Ties With The Past

Right after Peaches woke up we left together. In search of food. Lucky for us, I somewhat knew the layout of the ruined town. It was likely that ponys looted almost everything by now. Hence why we followed the yellow brick road. But in all seriousness, it was a cracked and anything but yellow. It was it's same old faded gray roads.

On our quiet walk, I struck a conversation with Peaches. Wanting to make amends after I had slapped her. Didn't want to give her more reasons to resent me and stab me in the back later... and to justify to her on why I had killed the stallion.

"Peaches," I suddenly say aloud not thinking it through. I didn't really know how to put this kind of apology into words at the moment. I was bad at apologies...

"Yeah?" The pegasus replied meekly turning her head slightly to look towards me, yet at the same time keeping her guard up. Eyes scanning over the ruins for any possible threats. "What's up?"

Sighing audibly I kicked a stray tin-can on to road out of my way. "I'm sorry about yesterday, it was... uncalled for." I finish lamely, unable to bring myself to say what I did wrong hopping for her to fill in the gaps on her own. "I sort of snapped on you. Never again okay?"

My apologies were always so pathetic. You could even ask Ruby she would tell you how-alright I'm just going to shut up now. I hung my head in shame.

"Oh, that?!" Peaches blushed. "N-no no don't worry about that. It's fine. I can kinda understand where you're coming from," she nodded her head sympathetically. "It's probably battle stress mixed in with some wasteland stress. Is it really starting to get to you?" Peaches asked me earnestly concerned. "Because I don't want you to lose it and leave me all by myself to fend for myself. I'm only good at following orders, not giving them." The Enclave soldier explained shyly rubbing a leg.

"Wait, wasteland stress?" I asked the pegasus curious on the term. She saw this place as a wasteland like how I did.

"Wasteland stress is what happens to us ponys who get stressed from all the wastelands obstacles you know... it's kinda self-explanatory." Peaches sniped with a bit of sass.

Tilting my head slightly I clarified what I meant, "By why use 'wasteland' as the term?"

Peaches scrunched up her face, "Because its a wasteland?" Was her answer.

"I guess." I accepted the answer letting out a breath.

We came across a wrecked skywagon that was on the road blocking our path. So, we took it into account when we moved around it. Ignoring the stop sign emblem it had plastered on with it's red and silver cross making a stop sign shape. And was still smoking with small embers dispersing about. Which reminded me of spent fireworks from when I was smaller.

*****

*PHSSS~*

The sparkler hissed in my magic as I waved the thin stick around, while 1/4 of the stick was sparkling with light. My dad warned me not to touch it or let it get on my coat because it could burn me. I did as I was told, never did I go against his warnings or my mother's. I loved them both so much.

Watching the light show in fascinated awe as it sparkled and burned in my magical grasp. Hearing the sound of my little sister giggling, I tore my gaze away from my sparkler to see Ruby in my mother's lap. My mom's using her magic to hold a sparkler in front of the small earth pony. Didn't want to baby pony burning herself especially since she didn't have a horn to keep the burning stick at a safe distance. Unless we get her a bigger stick to hold then maybe? We always were quite protective over Ruby. She was an earth pony that just came into our lives out of nowhere.

It was just one morning I went outside and there she was.

"Ready to light better fireworks Midnight?" My dad asked me ruffling my mane.

I beamed up at my dad when he brought out the "big pony fireworks" they were still small. Nothing that was used for shows, so nothing too fancy. It was something that was more exciting than a sparkler but I'll never forget. Not a worry in the world. "Ready!"

Nodding his head just as enthusiastic my dad pulled out some fireworks. I liked the novelties and all especially then but most of all I like the mortars and cakes! The firework cakes! They aren't actual cakes. . . but is a box that shoots small fireworks up in the air and with a loud screeching noise. My favorite novelties where the small figurine unicorns that you light from the tail and then a firework shoots out from their miniature horn.

I remember me and my dad playing soldiers like small children. Yes, my dad was being the weird one. But that's what made him GREAT! "General I've loaded the mortar! Now, light it up!" Saluting dumbly towards me, whilst I laughed lighting up the mortar bomb's wick.

Ducking beneath my dad, how he wrapped his hooves around me caringly. While I covered my ears with my hooves until I heard the muffled "BOOM"! Looking up into the sky to see the firework exploded. Illuminating the sky. I smiled as my dad rubbed my back.

"Wow, nice shot General!"

"It's beutiful~," I said in awe nuzzling my dad.

Chuckling he picked me up placing me on his back, "Now let us get back to lighting up some more General!"

"Yes, sir!" I saluted proudly.

*****

So all was forgiven or was she brushing me off??? I wasn't good around other ponys. Except for my sister. She was so easy to talk too, Celestia damn it! Peaches did say not to worry, but then again. She's been in the military, she might have even been trained to play mind games with me. But then why isn't she giving me her army serial number thingie? Ohhhh~ Someponys breaking the rullleeesss~ somepony court marshall this little pegasus. Unless she's a special op lying to me? But then why would she need me? Couldn't she have just killed me? And flew back home? She's got wings, after all, then again she did say that she didn't want to be left alone. So she's scared of being alone? Kinda reminds of poor sweet little Ruby.

I was Ruby's only sister, friend, sort of mother figure. But, I prefer the big sister title. Being her mother figure is kinda weird if I think of it in that way. My mom was her mother figure for a couple of years. Never did know where Ruby did come from. Though that didn't really matter because I loved her as family all the same, and I would have it any other way. Sisters gotta stick together after all, but... I abandoned her... did I not? I've been gone for I don't even know how long... it is still unclear to me. I didn't know where she was. If she was safe or hurt or... wherein this "wasteland". There were wild raiders running around everywhere and I had left her all alone to face it all by herself. IM A HORRIBLE SISTER!!!

"Hey what's wrong?" Getting gently nudged on the shoulder by my new companion. My now one and only companion.

Did I really lose everything in an instant? Possibly but I didn't know for sure even though it did sure feel that way though. I had to turn away from her caring eyes. They were just something I couldn't bring myself to meet. They reminded me of Ruby by so much... the intentions behind those eyes. Care.

And I hated it! So this wasteland really was Hell. And now I'm here for all the sins I have committed. Is this place just really here to torture and torment me?

I believe so.

But maybe, just maybe, I could turn this Hell into Heaven. In all do time of course. In all do time...

My answer was vague, "Oh... yeah, just remembered something. That's all." I brushed off Peaches concern.

