Orbital Drop Shock Ponies

Chapters

Chapter 1:Chains
Chapter 2: Hard Landing
Chapter 3:Fire Light
Chapter 4: War Zone
Chapter 6: Ponyville
Chapter 7: Apple Pie
Chapter 8: New Appleloosa
Chapter 9: Sweet Apple Acres
chapter 10: Vanity Casino
Chapter 11: Unicorn Training
Chapter 12: Preparation
Prolouge
Chapter 5: Stable 35

Chapter 1:Chains

"So, you're the new grease pony? Let's see how good of a shot you are," Chains said. He was a forest green stallion with a maroon mane.

Something told me that's not how his mane used to be.

I pulled out my magnum and starting taking shots. 4/6 hits. 3/4 bulls-eyes.

"Well, thats pretty good. Follow me. I'll introduce you to the team. They'll be glad to meet you."

Chains led me deep into the base, a part of the base I've been in only once. He led me into a hanger I've never seen before.

We came upon 4 other ponies.
3 stallions, 1 mare.

"Spark, this is the team. That's Recon. He's our scout. "

Recon wore all but his helmet. He had yellow as his armor secondary. His cutie mark was a grenade. He was a dark gray earth pony. If the lights of the hanger weren't so bright, I'd say he was black. Except for his yellow eyes and mane

"That's apple pie. He was an apple farmer. Didn't have his cutie mark until his first week in the military."

I looked at his cutie mark. It was an assault rifle, but all the pieces were separated from the rest.

Chains caught my glance. "It means he's good at repairing and making weapons."

The yellow unicorn gave me a stare with his red eyes. His secondary was also the color of his eyes. I looked at the others. They were the same.

"This lovely mare is Fire Light. She's the best shot I've ever met."

She was a white mare with a pink, luxurious mane. It had been combed to perfection. She had light blue eyes. Her cutie mark was crosshairs.

Not an attractive cutie mark.

"She's the best I've ever seen," Recon said.

"that's what I just said," Chains gave a somewhat annoyed look to Recon.

"I didn't mean sniper,"
He gave her a look that should have caught her attention. Instead, she looked over to me.

"and whats your special ability?" her voice was beautiful too.

I sat there dumb folded for a few seconds trying to figure out why she was here instead of staying home.

"Well?" she gave me a look like I was stupid. Chains pushed his hoof into my side.

"What was the question?" I asked helplessly. She gave me an angered glare. And started walking towards the ship just behind us.

"Any way," said Chains, "that there is Skyler. He's our pilot and pegasus."

"Pleased to meet you, Spark," the orange Pegasus said. He had blue eyes.

"Alright, now to get to business," said as he motioned us to the ship. "word in ESC (Equestrian Space Command)
Is that there's a Zebra fleet invading Phillydelphia. No ones sure, considering no ones that far out away from Canterlot except thieves."

Fire Light called from the door of the drop ship. "And maybe a few AWOL marines."

Skyler was right next to us. "Don't forget the Alicorns."

Chapter 2: Hard Landing

"Alright, Everypony ready?" Chains' voice rang through the drop pod.

"ready."

"Okay, Skyler, Launch us."

We dropped. I suddenly felt free. Locked inside a tiny capsule. I looked out a window to see a portal open and a zebra starship flew through.

"Skyler what's going on?" Chains white eyes looked like they turned red.

Skyler didn't seem happy either. "they must've seen us coming. We're stuck in they're turbulence!"

Chains grunted. "Hold on, Everypony!" I gripped my controls, trying to get out of the turbulence. Apple Pie had the same idea.

Apple Pie's pod bounced off mine sending me flying.

The Last thing I heard was from Apple Pie's distinct accent. "Crap!"

******

I woke up.

My vision was blurred, and I didn't know where I was.

My vision cleared. I was in the drop pod.

There were 3 red buttons. I smashed all 3 with my hoof. They turned green and the front of the drop pod steamed and flew off.

I fell out.

And fainted.

*****

I woke up, same way.

I slowly staggered up. Looked around, and realized I wasn't wearing a helmet. I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Then a thud. Then a crack.

It was my helmet.

I put it on and turned it on. I could see the crack.

I turned my night vision on and looked around. A few red outlines, just standing around. I got closer.

"I don't know, but I heard he was going after the ministry of morale," one of them said.

"Well I heard Zecora was trying to protect the ministries."

I found a silenced sub machine gun.

"How dare she do tha-" Bullets flew through both of them. My bullets.

I scavenged Ammo and weapons from their corpses.

My HUD picked up a navigation system. I installed the map and looked to find enemies in the area. There were few.

Close to me at least.

******

JOIN THE ESC

A big poster hung on the wall. It was a picture of two earth ponies one with a pack cigarettes tied around his helmet. The other with a big rocket launcher strapped to him.

I had entered this building for clues and only found jokes. None of these pointed to the rest of my team or, for any matter, this 'ministry'.

Until I came to a hallway. There was blood everywhere. You didn't need night vision to see it. I walked into a room where most of the blood led to. I couldn't believe what I saw.

A pile of dead ponies and zebras covered in blood with a giant javelin going through the middle of them all like a shish kabob. I had to turn away. It was too much. One walk had 'help us' written in blood.

Lots of times.

The next room I walked into was different. It was full of live ponies. One had a shotgun. They were clearly civilians.

"who are you?" the shotgun armed pony said. "what are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for my squad of ODSPs." I felt a shiver down my spine. "Have you seen any?"

"Only one. He had a white stripe on his helmet."

Chains.

"he got us in here and gave me this. Said he'd call in support as soon as he could."

I looked at the group of hopeless refugees. I couldn't leave them here. Not like this.

"Here, take this." I gave him my pony tags. " If you see another ODSP, can you give this to him? Or her? And tell them to head south."

"Can do, Friend," the pony was filled with hope. I didn't think it would last.

******

I walked down the street past 2 dead zebras and a broken vehicle. Not a blown up one, just broken.

I got to work.

I heard a noise from a few feet in front of me. I tried to turn my night vision on, then I remember I had got a zebra bullet stuck in my visor.

"Why hello, Spark." I've heard this voice before.
" Would you care to join me?"

Chapter 3:Fire Light

Her!

I had found her. I had found Fire light.

She started talking to me like she knew me. The only thing she knew about me was my name.

"I'm sorry for being a little snotty earlier." she said. "I just wasn't in the mood to have to deal with a new recruit. But I can see you're more than a recruit now."

It felt strange talking to her. "why are you here?" she gave me a strange look. "I mean, why aren't you at home, doing girl things." she gave me an annoyed look. "Why did you join the army?"

