though. . . I wouldn’t mind getting raped by a good looking raider though. . . it isn't considered rape if you like it right?’ I thought in a dreamy tone as I felt my tail swish excitedly at the idea. I didn’t exactly have my raider barding so. . . I was pretty much a civilian wastelander to them. . . and if I was in another Raider gang, band, whatever. They would probably still kill me anyway just for fun. . . that’s what I would have done. . . uh. . . shit! I saw most of the raiders closing in slaughtering the merchants and guards as if they were nothing. Because the guards were lame and boring as fuck. 'Raiders rule!' That dragon they had was coming in handy. Breaking through the town's defenses as if it were his personal lego playset. I rushed into an almost empty alleyway desperately hopping into a dumpster that was filled with disgusting, smelly trash.

“This is going to be a long day. . .” I groaned closing my eyes as the horrible garbage's rotting smell assaulted my twitching nose. I scrunched up my face within the darkness of the dumpster. Just then I felt movement in the dumpster hearing the garbage moving about. The garbage shifted around the enclosed area withing he dumpster scaring the shit out of me.

“Oh, you too?” Said a light scratchy feminine voice. I went still as a frightened cat; minus the shocked scream they do. I gulped nervously licking my dry lips thirsty for a drink.

“Who are you?” I asked shifting around in the dumpster. The other voice in the dumpster spoke up again.

“The name’s Jagged Edge. . . yours?” The feminine voice known as Jagged Edge asked.

I then felt a hoof touch my cheek then began to stroke my cheek. “R-Radiant Shine.” I squeaked While Jagged Edge laughed before going quiet when we both heard someone outside our dumpster. We both waited quietly until the two of us heard a primal growl from someone or something. Before we could think more into it or whoever, or whatever it was quickly ran away.

“Say. . . aren’t you that feeble-minded raider that tried to take on the whole security of this town in a hoof fight?” Jagged edge laughed again.

She struck a nerve. “HEY, I’m not feeble-minded!” I retorted wanting to strangle the shit out of her now. Beginning to shake in a fit of rage. Ever since I became a pony. . . well. . . I think being a mare has made me mentally weaker thinking on my emotions more than logic. My feelings seemed to always cloud my judgment and make me emotionally unstable. Being blonde and white didn't help my case. Being white trash and retarded just sucked, to say the least. Yeah, I don't feel like insulting myself right now. . .

She patted my cheek letting out a brash laugh. ‘Her hoof was a bit. . . uh. . . jagged? Pun?’ I seemed to calm myself down or did she?
The pun making myself laugh mentally.

“I say we get out of here,” Jagged Edge said throwing both of the dumpster's lids wide open. The light blinding me harshly. My eyes having been adjusted to the darkness of the dumpster now exposed to the light. My eyes shrank into pinpricks slamming my eyes closed once again shaking my head as if the suns light was my poison even if the Wasteland's sunlight was dimmed by the cloud cover. Filtering out most of the light, so I had that going for me. Trying to shield my eyes from the invading light. “What scared of a little light?” Jagged Edge asked me teasingly having me hissed in response like a cave monster.

I slowly opened my eyes with my arms above my eyes still protecting myself from the light. “I’m not scared of some stupid light!” I growled quickly recognizing her. She was that raider I had passed earlier in the market. Where all of the merchant stands were set up and not destroyed. She had a ripped cloak with her sickly yellow teeth missing one tooth that was the left front tooth. She reminded me of my band of raiders when I was once a leader. . . I stayed in the dumpster not wanting to get caught by the other raiders. I only held my head out. Poking out of the dumpster my head swiveling left to right in a quick succession.

Looking back down to Jagged who stood in front of me with a cocky smile “I don’t look like a raider without my barding. . . besides just look at me. I look like eye candy,” I explained honestly I was too sexy looking and mentally retarded to be any good without someone to watch my back, and I wasn't going to attach myself to anypony. I didn't want to get hurt again. I had to hide everything I can from joking and acting dumb. . . but sometimes being a stupid blonde helps. . .

Jagged Edge only seemed to laugh harder. “Sweetcheeks you look like eye candy either way! You got bucking wings!” She said throwing off her cloak. Exposing her stitched cutie mark barding. Obviously, they were trophies over her previous kills and was used to intimidate. She then opened her saddlebags pulling out separate pieces of metal plates that had leather straps stuck against the metal. 'Proably welded together?'