"No hard feeling Wastelander!" Peaches beamed sticking her tongue out at me playfully trying to lighten my dire mood.

Rolling my eyes at her trying to be likable I try to resume a productive conversation that would give me valuable information. "So, Enclave. What's your rank, peach mare?"

"Easy!" Peaches beamed, "I'm a Corporal!" With her response she placed a hoof over her chest that was swelling with pride, her face now doing a dorky smile, she extended her wings out from her sides majestically. Taking me a moment to look over the peach-colored mare.

A small filly's laughter echoed around us, which went unnoticed by Peaches. "Look Rosey an Angel!" The filly squeed excitedly.

-"And if I'm lucky, I'll even get to the rank of Sergeant!" Peaches stated loudly with passion behind her words. "If I don't die that is..." Her prideful stance wained visibly. "Anyway... thanks for the save back when we met. For not leaving me behind back there, trapped inside my power armor." Peaches blushed looking away. "Kinda embarrassing. I was in my Ground Infantry model of APA short for Advanced.Power.Armor. I just can't get over the fact that we were taken down so easily." Briefly, she went quiet, groaning the phrase in dismay, "my CO is going to chew me out for losing my equipment.. especially my power armor. My Dad's going to kill me."

I chuckled openly at her dissatisfaction to return to her "Enclave" erm... place. I knew what she meant by CO because when I was younger the company of mercenaries that I was in told stories from their past. One of the things I learned was what CO meant. It was quite simple actually. It really just meant "Commanding Officer".

"Maybe that's why you should be like me. A Lone Wolf. Doing what you want, whenever you want," I explained nodding my head fluidly. "Do you follow?" I cocked my head to the side.

Peaches nodded glumly. Oh no. MARES! AND THEIR SADNESS! It's like a plague I swear! Making me feel like shit. Only my sister had exclusive rights to that! And I didn't care if she made me feel sad! I loved my sister with all my heart! Family over strangers! ALWAYS!

"Stop that," I commanded smoothly, yet held back the bite in my words. I sounded like an upset, annoyed, angsty teenager. Celestia damn it! I'm not good at talking to random ponys! I'm not a social pony! It was always either the job and my sister.

Peaches gave a sad, confused look in my direction. "Stop what Rose?"

"Being all moody. It's... distracting! Don't do that." I said patting her on the head awkwardly as we walked.

Face turning red, Peaches pulled away a hoof's reach away, out of my head patting range. "I'm not moody! Besides, it's just so depressing without any sun down here..." The pegasus trailed off meekly.

I face hoofed when she had just admitted to being moody. The keyword being [depressing] and the phrase [it's just so depressing]. It was simply breaking down her response.

"I like being up there." Peaches pointed up towards the grey clouds floating above. "At home, where the sun shines and everypony doesn't have to worry about raiders and other ponys possibly starting some evil crime."

"Pegasi are immune to becoming raiders?" I asked skeptically at their being no crime up above the clouds.

"Well, not raiders necessarily... more like robbers but they aren't as bad as the ponys down here. They sometimes kill. Murders, rapists, robbers yeah we got some, but they are tame compared to the ponys down here. Ponys down here... are not all that right in the head. More so than the pegasi up there." She pointed up with her wings for emphasis.

I learned to have accepted it. But, Ruby, I abandoned her. Now I'm going insane seeing memories and apparitions of her and it all feels so real! Like a movie reel! You know how you use your imagination and you know that what you're doing is fake. But I don't know if what I'm thinking up is my own doing or somepony else doing.

My little sister was my main objective. To see her again even if she really was nothing but bones and ash. I had told her that I would have been gone for a week or two and not to worry. But I could see how wrong I was. Looking all around me was sand, dirt, rubble, blood, and changed ponys. This world wasn't how I remembered it. Ponys were either savage like those raiders. Or were militarized like Peaches and even that other faction that was the "Brotherhood". What has our world come to?

I turned away from the pegasus uncomfortably ashamed by the way I had acted back at the school, I still couldn't over the fact that I had hit her for something so small, there was always a better way to handle a situation like that. Not good around other ponys. "An-nyw-ways why is the sky covered in cloud?" The only reason why I asked that question was that 1: I was curious & 2: I wanted to stop thinking about personal conflict.

Taken by surprise Peaches started talking about stars instead of the cloud cover, that I dubbed the "Snow Blanket" it covered the entire sky as far as I could see. Shunning the sun away from us dirt dwellers below. "The stars, they're the most beautiful things I've ever seen."

"What about the clouds? Why is it blocking out the sun?" That was something that had been bothering me for quite some time. "What is it? And don't try to change the subject missy." I said sternly.

Was the creation of that cloud clover really complex? I really didn't see what the big deal was. I didn't know how to feel about that now cautious look she was giving me.

"It was just a question." I muttered, expecting not to get an answer out of my feathery companion.

"We covered the sky." Peaches answered simply, yet so vague at the same time.

I wanted to know more so I asked, "who do you mean by 'we'? And why cover the sky? That doesn't make a lick of sense." And now I'm talking weird. Overall I was curious to know what had happened while I was frozen/asleep either or, is a valid answer.

"You mean you don't know?" Peaches asked questioningly before her face became one of shock. "Oh! Yeah, you're an uneducated Wastelander! You see, after the war-"

Hearing that short simple phrase caused my heart to stop in my chest. "after the war". I tripped over my hooves falling over.

"-Oh my gosh are you okay?!" Peaches asked deeply concerned helping me back up to my hooves.

"A-after?" I asked for clarification shocked. I felt so weak like I would fall apart at any second.

"Are you okay?" Peaches asked concerned once again, except this time she wrapped her wings around me to console me. "Hey, what's wrong? You can tell me, please, I want to help."

After? Why? How? When? These were the questions swarming my thoughts. I just couldn't wrap my head around it all. This just wasn't making any sense.

"Why are you acting like this? Is it something I said?" The Enclave mare asked taking me down to the ground with her so that we could both sit down.

"How long was I gone?" I whispered to myself.

Peaches must have heard me because she became quiet.

*****

It bothered me to know that these mass atrocities were committed during the end of the war while I was, so graciously put under. And for some odd reason, I somehow felt responsible for it ending so poorly, like if I had something to do with it. And finding out about how many years I had been away... it crushed me...

After a while of sitting down in the calming embrace of the peach-colored pegasus, I got moving unsteadily. We were here standing in front of the old and decaying Super Duper Mart. I seemed to have lost my sense of purpose my stance when I would walk making it clear. My world felt like it was crumbling in around me. What was I doing?