"Oh," she realized what I was trying to say. "Well, when I was a filly, I always wanted to be a pastry chef. But, after a bad end to something good, I got drunk, enlisted, and have been here since."

She signed. I wanted to go to her side of the fire and comfort her, but then she changed the subject.

"you should take that helmet off." she said. But then added more. "Because of the crack running through it."

I didn't really want to take my helmet off, but I did. She seemed interested in the color of my (tan) hide.

"We should keep moving." I said. I didn't really like this situation. At all.

"Oh, yea," she remembered we were in a war zone.

I put my helmet back on.

******

"hey, Twilight ," I was listening to a prerecorded
Message I found on what looks like a courier. "Pinkie Pie's been trying to talk to you. Please talk to her. She's going to stop with the party time mentals. This Pegasus isn't asking much. Just talk to her." I recognized the voice as Rainbow Dash.

We walked further down the hall to the roof overlooking the whole city.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Fire Light said, coming to my side.

"It used to be," I said, pulling up my digital wrist map.

I noticed multiple red targets coming towards us. Before I could say anything I heard Fire Light Scream.

"Multiple zebra carriers coming in. Get back inside, now!"

Plasma charges flew at us as the carriers got above the landing pad, dropping off tons of zebras. I pulled out my smg and started firing.

As I looked out the doorway of the hall, I noticed something in the distance. A light getting bigger. Not closer.

Just bigger.

"Fire, get to the bottom floor, now!" she started to run as I closed the door.

I chased after her as she ran from the mysterious light.

I heard noises about half way down the stairwell. A big explosion hit the building. The ground under us cracked.

Then fell apart.

******

The sound of sniper bullets woke me. I looked up.

We were in a crevice, and Fire Light was protecting me. Luckily, the floor popped up around the crevice like a barrier. I heard multiple shrieks every bullet.

"good, you're awake," she said. She didn't even look at me, and I wasn't breathing very loud. "Stand up and help me, I can't do this all on my own. Get up here!"

I pulled up my wrist map. Nothing.

It wasn't a balefire bomb.

It was an EMP.

I stood up, grabbed my smg, and ran up the crevice to aid my companion.

After a few minutes, we were low on ammo. There were zebras on both sides now, probably because of the screeching of the sniper rifle.

I was on my last mag. I looked over at Fire Light. She already had her pistol out.

We heard screeching. It sounded like a robot. It got louder, then everything went white.

******

When I woke up, my first thought was that I get knocked out too much.

I looked around. No sign of Fire Light. I got worried and started thinking of all the things that could have happened to her.

I looked over the uprooted floor. There was a tank on either side of me.

No live zebras.

"Hey, Spark! I got your tags!" I turned around to see a ODSP with a white stripe on his helmet.

Chains.

I started walking towards him when I felt my hoof hurt. I looked at it.

Blood.

I fainted.

Chapter 4: War Zone

I woke up on a bed in what looked like a wooden shack.

Alone.

I walked out of the shack and looked around. I was out of the city.

"You're awake," I turned to my right to see Chains sitting in a rocking chair. "It's about time."

I looked for the city of Phillydelphia. "Where are we?"

"About 10 miles from Phillydelphia."

"Where's Fire Light?"

"On the roof."

I looked up to see the beautiful pony laying on the roof, with her sniper rifle perched on the edge.

"we are to move to Manhattan tomorrow," Chains said, as he stood up to walk into the shack. "reports of zebra ships moving in."

The sound of a bullet shook the whole shack.

"We got hostiles," Fire Light sounded worried.

"What's coming?" Chains looked up and raised his voice.

"It looks like just ground forces," Fire Light was about to hit another when the shack caught fire. "Enchanted weapons! Get out of the shack! Let's head for Manehattan!"

Chains led me out of the shack. He got to the doorway and grabbed an assault rifle stuck in the wall and threw it to me.

"Cover our escape!" he yelled. "If you see any Enemy air support, tell me!"

I started shooting as I walked backwards.

I took out 5 zebras before a giant hole opened. A zebra carrier flew through it and started to drop things.

More than just Zebras.

I turned to run. "enemy command ship, dropping everything they got!"

Chains and Fire Light were running with me. Ahead of me.

Chains turned his head as he ran. "Spark, turn around!"

I turned to see an armed car driving at me.

I stopped running.

He got close.

As soon as he was right next to me I ripped him out of the car, making it stop.

Fire Light no-scoped the gunner and hopped in the passenger seat.

"Hurry up," Chains was getting onto the mounted turret.

I galloped to the unparked rolling car and jumped into the driver seat.

I instantly knew where everything was. I pulled the stick into the 2nd gear and pushed the petal down.

Chains was tearing up the enemy vehicles. "Come on, Spark! Punch it!"

I hit the next gear. I noticed a mirror popping out.

That was a big ship.

I heard the machine gun on the back stop and Chains climbed up. He grabbed a box in between me a Fire Light.

"Just need a few more fun bullets," Chains yelled over the engine purring.

I heard a quiet high pitched beep. It stopped. Then the whole car stopped as the cannon shot a giant red laser. I watched through the mirror.

The zebra carrier caught fire and and started to plunge into the dessert.

It started a sandstorm.

"Come on, Spark! Get us out of here, now!" Chains was watching the enemy infantry running hopelessly from the sandstorm.

"the engine's not starting!" I wasn't sure what to do.

For the first time in the history of my life, I didn't know what to do.

I felt retarded when I saw Fire Light hit the car with her hoof and start it up.

I probably broke the pedal smashing it into the ground like that.

We were a few inches from the sandstorm at 50kph. It wouldn't get faster.

Then it happened.

The car slowed to a stop.

Out of gas.

*******

The sandstorm had consumed us. We had walked through the desert towards Manehattan.

We got there about 7:30pm. We opened the city gates and tons of pony folk stampeded out.

When the smoke cleared, there stood Recon in all his armor.

Covered in zebra blood. Maybe a little of his own.

*******

"Well find it!" Chains exclaimed, as we looked through a whole office for one thing.

A purple flash drive.

You might wonder why, so I'll tell you. It held pass codes to Everypony's computer.

Everypony's.

"I found it!" Fire Light said. She seemed so proud of herself.

"Give it here," Chains stuck out his hand.

She gave it to him, and he hooked it to a necklace.

"Let's go," he said, walking out.

As we exited the building, we saw multiple ponies running around.

We looked up and saw a zebra carrier right above the city.

Doing nothing.

Not dropping any zebras, or bombs, not even shooting. Just floating.

*******

"Gun it, Spark!" we drove out of Manehattan in a transport military vehicle.