“Whala Raider barding!” She said exaggerating her words like a magician about to put on a show. . . or that was the quick show that was quite lame.

I gave her a deadpan stare. While I got out of the dumpster putting on the metal plates hastily. Strapping them on with the thick leather straps. The metal plates seemed to weigh me down drastically. Strength wasn’t really my strong suit. And adding it in with the broken ribs and the glass shards withing my skin wasn’t helping me at all. I winced having a pained expression on my face. I now wore spiked knee guards for all four legs that were all pointed forward. I also now wore heavy metal armor over my barrel covering my flanks, and shoulders and most importantly my chest. I looked like a metal Porcupine. I shouldn’t have been surprised when I didn’t get a helmet to complete the set. She just smiled toothily at me looking me over. But what really shocked me was actually how she managed to store away something so big with her. She reminded me of myself in my younger days. But she was clearly more ugly looking than me. Common courtesy from the Wasteland itself with its finest generosity.

I rolled my eyes as Jagged and I together exited the alleyway seeing the raiders hooting and hollering starting to loot the town. Me and Jagged Edge looked over at each other knowingly as we began looting as well blending in with the rest of the raiders. But I exclusively stayed close to her. Because it made me feel comfortable sticking with her and safe; though you could never trust a raider. Even though we just met. I didn’t want to know anyone new anyway. I was getting a lot of weird suspicious looks from the other raiders. Probably because they weren’t familiar with me. And I hope it stays that way I didn't want to meet anypony else or any creature else.

We looted until the sun went down, my body aching with my unattended wounds. Also sore from wearing the heavy metal armor. Some raiders stayed to watch over their new ‘territory’ including the huge raider dragon with his vest of pony cutie marks. While me and Jagged Edge made our way following the other raiders back to their ‘homebase. . . or uh. . . cave? No that’s not right a dungeon or a raider den?’

I stayed right beside Jagged Edge the whole time like my life depended on it. I was very exhausted wearing the heavy metal armor. Taking its toll on me. “So do we get to rest later or something?” I asked Jagged Edge in an exhausted whisper.

She only smiled toothily at me making it odd always seeing her gap in her teeth. “Nope!” She chirped as she skipped by me leaving me behind. Her saddlebags bouncing up and down. I was about to say something when another raider mare got in my face.

“Say, never seen you around here new blood,” She said with a suspicious look in her eyes. This earth pony mare had a jet black coat with a dark green mane. She even wore a barbed wire bow in her dark green mane. Her bright green eyes made me smile. ‘I would never admit it. . . but. . . I like raiders. . . they’re just as hu-pony. . . like the rest of us. we all are people we just show it differently.’

I only smiled brightly “I’m new!” I quickly explained sorta true nodding my head like an idiot blending in well with my idiot kind. Prompting her to only raise a brow just as she was about to ask another question. A raider stallion hopped up beside me laughing like a maniac.

“Oh hO Ho! Looksey whatsey gotsey here!” he chimed as he continued to laugh with cray glee while he bounced around me drawing the rest of the raiders attention. My eyes just seemed to follow him cautiously my brain telling me he’s about to jump out at me and attack. I used all of my willpower to not lash out and kill the crazy bastard. Watched him cautiously my mind going red alert for the rest of our journey. When we finally made it to a building? about three miles away from that town we looted. A rough estimate because I wasn't exactly paying attention for how long we walked, but having my eyes locked on the crazy. We walked in front of a large army hanger that had the garage door thingie up or blown off. I could just barely make out a town getting in front of the gate just straight ahead. Meanwhile, I walked behind the rest of the raiders that seemed to be forming a line. Stayed in line tired and hurting like shit. I would slowly drift off then back into consciousness. I hung my head as I passed out while standing up in line.

***Third Person***

Radiant Shine fell face first into the plot of a bright red raider mare whose name was Strife. The Strife stood up straight as her eyes widened in shock from the sudden jolt of pleasure that passed through her body. She stiffly turned her head around to see Radiant having her muzzle rubbing against her 'you know what'. Strife moaned softly with reddening cheeks not complaining at all from the sudden pleasure that was spreading throughout her body. As she began to grind her rear into Radiant’s face. But they were quickly interrupted when they reached the gate.