I felt like keeling over and dying. I felt like just going asleep forever and never waking up. I felt useless. Worthless... the only reason I was still standing was because I had one pony who currently needed me, and that pony was Peaches. She was the reason for me still standing. And she needed me. Just by looking at her, I knew she wouldn't last a day out here without me. She oddly reminded me of my sister. That's probably why I felt so close to her. Like if I knew her already.

The Super Duper Mart was exact place we needed to scavenge for food. Because I would prefer to not eat ponys thank you very much. That was just disgusting and plain wrong. Besides... why would somepony eat the flesh of a fellow pony? Meat is disgusting and is what only bad ponys do!

"Do you think they got fish in there?" Peaches asked me suddenly

"That can wait," I said abruptly successfully shutting her up. "Right now, we need to make sure that this place's rid of possible hostiles."

After my command, she gave me a serious expression along with a slight nod of her head, silently agreeing. We didn't know if we were completely safe out here. Anything could happen in this hostile world. I remember when Equestria was full of peace.

*****

"Da-da-da~ de-la de-la." The blue-maned mare sang as she watered her garden. Her coat was a faded red color. Her mane went down just slightly below her shoulders. She hummed sweetly looking down. "Now you try." She spoke softly nuzzling the small filly on top the head. Who was between her mother's legs.

Eagerly the filly grabbed the small water pail that was in front of her, using her mouth. Slowly walking up to a small flower that was lonely in the grass. Beginning to water the small flower with care.

"Now, the trick is to water the flower at the roots instead of watering from above sweetie."

Looking up at her mom the filly obliged following her mom's instructions, watering the small flower by the roots instead of watering from the top. "Buw why mummy?" The filly asked cutely.

"Because all flowers have roots remember?" The filly nodded her head following along. "So the roots are like itty-bitty straws, that suck up water and nutrients. Nutrients are food that plants get from the dirt." The mom chuckled at the unicorn filly's confusion. "That's enough, you fed the baby flower enough sweetie." The mom said with a knowing smile.

"Awww, but baby flowa still hungwy!" The small foal whined.

Giggling the motherly mare continued, "Do you really want to give the baby flower a tummy ache?" She asked in a cutesy voice whilst she wore a knowing smirk.

The small filly shook her head with an alarmed look. The mare laughed picking up her daughter. "It's lunchtime, let's get some food my little Rose." The mother said kissing the filly repeatedly to the face. Causing the filly to burst out into a fit of giggles. Then full out laughter when she tickled the filly by kissing her neck rubbing her face along it.

"Mummy top! You tickle!" The filly squealed loudly.

"But mommy loves her little flower! Om-nom-nom." The mother said playfully pretending to eat her daughter who only laughed harder.

*****

I smiled fondly at the memory before I was brought to reality when I had almost tripped over a fallen shopping cart.

We were going to a do a sweep of the place while looting for anything useful. We would look through the cash registers and loot the golden bits. Storing it within a rotting cardboard box that Peaches forced me to carry on my back. I did most of the carrying while she did most of the looting. It was only fair I guess. Her pegasus eyes were better suited to finding things.

Most of the time though, I think Peaches was just hoarding everything. She would tell me "This might be useful later" and "We might need this". Like, come ON! We don't need glass bottles! And we don't need a newspaper! And don't get me started on the burnt books. Which made no sense to me. How could the books be burned if everything else around it wasn't? Peaches the pack rat. So this is how stallions feel when a mare forces them to hold their shopping bags. *Huff* I can officially relate.

-After moving away from the front of the store. We moved into the individual isles searching for something useful, but we were mostly met with empty rusting tin cans that littered the store by looters from the past. For the most part, the shelves were picked clean. Except for one ironically can of "peaches" which said Peaches made me hold the peaches. Ha-ha, this is stupid. Since when did I become the servant in this scenario? Damn social skills! This wasteland is making a pussy out of me! Or maybe I was daydreaming and got so happy, I was even starting to act nice. By complying instead of resisting.

Then again Ruby made me a pussy... but my sister made me the softest. She was my weakness, yet my powerhouse that pushed me. The reason I fought harder. Each and every day I was going to see her again, and that was a promise. Even if she was nothing more than a pile of bones. A promise is a promise no matter what.

Peaches put a hoof to her lips blowing a quiet breeze, "Shhh." Instructing me to be quiet just as I started to hear voices bickering with each other up ahead. We weren't alone and it was likely that there was more than one. I followed close behind the peach colored pegasus. Together we scuttled silently across the floor on the tips of our hooves. Doing our best to remain as silent as possible. Taking care to move around empty bottles and any obstacles that varied in debris.

When we were both close enough to hear two ponys converse we stopped, hiding behind a shopping cart. A shopping cart that practically gave us no cover at all since it consisted of holes and gaps that made up the cart.

"Are you serious Puma?" The mare that spoke sounded frustrated. "Put... the pre-war cake. DOWN!" The pony ordered sternly.

The earth pony that's name was "Puma" currently had a mountain of snack cakes stacked on her back. Her coat was black similar to mine, whilst her mane was also black except her's was longer than mine. Styled in a more feminine way. Meanwhile, my mane style was considered tomcoltish and I accepted the title.

"Why? It's free for the taking! Besides, it's not like anyone is going to take this." Puma replied smugly gesturing to her own back that held strawberry flavored snack cakes. You could tell what flavor it was because of the red plastic packaging.

Both of the ponys wore black armor and both had their helmets off. The two of them had had gas masks that were colored pitch black. Their uniform just might even rival the enclaves formal black color schemes in armor. They both had 2 pairs of boots. Looking at their battle saddles I see that-wait, they didn't have battle saddles... and they were both earth ponys. So how were they going to use their "M16A4 rifles"? I'm a gun nut and I get it from my dad. But each of them had their rifle's slung over their necks with a sling which was connected to their rifle's so that they could hang. Their secondary pistols were strapped to their chest in a sturdy looking holster so that they could quickly grab with their mouth if they needed too. Not to mention the ammo pouches neatly lined up on the chest.

"This food is irradiated you, idiot!" Puma just shrugged in response dumping the snack cakes into her black colored saddle bags.

"Your loss Sparta," Puma said smugly, grabbing her helmet placing it on while her goggles were placed on the forehead of her helmet meanwhile the respirator hung near where Puma's muzzle was. Her gas mask and goggles where two different pieces while Sparta's was just a one piece.

The unicorn that was "Sparta" rolled her eyes. "Yeah-yeah whatever."