We had came across a few red dots on our maps, and traced them to under the city.

When we got down there, we found about 4 zebras (Who were all shot). They had activated a balefire bomb.

We ran through the streets yelling it while looking for a fast way out.

We came across this car. I hotwired it, and we hit the road.

Screaming our warning as we went.

"Go go go!" Recon already hated cities. While tracing the dots, he talked about friendly zebras he's met there.

But now that doesn't matter, they would all be dead at any moment.

Fire Light looked back. "I don't think we'll make it!"

"We'll make it!" Chains was looking through the glove department for anything helpful.

I took a look in the box. "What is that?"

Chains pulled out a rectangular item with a map strapped to it.

"It's a teleporter," Recon leaned over.

"Hook it up," Chains looked at the map. "Take us to a stable."

******

"Spark, How's it coming?" Chains tried to watch me work but couldn't figure it out.

"Almost Through," I was hacking into the stable. "There!"

The stable door slowly opened.

We walked in, unaware of more than ponies being in there.

We came to a place looking like town square (if this was a town).

Ponies and zebras alike going about their daily lives.

All of them went silent. Most of them stopped to look at us.

"Look alive," Chains whispered.

Almost simultaneously we took off our helmets. Except Chains.

Recon had his hand on his holstered magnum. "I don't like this," he whinnied.

I heard hoof steps.

Everypony's (and zebras) eyes looked terrified. They were all out of there in a matter of seconds.

"Hey!"

Chapter 6: Ponyville

I was confused. "Why didn't I see them?"

"He pretended to be an earth pony so he wouldn't have to be a pilot. He didn't train to be a pilot."

"So?"

"So, earth ponies don't need wing holes in their armor."

*******

"Move up!" Chains tried to yell over the bullet fire. I threw all my grenades and jumped my overturned table.

Chains went on the radio. "Skyler, Apple Pie, how's the sky front?"

"I can't see two bloody feet in front of me," Apple Pie's voice was under the sound of what seemed to be a sandstorm.

Then it rolled in from above.

Sand covered every piece of land, flying everywhere for miles in each direction.

"Night vision!" Chains neighed through the radio. I smacked the switch on the side of my helmet. All enemies in a 50 meter radius became outlined with red.

My visor was very red.

At first I thought it was enemies, then the pain kicked in.

I had been shot in the head!

"Medic!" I yelled. Sounds got muzzled, I got dizzy, my vision got blurring, and to top it all of, a bullet hit my front right hoof as I fell to the ground.

Once again, I fainted.

*******

I woke up in the sand. I looked around.

Ponies and zebras alike shared a bloodbath. Luckily, none were ODSPs.

Sadly, no one was alive.

I stood up and started trotting.

I stopped to realize my helmet and front right hoof guard were replaced with bandages.

My light blue mane had been painted red.

I walked through the night looking all over for Any sign of life. The only thing I ever saw was a ghost town.

I saw a few actually.

I came upon another city around noon. Unharmed by balefire bombs, but nopony was outside. I suddenly recognized it as apploosa.

I grew up here. I started walking through the city yelling names of my old friends and teachers.

No response.

I heard galloping behind me. I spun and was pinned to the ground by what looked like one of the goddesses. It laughed and it's horn started to glow.

It's horn flew off.

It was as surprised as I was to see that. But less surprised when it ripped to shreds and what looked like bloody pieces of torn paper.

I looked around to see where it came from, but nothing was around as far as I could see.

I walked through more of the town when I came upon a sign.

It reads: All civilians to New Apploosa or stable. Please move to designated area quietly. Thank you.

Carved into the other side was: Spark, if you come across this, take the train to New Apploosa.

I got onto the train. Some carts weren't lit. Others barely. But 2 carts were just fine. One, the VIP room, two, the conductor's station.

I started up the train's mechanisms and got it automatically going towards New Apploosa.

I opened all the windows and got all the lights working as good as new.

I ended up charging in the VIP room where I woke up by a loud thump and shake that threw me from my bed.

I looked out the window.

I had made it.

New Aploosa.

Chapter 7: Apple Pie

"Mommy!" the filly surprised me so much my hind legs stopped supporting me.

"Honey drop don't bother the soldiers," a stallion came from the side of the road. He noticed Fire Light. "Well I'll be! Fire light!"

She looked towards the sky behind her. "Hello, Butter Knife."

"look," he looked down. "I'm truly sorry for all I did."

"That's what you said last time."

"I don't mean to break up the reunion," Skyler took his helmet off. "But we have to find Apple Pie."

"Apple Pie?" Butter knife looked confused.

"Yea," Chains stepped up. "You know him?"

"Of course," Butter knife said. "We were in flight school together."

I spoke up. "Where are your wings?"

"Got mugged. Mugger cut them off so I couldn't get away."

Chains stopped me from asking another question. "We can talk personally later. Right now we need to find Apple Pie."

"Follow me," the wingless Pegasus started trotting.

Knowing Recon and Apple Pie were good friends I walked with Recon. "Why doesn't Apple Pie have wings?"

Recon didn't make eye contact. "He does."

What?

I was confused. "Why didn't I see them?"

"He pretended to be an earth pony so he wouldn't have to be a pilot. He didn't train to be a pilot."

"So?"

"So, earth ponies don't need wing holes in their armor."

*******

"Move up!" Chains tried to yell over the bullet fire. I threw all my grenades and jumped my overturned table.

Chains went on the radio. "Skyler, Apple Pie, how's the sky front?"

"I can't see two bloody feet in front of me," Apple Pie's voice was under the sound of what seemed to be a sandstorm.

Then it rolled in from above.

Sand covered every piece of land, flying everywhere for miles in each direction.

"Night vision!" Chains neighed through the radio. I smacked the switch on the side of my helmet. All enemies in a 50 meter radius became outlined with red.

My visor was very red.

At first I thought it was enemies, then the pain kicked in.

I had been shot in the head!

"Medic!" I yelled. Sounds got muzzled, I got dizzy, my vision got blurring, and to top it all of, a bullet hit my front right hoof as I fell to the ground.

Once again, I fainted.

*******

I woke up in the sand. I looked around.

Ponies and zebras alike shared a bloodbath. Luckily, none were ODSPs.

Sadly, no one was alive.

I stood up and started trotting.

I stopped to realize my helmet and front right hoof guard were replaced with bandages.

My light blue mane had been painted red.

I walked through the night looking all over for Any sign of life. The only thing I ever saw was a ghost town.

I saw a few actually.

I came upon another city around noon. Unharmed by balefire bombs, but nopony was outside. I suddenly recognized it as apploosa.