“Identification!” A raider in power armor called out. He had half of his face burnt. The skin ugly and unnerving to an outsider but is highly respectable in raider culture. Scars just prove how tough you are. Raiders have that mutual respect besides the low of the low raiders. Who have little to no respect for no one and are arrogant and annoying as hell. “Strife Identification!?” The stallion in power armor asked aggressively.

“H-h-here sir-r-r!” Strife squeaked having been yelled at. She showed him some paper before walking in as he gave her a nod of approval. Radiant was jolted awake from the shout by the Raider in power armor. That raider was Strike Zero.

***End Of Third Person***

I was shaken away in surprise by a sudden outburst. I looked everywhere alarmed until a stallion in power yelled in my face. “YOU IDENTIFICATION!” He screamed again.

My mind was spinning trying to process what he had just said. He quickly lost his patience his temper flaring as he roughly grabbed me by the throat with a claw hand on his right arm while his left had a flamethrower he seemed to be able to stand on two legs in power armor. “IDENTIFICATION!” He shouted again as he lifted me up in the air. Making a scene as all the raiders began to watch in joy as I was embarrassed more than anything. And the funny thing was. . . I felt right at home. . . except I wasn't the one in charge. Looking back I was spoiled by my now ex-husband.

I was actually surprised that they were checking for identification this must be some high-end place or something. My eyes widening in shock. “I-I’m new!” I squeaked out wanting to get a free pass or something! As I hung clutched his claw trying to get him to release me.

“Oh? Is that so?” He said pursing his lips giving me puppy dog eyes.

I knew he was obviously mocking the new fish. And I was the fish. “Yes! Now please let me go your excellency!” I said out of respect of course. ‘My husband would never have let anyone lay a hoof on me. . . but he wasn’t here anymore. . . fucker. ’

He laughed in my face showing off his sharp white teeth. ‘He definitely sharpened those.’ “You all hear that!?” He hollered out loud as the raiders began to laugh with him. “We got a new piece of meat in our midst!” He looked me over licking his lips. “What do you think we should do with her?!” He cackled loudly as he hung me in front of the raiders. Me still being held by the throat. “We could initiate this one by letting her get around. . . orrrr. . . the PITT! He laughed loudly as so did the raiders.

“Uh oh,” I muttered before gulping nervously.

*****

The raider that I now knew as Strike Zero opened a giant pipe that had a manhole cover welded on as a makeshift door. All of the raiders cheered as he opened the manhole cover and tossed me in like a piece of garbage. “Oof!” I grunted loudly slamming into the ground again. . . My side still hurting from today’s events. The glass shards seeing to dig deeper into my hide. While my broken ribs poked at my insides uncomfortably. I was actually surprised that I didn't puncture a lung yet.

I still had that feeling of fatigue I felt like just falling over and sleeping on the uncomfortable floor. But the adrenaline and fear of the unexpected kept me up. I slowly raised my head to see other ponies in the small enclosed room. The Walls were all metal. Bronze, either bronze or rust? The walls seemed to be covered with smaller pipes nailed to the sides of the big pipe I was in. Honestly, I didn’t give a shit. I just wanted to have a drink have something tasty to eat and a nice long nap. Then I would rule the Wasteland with an iron hoof.

Until I laid my eyes on the rest of the raider newbies quickly getting distracted. “Hiya!” I said waving a hoof around. The other raiders while they were checking over their equipment. Strapping on armor, using drugs, even eating food. They all seemed to ignore me. I got up examining all of them. With my new found curiosity with nothing to do.

There were about three earth ponies and one unicorn that was missing his horn. There was even a griffon. The damn eagle part lion creature that I despised a little bit more now. From my events in the prison cell. To tell you the truth I was pretty damn racist. Because I was mainly influenced by the experience I had with a certain race. First impressions are important of course. I hate dragons even though I was married to a dragon once. . . a foolish mistake on my part, but what do you expect from me?

All three earth ponies were built like mini tanks. They weren’t as big as some stallions you might see. They were about the average size of mares. Except they had muscle while the unicorn with a broken horn was a twig in comparison. The Griffon had red feathers while he wore blue war paint on his face.