Looking at each other, Peaches and I talked without words. The look in our eyes told us everything we needed to know. I was the first one to step out from our "cover" which gave little to no cover having so many openings. The first thing I did was clear my throat, gaining their attention.

Startled they both drew their weapons towards me. "Hello, who are you two anyway?" My question came out quick and was straight to the point.

"Who are we? Who are you?!" Sparta growled towards me, with her 1911 pistol held tightly in her mouth. This mare wasn't being too friendly towards me. Not that I really cared what others aggressively asked me, but sometimes you need to teach ponys how to respect others. Also, I had Peaches life on the line as well. I was responsible for her health while she was serving under me. Respect meant a lot to me.

Now the dangers of that mare holding the 1911 pistol is that it's a pretty good gun and nice to look at. Well, as long as you don't count the magazine capacity... it's quite small, and you have to constantly clean the weapon often with care if you plan to use it for very long. I remember my dad always wanted one, but he stuck to his "Luger P08" but you know, he just called it a "Luger". But the sights for it were trash, my dad had to mod his to make his own better. Then there was my grandpa's "Mauser C96" now it's damage as a pistol was legendary! It was intriguing to see the inner workings of that gun. Too bad I don't have one... but HEY! A Plasma Rifle beats both of those guns combined! Except... I kinda prefer bullets. It's probably just the nostalgia of me and my family always using bullet based weapons. Besides, this plasma weapon is kinda, overpowered. And don't get me started on the smell! The scent of burnt flesh isn't very appealing. I can tell you that much.

The pony who's name was Puma holstered her weapon calmly. This weapon is a "Beretta 92F" to be exact. It was alright to look at, an "okay" in design. Now, this weapon used 9mm ammunition. That gun was easy to disassemble, I've used that weapon myself a few time before. It was a cheap gun to buy. Well, by cheap I mean like at a discount price... used by the content of Solace were many of the great nations were located, but Solace also used many other pistols that were created as competition between each other. A gun that was now being sold to the public so that they could make some room for newer better pistols. Having relics from war was like a dream come true. Collecting old war weapons showing off my impressive collection to the other mercenaries that accepted me into their group and little Ruby too. Soon I would be able to buy the best weapons money could buy. Even if I had to get those weapons from the black market.

"What do you want Wastelander?" The calm Puma asked me like a normal pony.

Before I could respond, Peaches too came out of her hiding spot standing tall beside me.

"Wastelanders." Puma corrected herself.

"We were just looking for food... that you seem to be hoarding all for yourself." I point towards her accusingly.

Face heating up Puma laughed nervously, "Yeah about that!" Rubbing her face embarrassed, but before I could go further and make her feel more guilty, Sparta, her friend came to her aid.

Stomping an annoyed hoof Sparta looked frustrated. "Names! NOW!" She demanded aggressively her tail rising angrily, it looked like a viper getting ready to strike at a moments notice.

Since my HUD was in my vision synced with my body. It was easy to see my E.F.S. which told me that she was becoming hostile, yet becoming friendly at the same time? Her green rectangular block was flickering from green to red repeatedly. Which meant I had to act fast to avoid a conflict. I didn't want to get into a gunfight and get Peaches killed or even myself!

"Calm down, we're not going to hurt you," I say doing my best to ease the twitchy mare. Didn't want to have a firefight for something this stupid if I could help it.

-Peaches examined her hoof as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. She even began to whistle a little tune. Ignoring the grown-ups talking.

"Come on Sparta. I'll just give them some food and they can be on their merry way and we can be on ours." Puma suggested not wanting this situation to shift straight into a violent one. Even placing a hoof on her comrade's shoulder. "It doesn't have to come to this... there's always a better way."

"Yeah what she said," Peaches muttered uncomfortably. So she was paying attention... good to know.

Grunting the earth pony named Sparta agreed, yet she continued to watch us cautiously.

Puma gave us some snack cakes, then the duo said their goodbyes and left.

Peaches was the smarter one of our duo. Group. Thingie. Ish. Somethings I was smarter at and somethings she was smarter than me at certain things.

Finding two worn saddlebags for her and myself, so that we would have a better way of storing our supplies. A better alternative than having a cardboard box stuck to your back holding your belongings... how embarrassing.

We dumped an equal amount of weight to help lighten the burden of our loads. Thank you Pip-buck. Yeah, my leg mounted computer helped a lot. It's very good at weighing things I can tell you that much.

Continuing our search for supplies. Since we would never know when we would get another chance to restock on supplies again. A shame it was not being able to get more information on the whereabouts of some remnants of civilization. It just made me wonder, had all of the civilization turned into military factions? Let's see here... we got the Enclave, Brotherhood, and whatever those two ponys that let us go were and raiders. Possibly? Where raiders a military faction? More of a militia.

They were both decked out in gear, so they must be some more military ponys. Unless they were mercenaries that I could possibly join up with? It could be possible... I suppose.

Moving to the back storage room. Where we were lucky enough, to find more supplies. From food to medicine. But, there wasn't a lot to scavenge. Other ponys had the same idea in the past. Probably looting when this place became the way it is now... ponys most have gone crazy... looting, killing, and much, much, worse. There was little supply of anything left.

"Hey look what I found," Peaches chirped curiously in my direction waving me over. Curious I came over.

"Whatcha find?"

No words were to be said when I saw what she found so interesting. It was an ugly, rotting, smelly, looking pony that was, very dead. "I know right, uuugglyyyyyyy~" Peaches sang bumping her shoulder with mine.

The pony looked almost unrecognizable. Its coat was missing most of its fur except for a few select patches. This pony had little to no fur anymore! And don't get me started on the mane and tail. Most of that was gone, this pony corpse was balding. Ewww.

"I wonder what happened to this pony," I said aloud since I didn't know what else to possibly say.

"Probably died from the fallout with all those harmful particle thingies." Peaches suggested. "Didn't know that it would sorta mummified ponys though. Kinda weird that the pony in that school were all bones, but here this thing." She pointed to the rotting corpse. "Is a rotting poop." Peaches finished dumbly.

"Or maybe this pony died recently. Like maybe a few months ago? It couldn't be too recent and those two we saw earlier couldn't have done it. They didn't want trouble."

Peaches snorted, "That mare with the anger issues didn't seem to care she wanted trouble."

Shaking my head, disagreeing. "No, she was just suspicious. That pony, Sparta was just looking after her friend. Why don't you think she started firing when she had the chance?"

"Because... uh... good point?" Peaches muttered turning away from me.