I grew up here. I started walking through the city yelling names of my old friends and teachers.

No response.

I heard galloping behind me. I spun and was pinned to the ground by what looked like one of the goddesses. It laughed and it's horn started to glow.

It's horn flew off.

It was as surprised as I was to see that. But less surprised when it ripped to shreds and what looked like bloody pieces of torn paper.

I looked around to see where it came from, but nothing was around as far as I could see.

I walked through more of the town when I came upon a sign.

It reads: All civilians to New Appleloosa or stable. Please move to designated area quietly. Thank you.

Carved into the other side was: Spark, if you come across this, take the train to New Apploosa.

I got onto the train. Some carts weren't lit. Others barely. But 2 carts were just fine. One, the VIP room, two, the conductor's station.

I started up the train's mechanisms and got it automatically going towards New Apploosa.

I opened all the windows and got all the lights working as good as new.

I ended up charging in the VIP room where I woke up by a loud thump and shake that threw me from my bed.

I looked out the window.

I had made it.

New Appleloosa.

Chapter 8: New Appleloosa

"Well howdy do!" a strange western pony greeted me with a big shake.

"Name's Apple Picker! Welcome to Equestria's fresh new start, New Appleloosa!"

First things first, it wasn't very fresh. It also looked pretty old.

She started again before I could get a word in edgewise. "Due to lack of trees, New Appleloosa is completely made out of stage cars. I'll give you the tour!"

"That's alright," I said but half of my response was covered be squeals of excitement from the earth pony.

She started to drag me along as she pointed out stuff. "Those are the main gates, or should I say, mane gates!" she giggled then continued through the rest of the city. I would tell you about it, but I lost all focus in the tour. The only reason I moved from spot to spot was because she put me on a chariot.

"And here," she smiled brighter than before. "Is what I like to call 'The Grand Exchange'."

The yellow mare pulled me into it with a harder grip than before. "This is our trusty sale pony, Ditzy Doo!"

The gray Pegasus heard her name and gave a grin. But that wasn't any normal pony.

It was a ghoul pegasus.

"You do realize she's undead, right?" I wasn't sure if my tour guide was blind, or crazy. Or maybe both.

"She's harmless," Apple Picker shrugged it off. And we kept going on our tour.

******

I stayed in their city for about a week before leaving.

The day before I left I received a radio message while lounging around with some new friends in a bar.

"Everyone quiet!" the tender yelled. He turned up the radio.

"This is Apple Pie, I'm looking for a stallion named Spark. He's a light tan earth pony. If you see him, meet me at the Bannered Mare, in the heart of Sweet Apple Acres."

There was a long awkward silence. I got off my pillow cushion and broke the deadly quietness. "Well, you are all real fun ponies, but I must be off before I'm horribly missed."

I started walking slowly through the door then realized.

I never payed the bartender.

Normally this wouldn't be too much of a problem, but I scarcely remember my eccentric tour guide saying something about this particular tender.

"Being in the wasteland makes ponies lose trust in ponies. If you don't pay that bartender, he'll go ballistic."

I started nervously trotting away. But I felt a little relieved.

My new buddies will pay for me.

"Get back here, thief!"

What friends I've made.

I galloped towards the train station to look for my specially made to be automatic train

It was in the front, ready to be used.

I hopped in and turned it on. Out the corner of my eye, I could see the citizens coming towards the train as it started.

I shoveled coal faster and faster as it started up and quickly started moving up the track.

THUMP!

Somepony was on top of my train.

"You won't get away, thief!"

I turned to see the bar pony with a butcher knife in his mouth.

I reached for my gun.

Nothing.

All my weapons were in the luxury cart.

The gruff stallion charged at me. He started to pull back for a deadly blow.

He swung down the knife at me. I jumped backwards to avoid it then through a buck his direction. I nailed him square in the jaw, forcing him to drop the knife from his mouth.

I put the knife in the attachment slot on my helmet (Which I put on when I started the train( and also left my helmet on the lever to start up the engine)).

I put the knife close to him. "I don't want to do this anymore than you."

"Just pay me."

"Are you crazy? Who's on top here, me, or you?"

"You."

"Why would I pay you after you tried to kill me?"

"Because I would rob your worthless hide, you piece of-"

My (or his) knife swung right through his Neck like it was made out of soft snow.

The rest of the ride was rather quiet, except for the occasional bump on the rails.

But along the way, the train just stopped.

I went up to the front to check what the problem was.

Raiders.

Chapter 9: Sweet Apple Acres

I quietly walk through the carts to my own. I grabbed my pistol and started moving forward.

The raiders started moving slowly towards the back, carefully examining everything, looking for who started up this train.

I pressed myself against the wall next to the door. One was bound to try to come back here, and I'd have to kill him.

Somepony came through. It was a mare. I let her walk around, but when she found the fridge, I ran and snapped her neck.

I didn't care to set down the body. It dropped to the floor and made a thump.

I bolted for the cart behind me and broke it open. A bullet slugged past me through the wall. I hid behind a green transparent separator between the seats.

The raider threw another bullet at me, putting a giant crack in my protection.

I realized I still had a flash bang. I tossed it, it blew up. The raider was stunned, and I was too. (but not as much.)

Glass isn't very good protection.

Everything was white and I could still see the floor, and what I was really looking at too.

I put the pistol in my mouth and shot rapidly.

I got him in the head every time.

There was one left, in conductor's office. I sneaked up to the door and grabbed the doorknob. I slowly opened it.

"Come in, please."

I stopped. What was going on?

"Don't worry, I won't kill you."

I nervously trotted through the office to a chair.

"Sit down, please."

"What's going on?"

"Negotiation. I let you travel through my train, you give me money."

"Okay, here." I gave him 20 bits.

He laughed. "Haven't you heard? Bottle caps are the currency of the wasteland."

"Don't have any."

I heard a thwap then pain in my leg.

"I'm afraid I'll have to drop you off."

Everything went black.

********

I awoke in a shack and immediately tried to jump up.

"Woah, slow down, Spark." a stallion in the dark said.

"How do you know my name? Where am I? Who are you?"

"One question at a time, buddy."

"Who are you?"

"Name's LightningBolt. Used to make lightning for the pegasi before they cowered in the clouds."
He was a navy blue

I looked around. This isn't a shack, it's a barn. "Where am I?"

The navy unicorn took a bite of a bright apple and swallowed. "Sweet Apple Acres."

"How do you know who I am?"

"Radio."

"Well, it was nice meeting you, but I must move on."