I asked again hoping that this wasn’t what I thought it was. I didn’t want to be placed in a fighting arena. I was weak scrawny and already injured. I didn’t know if my body could take any more of this kind of abuse. “Excuse me? But can someone please explain what you all are preparing for?” I asked politely getting all of their attention 'finally' this time with my manner of speaking. Probably because they weren’t used to it, and might have found it unique?

“We’re about to get initiated,” The griffon said brandishing a battle axe. The shiny metal sparkling light it reflected almost blinding me in the dark room.

‘I’m definitely killing you for that.’ What can I say? I like collecting things. “Initiated? Cool!” I chirped excitedly flapping my wings happily but on the inside, I was feeling the opposite. 'Shit!-shit!-Shit!' I mentally screamed. Now getting their complete attention. I was also starting to notice that there weren’t many pegasi in this part of the Wasteland. I seemed only to be finding Earth ponies, Unicorns, and. . . griffins, and dragons. . . well, a dragon. A huge one matter of factly. The one that ripped the gate off it's hinges at that merchant town. That I am now very happy got trashed after what they had done to me! Discriminating against me! Just because of my raider religion!

One of the earth ponies got up walking over to me in the tight stuffed room. Sticking his hoof out towards me in a hoof shake. “Well, I’ll be,” He said with a smile. “Haven’t seen you pegasuses down here.” He chuckled as I rolled my eyes at him for not saying ‘pegasi’ but I couldn’t really blame him. I say stupid shit too. I shook his hoof giving him a fake smile, and let me tell you. . . my fake smile makes others around me feel awkward and in most cases it is unnerving. Like right about. . . now. Everyone was now looking at me weirdly already suspecting it was fake. As the smile never met my eyes. He opened his mouth about to say something when a loud voice coming from a speaker sounded off. All the raiders in the room quickly lined up. At the opposite side of the room, I came from. I nervously got behind a scared earth pony. But I didn’t show it on my face.

I had to be tough, intimidating, a raider. I slowly closed my eyes.

“THE FRESH LITTLE WADDERS WANT TO JOIN THE BIG KIDS!” A gravelly voiced stallion said over the speaker. “ARE YOU KIDS READY TO SEE THEM PUT TO THE TEST~!?” He screamed into the microphone. Laughing as all of the raiders screamed chanting a single word over and over again.

“PITT, PITT, PITT, PITT, PITT!” They chanted while I thought it was adorable. Now I was just waiting for him to say 'Let's get ready to RUMMMBLLLEEEE!!!~'

The stallion on the speaker boomed loudly “First up! We got the LITTLE BROKE HORN! Make some noise!~” He said as the manhole cover that led us to the arena opened up quickly slamming to the left side of the pipe. The loud bang noise vibrated towards me making me feel nauseous. ‘It was a drawback becoming a god’ I joked with myself saying something stupid trying to make myself happy in my state of depression. I said that same inside joke for years. I was always in pain joking to make myself happy. Knowing that no one else could. No one thought my jokes were funny. . . but the thing was. . . the jokes weren’t meant for them. . . they were meant for me. . .

The unicorn with the broken horn quickly ran through wearing combat armor. Holding a 10mm pistol in his mouth. The crowd cheered outside. I was a little disappointed when the door closed in front of us. But otherwise, it had a small hatch that opened up so we could watch from the safety of our pipe like cage. It even had a glass protector scratched up and beat up that we were seeing through the small opening. We all crowded around the bubble glass protector. I was hoping it was that bulletproof glass you see in movies. Didn’t want the stupid glass to cut my beautiful face.

“Give it up for the Broken Twig!” The announcer said on a whim. Having the crowd burst out into a fist of laughter.

The unicorn started walking around the arena that reminded me of ‘No Man’s Land’ funnily enough. He seemed to be basking in the attention. Rearing on his two hind legs neighing like a true horse pony thing. Making me burst out laughing getting everyone in the room's attention of my presence yet again. “What he’s retarded!” I said dumbly with a smile as if it was obvious.

Then the other pipe across from us opened up the manhole cover opening up with a mighty slam. A raider in leather armor came running out with a rusted looking machete. He didn’t even wait as he lashed out at the unicorn slicing off his leg with a clean cut. The unicorn screamed as the raider with machete laughed insanely as his yellow eyes told us all he was hooked on some drug. Presumably Psycho from such a powerful blow.