"She didn't want to risk starting a fight and having her friend injured or worse. Killed." I finished explaining my analysis bumping Peaches shoulder with a hoof. "Why upset? Mad that I proved you wrong?" Smirking smugly at Peaches silence.

"No actually, I was trying to open up this floor door thing." Peaches said moving aside gesturing towards two heavy metal looking cellar doors.

There was a chain wrapped around the handles with a silver master lock, locking the chain in place. "Pegasi." I scoffed sarcastically rolling my eyes. "Let the pro's handle this."

"Sure, whatever, you do that." Peaches rolled her eyes as well. Not caring about my little teasing jab at her pride.

Now we didn't have have a key to unlock it, and we also didn't have anything to pick the lock. No bobby-pins, and no screwdriver, and no lock picking tools. I don't even think you could pick a lock of this kind, but I preferred it that way. Using my magic, by stuffing the locking mechanism with my aura. I was going to bust this lock open by ripping it apart from the inside out.

"Pretty..." The pegasus commented craning her neck in to get a better look at my magic at work. She looked like a giraffe it was cute.

"That's the power of magic for yea-." Before I could finish my companion cut me off.

"Ugly,pretty ugly." She smiled back at me poking fun at my pride.

A pegasi's pride is their wings while a unicorn's pride is their horn and an earth pony... that would be their strength... and whatever makes you as a pony would be your pride. At least that's what I think anyway. Don't quote me, I could be wrong. Yeah, that's something I don't like is when ponys do that. Quote me. Because sometimes I find flaws in my previous statement, and sometimes don't even believe what I'm saying. So, I change it. But, no one else knows that except yourself, and they won't even give you a chance to defend yourself if they disagree with you.

A soft clicking sound was heard when the master lock released it's locked hold on the chain. Throwing the chain and lock aside I threw the two metal cellar doors wide open.

"HEY ROSE!" A teen Ruby wearing a red dress jumped out of the dark cellar scaring the shit out of me. My back slammed against the cold concrete floor, and not to mention the back of my head as well. My vision blurred from the sudden impact, whilst my ears were ringing. I think I had a concussion. A blur of peach towered over me.

"Heeeey are you okay?!" Peaches asked alarmed. She came into focus and out. Sort of like some camera that was having trouble focusing on the picture.

Gurgling for a few seconds words finally were able to escape my lips. "Whhhhaaaatt haaaaapppppeennneeddd?" My brain felt like it was split in two like an egg ready to be made into an omelet. Just thank Luna that my brain didn't feel scrambled. Wait are omelets even scrambled? My brain probably is scrabbled if I can't even remember that much...

"I could ask you the same thing." Peaches said with her face full of concern. Come on don't give me that.

Uncomfortably I sat up with the help from peaches to see nopony there. It was just us two. I was seeing things it would seem... and my HUD wasn't helping any better static was getting worse... was my Pip-buck malfunctioning? What is even happening? Never had a Pip-buck before so I didn't understand what was happening. Why am I always shit out of luck?

Getting up back on my hooves shakily I shook my head quickly regretting it when a head-splitting headache came back full force. "N-nothing just, just, just forget about it," I repeated grinding my teeth together in pain. "Just got jumpy that's all."

Peaches did something that I didn't expect to happen, she scowled at me in a not so friendly way. It almost wanted me to cower into a corner in fear. Almost. "Why are you lying?" My winged companion asked me dangerously, eyes narrowing.

"I'm not lying. I just don't want to tell..." my reply came out sounding lame.

Puffing her cheeks out, Peaches opened her mouth about to retort but I cut her off. "I wonder what's down there." I pointed down towards the cellar. How did I know it was cellar? Well, two things. Common sense and my Pip-buck told me where the door would lead me. How did the Pip-buck know? I don't know, magic? Then a thought ran through my mind, but first I entered the cellar. Didn't like her asking questions. "Now, time for you finish telling me how 'we' covered the sky. And who is 'we' anyway? You only told me that the war ended my total annihilation by bombs but what happened next?"

Peaches followed me too into the deep inky black abyss that was the cellar. Activating the amber light that came from my Pip-buck to illuminate our surroundings. To see another rotting pony corpse. The floor was dirt while the walls around us were concrete. The only light source was coming from my Pip-buck. Rusty metal shelves and crates lined up against the walls. Now I was curious to see what was inside the crates. The shelves had tools and stuff like duct tape and glue, lame stuff. But it did remind me when I would try to build my own weapons as a small filly. My wooden plank rifle would shoot out rubber bands.

"Um, why do you want to know so bad?" Peaches asked uncomfortably brushing her right foreleg against her left foreleg.

Poking the smelly corpse with interest, "Because I want to find out what happened to my world. Is it really so wrong for me to want to know?" I reason back.

"Well, when you put it like that. It kinda makes sense." Sighing loudly Peaches began her exposition. "To start with your question on 'we'. By that, I mean us pegasi. We covered up the sky."

Quirking a brow I gave her a questioning gaze wanting her to go on.

She looked down at the rotten pony corpse. "We did it to hide from zebras. After they had successfully bombed Cloudsdale." She spoke slow somberly. "In our haste, we shut out all the other ponys down below. We couldn't risk getting targeted next, so we hid in the sky. Using the infamous cloud cover as a smokescreen of sorts. The zebras couldn't shoot something they couldn't see. And now we're making our come back to help you grounded ponys since we are at full strength while all of you are divided. We are united. We as pegasi well make things right."

Just when I was about to respond to her explanation a loud feral scream echoed throughout the entire cellar. Confused I looked down the dark corridor shooting a stray plasma shot. So that I could get a look at this screamer. Now the green light passed over several rotting corpses but the thing that shocked me the most was that they were all standing!

"Oh shit," I muttered jaw-droppingly.

"If you have a god I'd start praying!" Peaches shouted frightened by the sudden cries for blood. Beside me throwing a plasma grenade down the narrow dark corridor. The sound of scampering hooves scared the hope out from under us. The grenade exploded into a green light show. Melting limbs off the rotting beasts that were once ponys. Some of the metal containers in the cellar with us were melted as well, revealing their trapped contents within.

Then Peaches cried out in pain when the rotting pony that laid beside us latched its disgusting jaw onto her right foreleg. She pulled her leg away causing more flesh to get ripped off in the process. The sweet red nectar leaked out of the injury. Causing the Enclave soldier to start crying. "I don't want to die!" She cried helplessly not having any other weapon except for a knife and a few plasma grenades but she was currently in shock.