"You won't get there alone. You need help."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ever since that radio call came in more raiders have moved into the acres. Things may seem nice," he set the apple down on the table right in front of me and slowly spin it to the other side. "But it's not as good on the other side." The apple's other side was covered in worms. It was mushy, brown, and most of the apple skin was actually blood. "You've found the other side."

********

"That's the bannered mare." Lightning Bolt had taken me to the tavern in the center of the 56 acres.

"Why is it in a tree?" it looked like a club house.

"I don't know, I didn't make it." Lightning Bolt turned around. "Well good luck. And take this."
He tossed me a holo tag.
"If you double tap the picture, you'll send me a call for help."

"Thanks, it's good to have friends out here." I put the holotag on.

Lightning Bolt's horn glowed. A lightning bolt came down and struck him and he disappeared.

I went into the Bannered Mare.

"I'm spark." I spoke loudly enough to be heard over the multiple conversations.

All voices quieted and all eyes came to me. A zebra-pony mix walked up and lead me to a back room.

She was covered in scars and multiple branding iron brands all over her body.

"Why are you covered in scars?" I tried to be polite but her scars were bouncing around in my head. "I'm sorry, that was a little rude."

"It's okay," her voice was soft. (a lot softer than her appearance.) "They're from abuse."

"Why?"

"I'm a hybrid, a traitor to both sides."

"What are the brands for?"

"Their the cutie marks of my abusers."

I felt horrible for this pony zebra.

"Spark!"

I turned to see Chains sitting at a table. I trotted over and took a seat.

He smiled. "You look like you just got out of Hell."

"It was. What are we going to do?"

"We're leaving. Right now."

I felt generous. "Can we help that hybrid first?"

Chains looked me straight in the eyes. "Let me tell you one thing. This isn't Equestria anymore. This is the wasteland. Ponies are better than others now. Time you spend helping other ponies is time you could spend helping yourself stay alive. Be Selfish. But not a thief."

********

"Well?"

"You want to know if we're losing?"

"I know we're losing. I want to none if we've lost." Fire Light was talking with Chains.

Recon spoke up. "Are we dead yet?"

Fire Light reloaded her sniper rifle. "No."

Recon put on his helmet. "Then we haven't lost yet."

"We're coming up on the enemy fighter. Get ready." skyler was piloting a carrier ship labeled Sky Bandit.

"Look out the window." Apple Pie said. A giant boat tied to bigger weather balloons armed with pirate cannons flew by.

"Fire light, hit the weather balloons!" Chains said.

Fire Light opened fire on the balloons. They burst into pieces.

The ship threw a few cannon balls into the air in random direction as it sunk through the sky.

Suddenly, right before the ship hit, giant Pegasus wings flew out of the sides of the boat.

It rose back up to our level and opened fire on us.

Chains was putting on a parachute pack. "Skyler, get closer!"

Skyler flew in random patterns, getting closer with every curve.

We got right above the ship. "Hold her steady!" Chains ripped his ponytags off. "Hold these for me," he gave me the tags then jumped onto the boat.

Fire light started firing on the enemy below. Every bullet went down fast and hard, all finding homes in zebra skulls (and a few eyes).

The sky bandit circled the boat like an over watch.

A cannon ball flew up out of no where, hitting us. But they weren't ordinary cannon balls. The shy bandit burst into flames as we crashed into the wasteland. Skyler did his best to land it, but the leather strap holding him in broke, sending flying forward, away from us.

We hit the ground.

******

"He did what?" chains said, smashing his drink to the table.

We had met back up at the bannered mare to get some much needed actual rest.

"Took off for cloudsdale. All pegasi all over equestria have fled back." Apple Pie reached for his apple cider.

"Leave a real pony to do all the work. Just like them pegasi." recon finished his third bottle of Colt Kick RootBeer and said they're motto to himself (With a little kick from the flavor jar).

"I'm sure he'll be back. He always comes back,"
Fire Light was worried. She drank all their water in less than an hour.

"Not this time," Apple Pie set down the mug. "I know whats going on up there. They ain't coming back for anything."

"Well," Chains said. "Looks like we're on foot for the rest of the mission. "

"When's the mission end?" I spoke up.

"When we're all dead or smart enough to retire."

chapter 10: Vanity Casino

"what do you mean smart enough to quit?" I said, cocking my pistol.

"Well, when the UEMC (United Equestrian Marine Corps.) realized we were losing, they moved their headquarters underground in an unknown location. They've cut off all contacts. They're secluded. No one can resign." Recon Looked around the area.

"Why not go find a village and settle down?" I said, while checking my vitals.

"That's just it. All the ponies that have, disappeared."

"Why doesn't someone tell Princess Luna?!?" Fire Light said.

"She's dead." Apple Pie turned. Fury burned in his eyes at Skyler.

Not for leaving, I thought, but for not taking him (Apple Pie) with him.

"Alright, ponies," Chains just got off the radio. "New assignment. We're being reassigned to help a squad of marine ponies. Their radio transmissions stopped an hour ago and we need to check to see if they're alive."

"Like a recovery team?" Recon asked.

"Without the beacon," chains said, updating his GPS. "So basically there's a 100 foot radius as to where they were last transmission. But by the time we find that, they're gonna be a 200 foot radius."

We all felt uneasy about the mission.

"Let's get walking," Chains picked up an empty mag and stored it.

*******

We walked to the recovery area in the matter of an hour. It was a ruined city. I couldn't tell which. No one could for a while.

"Keep your eyes peeled," Chains led us slowly deeper into the dead city.

A newspaper pulled by the wind hit me in the face. I quickly took of my helmet and set it on the ground. I hoofed the newspaper to read it.

EQUESTIA DAILY

Manehattan edition

Stable Tech Kills Hundreds?

Rumor has it that an unnamed stable has been brutally murdered in multiple ways, all by a Stable Tech machinery. A new robot was being tested. It was supposedly made to help save the stable's ponies the best it could. The machine soon looked at the charts to find the water supply was low. The ponies would all die soon. So, with it's scientific Calculations it made, it took action and murdered several ponies. Later, the water ran low. It murdered more. Every time the water level dropped the dead pony count skyrocketed

For legal reasons, we are not aloud to say what machine destroyed the ponies. Or who made this monster or where the next stable to get one is. All you can do is hope your reserved stable doesn't get one.

Article by Gabby Gums

I threw down the paper and stomped on it.

Nopony should have to live through the nightmare of getting betrayed. Not even a zebra.

"Apple Pie, Spark," Chains whispered. "Clear that building. When you reach the 7th floor, set up a zip line receiver and hold position until we get there. Everypony else, on me."

"Which side?" I said.

"East side. Move out."