“Give it up for the Rage addict!” The said enthusiastically giving them random titles.

“He’s on Rage.” One of the earth ponies that I don’t care to explain said. He looked pretty generic with the other earth ponies. He had a white mane with a brown coat . I almost have mistaken him for an anime character. He's the one that I shook hooves with from seconds earlier.

I just looked over at him like if he was crazy or he was talking in raider slang or something. “Rage?” I scoffed. “That name sounds ridiculous. It’s pronounced P-s-y-c-h-o.” I said like a complete snob. Completing the look by sticking my nose up in the air.

He gave me the same miffed look I gave him. “Lady I don’t know what you’re on but everyone calls it Rage here,” He said cocking his head to the side. “Hey, are you new around here or something? Or do you just live a drug-free life or something?” He asked me curiously.

I narrowed my eyes defensively. “That’s none of your business,” I growled making him flinch in surprise. Now scowling at him hatefully. His tail now tucked between his legs as I asserted my dominance among the lesser raider. I smiled in triumph as we looked out the bubbe shaped window to see the raider in leather armor holding the unicorn with the broken horn’s head in his mouth. Parading around the ‘Pitt’ he carried the head by the dead pony’s mane. The crowd cheered wildly. Happy to see someone dead. I was happy to say I smiled along with them. A true raider at heart. By how vile he treated the dead. The griffon in front of me just shook his head as he listened to us cheer as if this was the greatest sport in the world. Now I just needed some of his face paint and I would be cheering out loud 'goalllllllll!'

The manhole cover opened again with its loud bang. Making me feel nauseous yet again the loud noise having me spasm in place for about a couple of seconds. Yeah, loud noises make me feel sick to my stomach. Meanwhile one of the earth ponies's from our pipe ran out with a combat shotgun on a weird saddle device he had. It reminded me of some of those stories I read about. I actually thought it was kinda ridiculous to wear. I thought of it as kinkier than anything else. He began firing the gun on his bag somehow but I could infer about what I read. And if it is true then he is biting down on something as a makeshift trigger? While I can use my hooves to hold a gun just fine. What was wrong with these ponies? Embracing raider culture to harshly.

“He’s bringing out the shotty!” The announcer said enthusiastically. Making the audience cheer wanting to see some messy red pulp. The raider with the leather armor deflected the shotgun blasts with the machete surprisingly enough.

“The force is strong in this one,” I muttered jokingly. Before the bottom of his jaw was blown up. letting out a pained squeal as the earth pony finished the job blowing the brains of the jawless raider. painting the arena with a new coat of red paint and brain matter.

Seeing the debris of the raiders head made me feel relaxed. Telling myself that I’ve come home. That this was the only path I had, but that this path was strong and sturdy for me to walk down. Somehow I knew that things would be alright. I am a raider after all. We’ve all been put through the grinder and out. This was who we were meant to be. Then from the other side coming out of the opposing manhole came out a raider in power armor rushing out savagely lashing out at the earth pony with the battle saddle equipped with a shotgun. Stomping on the shotgun barrel with their metal hoof. Successfully bending the barrel in the process. But the earth pony triggered his gun making the shotgun misfire exploding the barrel making the shrapnel rip through his side. He screamed out only to have his head knocked clean off. Ending his pain instantly. But from what I knew was that you were still alive with your head decapitated. But died quickly after.

His head soared up through the air up towards the stands up above were the raider audience spectated from. A small raider colt caught the head holding it up cheering. And so did the rest of the audience. The loud cheering was almost deafening. Another Earth pony from our side went out like a rinse and repeat the cycle. Making me feel sick again with the loud metal bang noise from the metal manhole cover. I probably had a concussion or something to make me feel this sick.

The earth pony didn’t even stand a chance as the raider in power armor hulked up against his size. He only held a baseball bat clutched tightly in his jaw. Shaking in fear staring up at the pony in power armor. The armored pony raised a leg slowly making the earth pony lose his shit as he started running around the Pitt. Screaming wildly prompting the power armored pony to chase after him. The chase was short lived however jumping on top of the smaller raider. We all heard the sickening sound of snapping bones with the loud satisfying crunch. It sent shivers up pleasure down my spine. But cringed slightly in sympathy. That wasn’t very fun to feel. The earth pony was dead instantly or just paralyzed. but all in all, he was screwed for sure.