Acting out on instinct I used my magic to force the zombie's jaw open wide, while I fired shots down the deep dark corridor with my plasma rifle. Peaches yelped jumping back clutching her bleeding foreleg hugging it whilst she cried loudly. Making my heart feel heavy with guilt. I've seen enough zombie movies to know where this was going. Now was the part to kill her too right? She was going to turn into one of those things! I don't want to be zombie chow too! Sorry Peachy but you're going to have to go.

"I WANT MY MOMMY!" The pegasus wailed loudly causing even more of those monstrosities to follow suit. But lucky for me the area they had to run through was small. The narrow passage in the cellar resembled a bottleneck passage. So thin in fact that the zombie ponys would trample over each other desperately trying to get over to me and the peach mare. That was soon to be zombie. I kept my back to Peaches knowing that once she would have stopped crying she would now be one of them. That was going to be when I would put her out of her misery. "WHY?! I DON'T WANT TO BECOME LIKE THEM!"

Using my magic I yanked out a fresh plasma grenade from within Peaches saddle bag. How did I know this would be in there? A lucky guess. So I tossed the grenade into the incoming horde, making sure to press down on the trigger that was on the top at the very tip of the grenade in the process. It exploded into a shockwave of green plasma. More of the zombies getting obliterated turning into a glowing green gooey substance. The words from a stallion echoed through my head as I saw the explosions in slow motion, "Good shot General!" My father's voice echoed within me.

I embraced the afterglow of the heat, the cellar's temperature rose greatly especially with the two pockets of heat created by two plasma grenades. In the midst of battle, I didn't notice that I had successfully achieved a melted barrel. I face hoofed. When all was quiet I turned towards my winged companion who was still crying in pain.

Time to finish of Peach over here... if I don't do it now... she would surely become a zombie now... and would savagely eat me. She had to go. Sorry angel.

I looked over the plasma rifle slowly as I stood right in front of the crying pegasus. I began twisting the barrel of my weapon until it unscrewed off. It was made this way to easily replace common parts. Pointing the now plasma pistol directly in front of Peaches face. This went unnoticed by her since she was in shock, holding her foreleg tightly with her eyes closed leaning back against the wall. But, would killing her really be the best course of action? Surely there was another way? I was supposed to look after her... and now she was bitten. It was already too late to save her. I was always too late... she was going to turn and there was nothing I could do about it. This was my fault. Why is it always my fault?! Why does everypony get hurt around me?! Why everypony else?! Why her?! She didn't deserve this! Nopony does. I've read too many comic books to know what happens next.

What's the point of believing in Goddess Luna or Goddess Celestia if whatever they do change nothing? But we met the princess once. It was only one princess. I don't believe, I know. One princess rose the sun and the other rose the moon, and for a time one rose the sun and moon. Also for a time unicorns rose and lowered the sun and moon. Why believe in somepony that couldn't do anything for the better of all of us? How gullible were us ponys? Those goddesses can't do anything now wherever they are!

*****

"Rose, do you think I could ever be an angel too?" The sweet voice that was my sister's asked forcing me to stop in my tracks. "B-because... you said angels are beautiful, and uh... you said I was... *cough-cough* beautiful..." Ruby spoke in front of me where Peaches had been and now the background changed. My little sister was now a mare at 16 years old. She was blushing too. "Um... can we go dancing? Who knows... maybe we might find a special somepony." But too me, she would always be a little filly in my eyes, my little sister.

Chuckling my past self-rubbed my sister's cheek with a hoof. "You were an angel the day you were born, a heart made of kindness. You are just as great, maybe even better than our goddess." I said closing my eyes hugging her. "Don't you ever forget about me when you find yourself a nice stallion to settle down with sister.

"Um, settle down?" Ruby asked confused a cross look forming on her face. In truth, I didn't want her to go out with anypony, but I knew that soon I would have to let her go. Start her own life.

I face hoofed, "Alright forget I said anything." She still didn't know how foals were made and I didn't want to explain it to her. It made me uncomfortable. A very touchy subject with me, but I was only alright joking around the subject. Stupid mercs always talk about that shit. Those idiots most of the time, don't care. Most have no honor. That was why I was going to change that. I was an honorable mercenary.

My sister nuzzled my face, "You're quite the guardian angel yourself. Always looking out for me." She giggled letting me go, backing away. Turning around going through a suitcase. We used suitcases often because we moved from place to place.

My mercenary work was the main reason for us moving. Ruby didn't have many friends, actually, she didn't have any friends at all. I was her only sister, so there was no need for friends. We were very isolated from other ponys. And I liked it that way. Didn't want anypony hurting her, at all. But in the end, that's what would end up happening? I don't know... I left her behind now.

"So, are we going out to dance tomorrow?" Ruby asked pulling out a brush from her suitcase starting to brush her mane, sitting down on the bed. Since we were in a hotel. We left the house together since I take her everywhere with me. We explored Equestria as sisters. Always curious about what we would see next. Every day felt like an adventure.

Deep in thought, I nodded my head not really paying attention. "Yeah, sure."

She squeed excitedly jumping in place dumping the suitcase's contents onto the bed.

I was going to take down a very unlawful stallion tomorrow. Some stallion who thought it was alright taking the law into his own hooves. The pay was great. Dead or Alive the contract said. And the price would be the same for either or. Death was what this pony was going to get. It was far easier. An in and out mission, but nothing never ever went that smooth. Only time would tell.

*****

"P-please Luna... gu-uide m-me," I whispered out closing my eyes slowly hearing the crying dying out. Now I was scared to even crack my eyes just a bit open. Had she turned? Would she jump out at me in a jump scare? Did she just bleed out and die? Multiple questions entered and left my head. I didn't know what to think. This was all just happening so fast!

"R-r-r-r-o-o-ose... p-p-plea-ase d-d-on't k-kill me." Peaches whimpered out weakly.

Opening my eyes I saw Peaches cradling her injured leg protectively.

"I-I-I, I don't want to die!"

She looked so distraught that it just pulled at my heartstrings. I couldn't leave her like this! I shouldn't have done that! I pulled the gun down stuffing it back into my saddlebags. What was I doing? Why would I threaten my own comrade with a weapon? She trusted me! "Hey, no I wasn't going to hurt you," I said taking a step closer only for her to cower away whimpering in fear.

I've gone and done it this time! I should have had least helped her enjoy those last few moments of life before she eventually turned into a mindless zombie. That was a sensible thing to do, wasn't it? She continued to protest but I forced her to lay on my back. I carried her deeper into the cellar. Finding a gap in the wall.