"Alright, Spark," Apple Pie said. "Put your helmet back on."

I did.

"Take point."

I did.

He opened the door from the side to let me in. It was a giant hotel. A dead pony lied her head on the counter.

I started moving towards the stairs leading up.

"Hold position." Apple Pie whispered.

Wingless Pegasus started raiding the cash registers taking every last coin.

"What are you doing?" I turned my head to watch him.

"They aren't using it." he put it all in a bag on his belt.

"What if someone robbed your resting place?" I was enraged at this.

"I don't care if they burn my body and smash my worthless bones."

"You'd desecrate a grave for riches?"

Apple Pie walked by me. "It's not her money to begin with."

He lead up the stairway. We went to a room filled with slavers and zebras. Some slavers were raping the zebras while others spoiled themselves with alcohol and cigarettes.

Without hesitation, Apple Pie opened fire, shooting aimlessly at anything moving in the room (with the exception of himself and I).

He walked to a surviving zebra and pulled his magnum. He pulled the hammer back on it.

"Wait!" I yelled, grabbing the gun from him.

"What are you doing?" he was furious.

"What are YOU doing?" I was angrier. "She's a harmless zebra!"

"It's a menace!"

"SHE can't even enlist!"

"YOU are crazy!"

"We are letting her go."

"The only place she's going is to the afterlife."

"Where's your compassion?"

"You don't win wars with compassion."

"What are you talking about! The war is over! It barely existed!"

"And we lost because y'all were too compassionate!"

"We lost because teammates wouldn't cooperate." Chains voice buzzed over the radio. "Let the zebra go, then get your butt to the roof. "

Apple Pie whined. "But sir-"

"That's an order, Apple Pie!" Chains probably had to put up with that a lot.

"Yes, sir."

*******

Every floor had something different on it. Flor 3 was tons of ammo, floor 4 was working like it did before the bomb. But the weirdest was floor 5.

We walked up the stairs to see a giant casino. Floor 5 to 7 were dedicated to it.

Its walls were decorated with clown faces and slot machines pouring out coins. The clowns were giving creepy grins to any passers.

BAM!!

DING DING DING DING!!!

I turned to see Apple Pie playing the slot machine.

"What are you doing?!?" I whispered from behind him.

"Getting some coin." he went again.

"Are you always this selfish?"

That's a rude way to put it, but yes, yes I am." he pulled down the handle again.

"You're gonna get us killed!"

"Yea right."

He pulled the lever again.

"Who's gonna kill me? The building's empty."

Two of the slot machine's slots stopped on pictures of bits.

"Come on." Apple Pie said to himself.

The last slot landed on the bit too.

"Jack po-" a bullet flew through the window into Apple Pie's skull. His body hit the ground, cold and soaked with blood.

"Apple Pie!!!"

"What's going on?" Chsins voice came through the helmet.

"Apple Pie is dead!" I yelled.

As soon as I finished my sentence, apple pie stood back up, like it never happened.

"Uhhhh," I was shocked at the display. "Never mind. He's still alive."

"Let's go. We have work to do."

The undead wingless pegasus lead me up to the next floor to find a big stallion.

"Time to die!" He screamed, wielding his giant minigun.

"I'm taking you with me!" Apple Pie screamed.

He tackled the attacker strait through the window, plummeting to both of their deaths.

"What just happened?" Chains asked over the radio.

"Apple Pie is actually dead now."
I replied.

"I'm sorry to hear that. But we have a mission here. It's to help those marines somewhere in this city."

I climbed the stairs to the seventh floor. I opened my bag and pulled out the zipline equipment.

"Are you sure about this, Chains" Fire Light said. "I've never heard of a pony zip lining before."

"It'll be fine," Chains said, hooking up. "I have a friend who's tried it. He aside it's way fun."

Recon laughed. "You have friends, Chains?"

"Recon, you're first." Chains nudged him close.

Recon looked over the edge. "Uhhh..."

"I'll help you," chains grabbed Recon's attachable glove and locked it in place. "Bye."

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!" Recon screamed his head off.

"I didn't shove you yet." Chains said.

"Oh," Recon said sheepishly. "Yea."

"Alright, on three."

"No five."

"Okay on-"

"I changed my mind. Make it ten."

"1...."

"No wait!"

"10." Chains bucked Recon out of the window and into the sky, 9 stories above the ground.

Recon zipped through the sky over the road to me.

Oh man he's moving fast. Really fast. Towards me.

I dove To the right to avoid the giant hurdling stallion about to break through the frame of the window sill.

Recon broke through, breaking his glove attachment on impact. He flew half way across the room and broke through the floor.

"I hate my friends." Recon uttered to himself.

I felt funny that day. "You have friends?"

The hole in the floor spoke to me. "Screw you, Spark."

"Your turn Fire Light."

"I'm not going on that death trap." she backed away from the window.

"Spark'll catch you before you fall into the hole," Chains grabbed her hoof and latched it to the zip line.

Fire Light flew down screaming like a foal all the way.

I stuck out my hooves to catch her. Her hook broke about where Recon's did, sending her right into my hooves.

I blushed a little. "Hi."

"Hey."

I got lost deep in her eyes, just staring and smiling. She stared back.

Just then the forest green stallion broke the moment with both of his hind hooves smashing my stomach, Forcing me into the hole.

Fire Light, however, flew a little bit forward, landing on Chains and crushing his back.

"Get off, please," Chains muffled from underneath the mare.

She got off, and looked down the hole. It was a lot deeper than I thought. It wasn't 1floor deep. Recon alone broke through 4 floors and dented the next.

I hit him, breaking a rib and a hoof. I sat there for 10 minutes before Chains and Fire Light came down.

"You need some help?" Chains asked.

"That'd be nice." I said, spitting out a mouth of wall.

Chains pulled me to my hind legs, putting all my weight onto one part of the Giant dent.

The only reason I say that is because it made me fall through the floor to the next. Along with the rest of the crevice and Recon.

We hit the next floor with a thud. I couldn't feel anything and my vision started to blur.

"Spark!" Fire Light screamed over and over. Each time it was more and more muzzled.

I opened my eyes one last time to see a set of forest green hooves in front of me.

Chapter 11: Unicorn Training

Chapter 11: unicorn training

I awoke in a hospital bed. I felt different. Great, but different.

"You're awake," said my rescuer.
"Where are my manners, hello, my name is stethoscope. I'm a doctor and a surgeon. Welcome to my lab."

"Where am I?" I sat up.

"My lab." he sad giving me a stupid look.

"Where's your lab at?"

"We are in it." the doctor grabbed a clip board. " tell me, did you hurt your head in that fall? Oh wait, you did. I fixed it. Never mind."