The crowd laughed as they exchanged caps betting. I eyed the money wanting to get into the action of money making. The anime looking generic earth pony whistled as he got behind the griffon when his turn was clearly next. The griffon grunted grumbling some words under his breath before leaving. The manhole covering slamming against the side of the rusted metal pipe, and once again I felt sick.

The red feathered griffon walked out with his shiny silver battle axe. I swore to loot it off him for collection purposes of course. He walked out swinging the battle axe threateningly to the pony in power armor.

The announcer commented with a laugh “Watch out! We got a badass over here!” The crowd laughed with him.

Me and the anime looking earth pony watched in awe. As the power armored pony seemed to be thinking it over on how to defeat its greatest threat yet. I was so entranced by this fight that I even forgot about the pain in my side for the time being.

The double-headed battle axe was so shiny and pretty I wanted it so bad! I was practically wet from between my hind legs bouncing up and down as I watched. The anime looking earth pony was giving me a raised brow. Who I gratefully ignored.

The griffon with his blue war paint over his face started to do some cool ass spin moves with his axe weapon while he used one talon. Inspiring me to try some spin moves with my own weapons some time. He then held his weapon with both talons ready for a fight. The pony in power armor straitened its back standing up straight. Then it began to crouch like a tiger about to pounce on its prey. But in this case, it was a predator vs predator.

Then the metal beast jumped towards the griffon ferociously. But was heavily mistaken in thinking that it could win. The heavy metal got cut clean through slicing the side of the armor now sporting a large gash. The armor let out a shrieking cry as the metal was ripped up. Blood started to leak out of the armor. The griffon sidestepped and spun his weapon again next he jumped up just before he sent a downward strike hitting his mark. Lodging the axe into the pony in armor. The crowd booed wanting the griffon to get his ass kicked. They seemed to be as racist as me. The crowd mainly consisting of ponies.

Then the door opened again sending out a unicorn mare who held a nail board in her magic. She was twitching uncontrollably as she took a hit of Jet. That was floating in her magic beside her.

“She sure does love her Dash,” The anime looking earth pony said right beside me.

'Okay, enough of his made-up words!' “Hey, listen, buddy, I don’t know what shit you’re smoking but that’s Jet!” I snapped angrily with a look of irritation on my face.

He just blinked blankly at me before he burst out laughing. “You’re a funny mare!” He chuckled holding his stomach falling over on his side.

“Who even are you!? And so childish!” I growled getting the feeling that he was mocking me.

He slowly recovered sitting up beside me as he hooked an arm over my shoulders. “The name’s Kalidas and drug selling is my game,” He chuckled. “That drug she was taking is Dash sweet pea.” He said laughing softly now recovering. From something I didn’t know he found funny. 'THAT DIDN'T EVEN RHYME!'

We slowly turned back to the fight to see the raider mare. Holding her own against the griffon quickly dodging his precise strikes left and right. She then launched herself at him shoving the whole nail board through him and his metal armor like if it was nothing but paper. The griffon punched her off him while the wooden board was sticking out of him. 'The speed the unicorn used was impressive! She stuck a wooden board through fucking metal and a griffon! She knows how to cook up some birdie! That lady's and gentlecolts is the mare you want to make love too!'

“Okay she’s probably on more than one drug,” Kalidas chuckled agreeing with him on that one. The griffon began to breath harder. His breaths coming out labored and heavy as the mare launched another assault on him. She slashed with the combat knife that was held in her magic savagely it was almost beautiful. Scratch that. . . 'it was beautiful! It made me so wet!'

The griffon's movement became slow and rugged as he swung his axe at her using momentum trying to conserve what little energy he had left. She ducked under his swing before punching him with her hoof yet again. Except for this time she grabbed the board sticking out of him. She then yanked it out completely with her body and with the help of her magic. I couldn’t see the griffon’s face from this angle but I would assume it would have been one of great pain.

The announcer then boomed in excitement. “Big Bird seems to be down for the count!”

Then the hatch opened up me and Kalidas looked at each other. “It’s your turn budd-” I didn’t get to finish as I was thrust out into the arena landing on top my face. Which hurt a lot mind you. I slowly looked up to see everything standing up I span around in a complete circle in total awe to get a whole 360 view of the Pitt and the spectators.