So this is where those monsters came from. Huh. Since I cleared out most of the beasts. Doing the sensible thing I think. I made my way through there. My thought process told me that since those zombie creatures were attracted to noise, as far as I know. Because when one zombie howled. More of its disgusting kind came. Unless they smelled our fresh meat? I don't know these were just theories on the observations I took. But, it sucked knowing that zombies exist now in our world and not just in movies. Was never really fond of such creatures. I liked to do the decapitating myself not the other way around.

-Dark, dark, tunnels. That's what we went through. Coming across Nemours rats scampering through the tunnels. "Come on talk to me," I begged the mare on my back that was crying like a little filly. "How can a soldier like you be crying over something like this?" This was my attempt to baiting her into a conversation.

Peaches kept crying while I continued running through the dark tunnels. When another zombie jumped out at me from the darkness ahead. All I saw was a disfigured pony lunged at me throwing its whole body at me. Trying to tackle me.

Acting on instinct I grabbed the rotting meat bag in my magic and throwing the zombie into a wall beside me breaking its neck killing it instantly. To think that this monster was once a pony was unheard of. So real... it left a bad afterthought in my head. Was it morally wrong to kill these things? No. It was either them or us/me. Peaches was done for already. That was a given. Just thinking about it made me grind my teeth uncomfortably.

Don't think about it. That's future Midnight Rose's problem. Present Midnight Rose needs to get out of here. I jumped down into a hole that led into another cavern. Continuing my run that became very boring and uneventful. Until a small light was ahead of the tunnel I was just in. When I was close enough I saw a small like I mean small hole. "Peachy come on, talk to me." I gave her a pet name to try to ease her nerves sitting beside the small opening, setting my companion down beside me. "Please?" Inching closer desperately wanting her to understand that I was sorry. Because without her I would go insane. Well... I'm practically already going insane seeing all this freaky shit, and now my past coming back to haunt me isn't very fun.

"Just give up!" A mare's voice thundered throughout the bleak black abyss that we had come from. The ground shook beneath us as the walls shook dirt, causing some to fall from the ceiling. This place looked like it was about to cave in! From all the dirt falling I was starting to panic. Now this voice startled me causing me to jump scaring the pegasus beside me. She squeaked flapping her wings that annoyingly enough slapped me in the face with, and the voice was now gone. The Equis stopped shaking, the dirt stopped falling, but my heart continued beating, I was still alive.

"Why did you do that?! YOU SCARED ME!" The Enclave soldier barked towards me punching me in the face.

And let me tell you. I should have really seen that one coming. And I kinda deserved that. Her punch literally rocked my head since her hit launched my face into the dirt wall. I think I broke something. Hearing a crunch wasn't very comforting to hear, but when I grabbed my bearings. I was relieved to find my horn okay, running a hoof along my horn shivering from the contact. I really didn't like touching myself like this... especially in front of somepony else! This was the equivalent of masturbating! And was only okay to use specialized equipment in spas'. A memory of myself little dealing with my horn began to appear in my head but I quickly shut it down changing the subject. Now, where did the crunch come from?

I checked my face over running my hooves across it. Surprised that I was unable to find the source of the crunch I turned my head to face a scowling Peaches who still had tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked angry and scared at the same time.

"Why would you betray me like that?! You were planning on killing me! Weren't you?!" She accused quite accurately.

Her words stabbed my pride deeply. It felt as if she had a knife and plunged it deep into my chest. Opening my mouth that now felt drily unable to answer. So, I closed it. Damn your mouth! I never liked you anyway! Mentally in my head, I screamed in frustration. Why couldn't I talk to other ponys?! Mercenaries where easy to talk too. So why couldn't I talk to Peaches? Probably because I don't really apologize to others? Mare, this sucks. I looked down ashamed for my previous actions. All this was just too much to take in all at once.

"TELL ME!" Peaches demanded an answer. She puffed her cheeks out in rage face turning red as a tomato. I had to look away to stop myself from laughing at how adorable some ponys could be when they were angry. Ruby was always cute when she got upset but she never got angry. My little sis was either disappointed or upset. Those were the negative emotions. She looked the most adorable when she was either happy or crying... okay, that might sound a little weird but the opportunity to comfort her and win affection for being there for her was the most rewarding. Seeing her smile was what made killing ponys worth it...

I remember when soldiers and killers would say. Once you saw your victims face it was over for you. From then on, till the end of your days, you would be forever haunted by those you've murdered. But, when I scored my first kill by gunning down a police officer or swat. I felt bad for a bit but I gradually got over it. There wasn't any emotional attachment between us. He was the one between me and the money that could be used to feed my little innocent sister. I wanted to keep her innocent for as long as I could. I really disliked the idea of prostitution, and to think that in pony culture that getting one's cutie mark in that was acceptable? How stupid where ponys? Everypony in my eyes were blinded by their destinies. My cutie mark told me that I was good at combat. That I could overcome any battle as long as I didn't give up. Hope was meaningless to me now. There was no hope. Because there was no future for me. Or for somepony else. Never really did think long term, that what Ruby was for after all.

All these things I keep making up. Goals. Fake goals. Do I really think I could build an empire to free ponys from this hellish nightmare? No. Do I really think I can overcome all of this alone? No. Would losing Peaches my one and only friend destroy me? Well? Yes or No?

My mind refused to answer. I liked to tell myself "No" but then, why was I feeling more in favor of "Yes"? Is this what having nothing to fight for feels like? Always thinking about the present that I forgot to plan ahead for the future. How could I have been this dumb?

I placed my head in my hooves shaking my head. I got slapped again getting my head out of the clouds was Peaches, holding my face in her hooves glaring daggers deep into my soul. "WELL?! GOT ANYTHING TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?!" She barked louder than an Equestrian Drill Sergeant!

"I'm sorry... I-"

Just as I was trying to apologize she punched me again bruising my cheek. Why didn't I block that? Why did I let myself get hit?! I berated myself.

"Hey! Why did you hit me?!" I growled upset at her.

Sneering at me the pegasus explained her reasoning, "I didn't hit you! My hoof did!" Peaches shouted sarcastically getting in my face until we were muzzle to muzzle our noses touching together.

My confidence was quickly draining from my body from how close we were. Also since I couldn't kill her or want to for that matter, I felt completely helpless. I didn't know what to do in a social affair such as this.

"Luna help me," I whispered out actually afraid to meet her gaze so I looked straight down. Now my fear wasn't just directed towards her but the thought of her leaving me. Was that a rational fear? Being alone? But did it really matter? In the end was I just being a big coward?