"Is your lab in a city? In the sky? Where are we?"

"Ten Pony Tower."

"How did I get here?"

"About 2 days ago, a white mare and a green stallion came by and dropped you here. Said they'd be back in 3 days and then paid me in advance. They paid too much, so I decided to give you what the money would get you. Back to full strength. And a unicorn horn."

"What?!?" I put my hoof on my head and felt around.

In the center of my forehead was a tan horn to match my hair color.

"Come with me." stethoscope lead me outside of the tower to a garbage dump.

"What are we doing here?" I said, looking around

"Tests." the doctor picked up a box with his unicorn magic and threw it at me.

Why'd you do that?" I said.

"Why didn't you catch it with your magic?"

"I don't know how to use it!" I rubbed my nose where the box hit me.

"How do I explain this?" the doctor looked around on the ground nervously.

He used his magic to pick up a box, opened his eyes wide, grinned, and dropped the box. "It's like moving a hoof. You do it without thinking about it. But with the horn, if you don't think about what you're grabbing, you grab everything."

I gave him a confused look near the end.

"If you were to lift everything surrounding you, you'd be holding all that weight in you horn. Think of your horn as an extra hoof. You can't lift all this stuff with your real hoof. But if you workout, you could."

"That sounds simple enough." I said, confidently. I tried to raise a wrench with my magic.

I concentrated hard and strong to lift it but all it did was raddle.

"I don't understand. Why can't I lift it?"

"Well," Stethoscope kicked some dirt into the air. "right now, your extra arm is as strong as a foal that just got out of the womb."

"How do I get stronger?"

"With fragments, my dear colt. With fragments."

"I'm not a colt," I said, a little mad at the doctor for insulting me.

"But you are, in my school of magic."

"School? You mean I'm not the first pony mutated into a unicorn?"

"Please," the mint green unicorn said. "Don't call yourself a mutant. Call yourself lucky. Your mind was great enough to circumstand this great power. You see, the average pony mind would be overtaken by the horn. The horn is like an AI, implanted into your head forever. A second mind. Always a second opinion. If your mind is strong enough, you can quiet your second mind. many of my subjects went crazy and started killing others with their powers until stopped. But if you lose the horn, you can't stop listening to its voice. And there's nothing I can do about that. The only reason you're strong enough is because of your great knowledge of technology."

I was shocked at the fact that people have went crazy because of their second mind. If I'm not careful, that could be me one day.

"Now," the doctor gripped a box with his magic. "Back to training."

********

After about 5 hours of lifting, throwing, catching, and smashing boxes (and their heavy contents inside), I was exhausted.

"Good day of training. I can't wait to see what you're capable of tomorrow." the doctor wrapped an orange glow around a handkerchief on a windowsill. It was met by my light blue grip and I wiped the sweat off of my head.

"What about my squad?" I said, giving him his handkerchief back.

"They're in their hotel room. Waiting for you." Stethoscope talked as if I should know this already.

"Where's their room?" I said, a little impatiently.

"it's room 34," the doctor said slowly, as if I should know where the room is.

"Thank you, for everything doctor. It means a lot to me. And will to my team to."

"Good. Because tomorrow, we're learning spells over levitation capacity."

I rushed up a few flights of stairs to what's to be my room.

I opened the room door to find Recon (with a new wound), Fire Light (with a zebra sniper rifle), Chains (With a new rifle decorated with chain decals), and half the room dedicated to ammo.

"Bout time," Chains said, giving me an impatient look. "Where have you been?"

"I should be asking you the same thing," I said, walking in the room and magically closing the door behind me.

"We've been doing mercenary work," Fire Light said, putting on a necklace with a zebra's enchanted bullet hanging around her neck. It had fake fire coming off of it.

"Is that where you got that?" I said, looking her over.

"and all the ammo." Chains said, walking I'm front of me, cutting off my view of the beautiful mare.

"Do you know how to use that yet?" Chains looked at my horn.

"Kinda. All I know is levitation, and I can't exactly pick up a crate yet."

"Well, then we're staying here until you can use it. Spells too."

"But right now," Recon stepped up. "We should get some rest. We have another contract in the morning. Spark, you won't be going until you can lift a box car."

They left my room one at a time. Recon first, then about a minute later, Fire Light. Chains didn't leave until the morning.

"When do you think you'll be able to pick yourself up?" Chains said, closing the door behind Fire Light.

"In about a week," I walked over to a coffee maker and started it, readying for the long night. "Why?"

"We have a special mission, you and me." Chains pulled out a cigaret pack and put one in his mouth.

"Who for?" I hovered my lighter to him.

"The EMC" he excepted my lighter, and lit his cigaret. Then turned off the lights.

I was shocked. "I thought the military was disbanded after the Manehattan bomb was confirmed."

"Everypony did," Chains walked to the window, watching the radiated animals patrol the desert wasteland that was once a lush green landscape. "But the community has been wrong before."

"What's the mission?" I drank a cup of semi-warm coffee.

"We're taking back Canterlot." Chains closed the window and pulled down the blinds.

"Taking back?" I set down my coffee.

"We lost it a few days ago."

"How? Didn't Luna stop them?"

"She's dead."

What? Luna dead? Considering the amount of guards and military camps there, I was amazed that someone took down the princess of the night.

"How?"

"Sniper." Chains blew smoke out his nose.

"But didn't-"

"Spark, we don't have time to discuss this. You have to be briefed for the mission or it'll never happen. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I do."

"Then let's get to work."

********

The rest of the night was spent outside practicing for the mission, or going over what I was to do.

"And the mission is when?" Chains started his 4th cigaret.

"2 months," I answered, reaching for a coffee cup, half filled.

"You sleep every other day." chains trotted to the building.

"Oh," Chains stopped and turned. "Get some muscle in that magic of yours."

He trotted in and disappeared behind the door.

I lifted and threw things for about an hour until Stethoscope came outside.

"Good morning, doctor." I greeted him as he walked towards me.

he noticed the cardboard box I was lifting. "You should be better than that by now."

I let the box down to reveal its contents.

An engine, 2 tool boxes (filled, mind you), a medium ammo box, and scattered weapon attachments.

"I think I've improved rather well, actually." I said, arrogantly.

"Let's learn a few spells, shall we?"

"Let's"

He lead me further into the yard of disposed items.

When we got to the biggest pile, he opened up an old washing machine and pulled out a book. The book cover was too ruined to read, but clearly this was the book of spells.

"We will start with a simple one. How about animation?" the doctor then read a paragraph then used the spell on the bones and remains of a dog in the yard.