“Look at what we got here! We got a Pegi-Peg! Nice ass girl!” The announcer commented. “Survive this so I could tap that alright?!” 'I'm so killing you for mocking me!'

I scowled turning around to face the drug consumed mare only to see her thrust a knife into my view. She missed my eye by about two centimeters judging by the lucky angle. I immediately rolled to the side. Which burned mind you. I still had shards of glass there with a few broken ribs. The metal armor pulled me towards the ground faster. The heavy metal good for speed when falling the momentum on my side. But the weight caused me to use more energy. I stood up on all four once again cautious as my opponent was a unicorn and not a mud pony.

It was hard to keep her away from me being a slow big target while she was thin and nimble. She wasn’t wearing any armor though so I quickly devised a plan. It would get easier as our fight when on. . . in theory anyway. . . I began to strip out of my armor getting praise for ‘stripping’ more than anything, the horny raiders started getting more and more excited.

“A fight with a striptease? I don’t know how it can get better than this!” The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers boomed as there was a loud fapping sound coming from the speakers.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance I beginning to toss the metal pieces of armor at her. Aiming for her legs getting lucky enough to get her to stumble multiple times but she just wouldn't relent her onslaught of attacks. I was starting to get tired so I did the only thing I could do I charged at her spreading my wings wide as I launched myself at her, and she did the same. Both of us ready to kill. ‘I must live this fight I needed to survive. . . I need to survive. . . but why? Why didn't I just give up? I outlived my purpose. . . my job was complete. . . No. . . I had to fix this Wasteland!’

Her blade punctured my left shoulder I let out a cry of pain kneeing her with my spiked knee guard. I stabbed her hind legs knees with my metal spiked knee guards. Only getting when she reared up on her hind legs. While through the pain I raised both hooves up elbowing her neck with both elbows. Bruising it badly but not killing her. I was too weak to do that. I crashed down on top of her knocking the wind out of her. I laid her flat on her back beating the living shit out of her face. Hearing the crowd howling in approval. At the now one-sided fight.

The mare went still under me as I lifted the mare’s head breathing heavily holding her head up in both hooves before I slammed the back of her head against the ground cracking her skull like an egg. The floor below her head was slowly painted red. Her blood leaking out of her cracked skull. I was breathed heavily when I heard the loud bang of metal as the other manhole opened again. I slowly turned around to see my next opponent.

“Look it’s Robo Flame!” The announcer said as I saw a pony in power armor having two flamethrowers attached to the sides of his front hooves even sporting a battle saddle with two extra flamethrowers attached to his back. He had a backpack of fuel with a metal container. His power armor was Painted red with yellow and orange flames. He reared back onto his hind hooves before shooting fire into the air like Satan himself was here. I started to sweat from how hot it was starting to get in the arena.

I didn’t have much in me. Right now I knew I would surely perish if I stayed still for any longer. I spread my wings wide as I took the air flying above the arena close by the other raiders. But I was stuck under the metal bars they had above the Pitt so no one could escape unless the one directing this said so. I was about 10ft up. I grabbed onto the bars above the Pitt. Looking down at him until he fired his flames up here after me. I easily dodged swooping down. Under the new layer of smoke making me landed on his back with a thud but slamming my face into his armor dazing me. Blood leaked out my now broken nose. The momentum having me fall off his back landing on the floor right beside him. The crowd booed at my poor performance. I stayed down feeling to beat up to get up.

“COOK! COOK COOK!” The crowd began chanting.

“It seems the crowd wants you to cook us some pegasi!” The announcer chuckled.

I panted heavily exhausted. As I laid on my back looking up at the pony in the power armor. I had so happened to damage the two flamethrowers on his back having them bent at odd angles mostly facing downwards. The pony in power armor looked down at me. We seemed to stare at each other for a few seconds before he/her/it raised its metal hoof slamming it into my shoulder with a loud crunch. Causing me to scream out in pain. Tears began to fall free as I wasn't able to hold it back any longer. The pony then aimed the flamethrower down at my face. I could feel the heat coming off the metal tube just as it began to turn a hot yellow color.

The crowd kept chanting. “COOK! COOK! COOK!”

*SNAP*