It stood up, walked to a box, and peed on the side. Then walked off.

"Are you sure this is and easy spell?" I said, taking the book from him.

"Just don't think of the logic of it. Because there isn't any. Just read the first paragraph and do what it asks for." the doctor pulled a grape from a bag around his waist and plopped it in his mouth.

I read the paragraph and did what it told me to. Then, right in front of me, a dead bird stood up, saw me, and took off.

"I did it!" I exclaimed into the wasteland.

"but was that what you tried to reanimate?" Stethoscope said.

"Well, no. I tried to get that box to dance. Why didn't it work?"

"If it wasn't alive before the spell won't work. It will work on robots and electronics though."

"Oh. It's kinda still cool."

For the next hour I practiced raising and killing things with my horn.

"I think that's enough of that for now," Stethoscope said. "I think you're ready for a new spell. It's an illusion spell. You make something to lure somepony. It can't attack though, the decoy."

He explained how to do the spell with great detail so I wouldn't mess it up. He explained the consequences if I didn't. He explained the plus sides, the advantages, everything, such as, they can't produce sound in any way.

I conjured a green dragon with the magic. "Hey doc?" I said.

"What is it?" he responded while making his own dragon.

"Why don't you help us fight?"

"Have you ever heard of the ministries?" the doctor started, turning his dragon into a griffin.

"Yea," I turned mine into an eagle. "The ministries of arcane magic, technology, image, morale, and awesome."

"You missed one," he said, turning his griffin into pink butterflies "The ministry of peace. The ministry of peace was directed by a Pegasus known as fluttershy. She and her followers were medics. They'd heal and patch up fallen ponies to get them back into the fight. But, about halfway through the war or more, she ordered her heal even the zebras. She didn't care who's side any pony was on. She hated death and destruction."

"Kinda Ironic," I said. "She helped the people who, in the end, killed her for what she did. But what does that have todo with you not fighting?"

"I was one of her followers. I'll honor her by not fighting. Sorry Spark, I wish I could help."

"Help by training me," I lifted a bunch of heavy things. "I've been practicing."

"Okay, see that train car? Pick it up. Then we'll talk about training you."

I looked at the train car. It was big. Probably filled to the rim with garbage. I closed my eyes and thought only of lifting that hunk of metal embedded into the ground. I could here the ground's loose dirt bouncing around on the surface all around the red-orange storage train car. I heard the dirt around the edges of the car roll into a newly made trench.

A foreleg flew into my cheek, dropping my concentration along with the train car.

It fell with a mighty sound, throwing dust and sand everywhere.

"Come with me," a soothing (And yet familiar) voice whirled into my ear.

I turned to see a pony's shadow run through the sand storm. I chased after it, wanting to know who this pony was and why they wanted me.

I came to a solid wall, having no recollection as to where my 'friend' had went.

A storm cellar door flew open just a few feet away from me.

Less flying open. More kicked open.

I went into the cellar, closing the doors behind me.
I was in a small room held up by four big wooden poles. Potions on the left wall. Books on the right. Swords displayed behind me. Rifles and pistols displayed facing me. A table in the middle.

No pony. Anywhere.

I walked to the middle of the room and looked on the table. A map of Equestria Lay on the table with an X on most of the cities and towns.

CRASH

I looked up to see broken glass and a missing rifle. I pulled up my always on me pistol.

I grabbed the map and backed up towards the entrance, watching everything for any movement.

I noticed something on the ceiling. I shot 3 bullets in the spot.

A rifle fell from the almost pitch black ceiling. Then a zebra with a bloody hand.

She hit the ground hard and on her stomach.

She looked up to see me standing over her.

"Please don't shoot!"

Chapter 12: Preparation

Prolouge

Orbital Drop Shock

Pony

By Lightning Bolt the unicorn

Prologue

"Spark, you are being reassigned to Chain's squad." Said the field Marshall. He had called me in to his office.

If you haven't guessed, I'm Spark. I heard the call of the army, and I answered it. After 2 years in the marines, I attempted to join an ODSP group. I got in, but they all died. I'm being reassigned now.

"you can find Chain on the training floor."

I had grown up in manehattan. As a young colt, I would dream of the day I could meet the heroes of equestria. I never did, but I didn't know that.

"Corporal Spark, you are dismissed."

I got my cutie mark faster than most. It was a spark of electricity. I didn't figure it out until I had to help fix an engine from blowing up. I got to it, and knew where everything was. That was the first time I saw an engine.

"that means leave, Spark. Now"
"Oh, sorry, sir," I said as I backed out of the office

Chapter 5: Stable 35

"Hey!" a voice from behind us.

We all spun around, whipping out a gun.

"Hold your fire, it's me!"
The Pegasus said.

"Skyler?" Chains lowered his pistol. "Where's your armor?"

Skyler pointed a hoof at a store. "They're cleaning it for me."

"And you don't put fear in them?" I took a step his way.

"Only the zebras." he walked to the store. "So why are you guys here?"

Chains looked at some hiding ponies. "Balefire bomb."

Skyler stopped.

Chains looked down. "It hit Manhattan. Everything there is, not there."

Skyler just stood there. It took him a while to soak it in.

"We all lose something at one time in our lives." Skyler kept walking, but slower.

I leaned towards Chains. "Did he grow up in Manehattan?"

Chains sighed. "His wife lived in Manehattan."

I stopped. I felt horrible. I had a reason to.

********

"Stop beating yourself up over this!" Fire Light Sat next to me on a bench while the others shopped.

"But it was my fault all those ponies died," I looked at all the ponies in the stable. I knew none of them, but I knew they wouldn't last long.

"We just didn't have enough time, that's all," Fire Light's voice was getting softer.

Mine got louder. "Because we sat in that stupid shack in the middle of no where!"

Everypony there stopped to look at me. I heard whispers and little whinnies.

Fire Light leaned over. "Maybe we should go."

She lead me to the store where the others were. They already heard about my outburst.

"Why were you yelling at Fire Light?" Skyler was a little protective of how ponies treat Fire Light.

"Skyler," Fire Light Started. "I'm fine, he just got out of control."

He looked disgusted. "But he still-"

"Like you are now," Fire light interrupted.

Skyler looked to Recon. "Back me up, Recon."

"We all freak out some times, Skyler. I'm going to have to agree with her," Recon returned to purchasing some carrots.

Skyler was about to say more when, Chains came into the store. "Alright, get what you need quickly then we leave."

All of us looked at him like he was crazy.

Chains explained. "We're needed in ponyville. Reports of zebras. And I had a word with the overmare. It's a little complicated, but we have to go now."