*****

Sitting at my desk as my teacher started a boring lecture on math. You know... easy stuff. Like: Geometry, Algebra, Calculus, and other boring pointless stuff that schools teach because they like being boring. What was my teacher teaching at the moment? I don't know. I just know I'd get the work done.

I rested a hoof on my cheek whilst my elbow was firmly planted on my desk. Using it as a bipod to hold my head up. I was so bored I was having trouble staying awake. Eyes steadily growing heavier and heavier losing focus on what the teacher was lecturing about. Just as I was about to drift off peacefully off into the land of dreams. Something pushed my arm holding my head, causing my elbow that was firmly planted on the desk slip. Forcing my body to do this weird jerking motion. My body trying to bend in a weird "U" shape, the key word being "weird" it was odd, to say the least. To bystanders especially since everypony around me burst out laughing.

I tried my best to act cool, calm and collected. Stroking my mane trying to act normal. My long mane I always thought was annoying. Since it sometimes got really itchy if I didn't clean it correctly. I had the same mane style like my mom's. Mom forced this style onto me. While my dad in the other hoof had like the coolest mane EVER! It was like-

"Midnight Rose, did you fall asleep during my lecture?" The teacher asked me.

I hated when they did this. You didn't know if they knew or that they didn't, and why ask when they already know the answer? Trying to see if I'd lie? I see your game here. You want me to play? FINE I'll play!

Innocently as I could muster I shook my head. "No, sir. Somepony threw something at me." I lied obviously since I didn't like my teacher. He could shove his meter stick up his flank hole for all I cared.

Raising a brow the teacher picked up his signature meter stick that was a yardstick/meter stick I didn't know what to call it so sometimes I call it both of those things. "Who threw something at little Ms. Midnight Rose?" He asked the class. When no one answered he shook his head. "Alright so as I was saying-"

He continued his lecture which completely threw me off. Wasn't he going to get somepony and at least blame them for being responsible? Wait something pushed my arm! Somepony pushed me! Why didn't I say that! It could have been a push from a hoof or magic for all I know. This room was all unicorns so I'd have to say magic.

The nerve someponys have!

"Shut up." The white-coated filly with flowing red mane sitting beside me whispered towards me smugly. Her color scheme was the polar opposite of my own, and so was her attitude. She was a bucking bitch.

How did I know that bad word? The word "bitch"? My dad, he made a lot of jokes he's funny, but mom kicks his flank whenever she catches him saying words like that. Then she tells him: "You're aren't getting any tonight," like whatever that means. Then he whimpers giving her the cute eyes that all ponys give when they're begging for something. Like when my dad and I go to the gun shop, and I ask for kevlar armor, but he surprised me instead with his uniform giving it to me. His cadet combat armor that he trained in when he was my age.

The armor he gave me was way cooler because it was my dad's! And now I was wearing it! So it made it even greater!

"What do you want?" I whispered back to her with a scowl. At the same time keeping my eyes trained on our teacher. Making sure that he doesn't spot me talking to her.

She giggled softly that made me on edge. "Oh you know... the typical day for you. Ugly negro." She grinned widely. Whilst I glared at her.

***After * Class***

My body ached but I kept up the illusion that none of it hurt me. Resisting the urge to shake or breath heavily. If they heard me out of breath they might strike. So, if I acted like I wasn't tired at all. They might think that I was still in fighting shape. Only if I was lucky. But you know a broken nose kinda made it hard to look intimidating. Tears wanted to brim in my eyes but I had to suck it up and look angry.

"Just give up already!" Little Ms. Bitch screamed sitting in a swing. Swinging back and forth annoyed be me not giving up. "Take her down, or no candy for the rest of you!"

Hearing that there could be a reward. Some of the other children had a short boost of motivation, but before they could get time to think it over. I struck first throwing a punch here throwing a buck there. Hearing the first crunch of bone in my life. Then crying. I made a colt cry. He cried loudly holding his hoof but I didn't care. They all deserved worse than what they got!

In my mental blind rage-filled rant, I didn't pay attention to getting bucked in the gut tossing me into the air. Then slamming into a metal beam beside Ms. Filly Bitch.

This time I actually stayed down. My back hurt. . . so much in fact that I had to stay down. To not show everypony else that I was crying. Because tough ponys don't cry! I was shaking on the floor my bruised back burned.

Everypony laughed at me, "Did you see me buck that stupid filly?!" A colt named Hard Hitter cheered giving a high hoof to one of his pals.

"You scored a touch down with that one Hard Hitter!" His friend cheered.

Hearing the swing stop making it's eerie whines that it made when swung, I heard hooves hop off then walk near me. "Well, well, well, quite the show you put on there Rose." Ms. Bitch gave me a generous kick to the ribs. "Alright let's go get some candy!" I then heard the sound of money being thrown.

"Huh? What about you?" Another filly asked confused on why their cruel leader wasn't going with them.

Smugly she replied casually, "I'll meet you all there. Me and Negro' Rose here have some unfinished business." She gave me another kick to the ribs for good measure.

Forcing me to let out another gasp of pain my shaking intensifying.

Shrugging they all left the school playground that was now abandoned leaving me alone with. . . her. . .

"Up." She said demanding me to move. But in my condition, I didn't even think I could if I wanted to. "I said UP!" She shouted kicking me in the stomach. Causing me to cry out in pain.

Pony kicks were weird. Kicks only work either when you kick back or to the side. If in the air you would have more maneuverability. Being able to swing your body and legs in any which direction. But, let me tell you: I hate getting kicked. The safest thing to do is never get behind somepony. Because a hind leg kick is what hurts them more than any punch could.

Begrudgingly I got up with my eyes closed. I didn't want to show her that I am crying.

"Oh don't be like that." Ms. Bitch giggled nuzzling my cheek, violating my personal space. "Come on go into the castle, it's just going to be me and you." She hugged me making me freeze up. "Now move your cute flanks over there, or I'm going to make you." She whispered into my ear biting the tip of it. Causing my other ear to flick uncomfortably.

Now I had no choice I couldn't run. I couldn't so much as move. The adrenaline in my body was dying down. My body now felt like a heavy unmoving rock. I started to get up slowly shaking on weak hooves. I felt completely at the mercy of her hooves.

"Faster!" She commanded kicking my leg making me tumble to the ground.

I was going to get up again but instead, she used her magic dragging me over the playground floor as punishment. But who is to say that she wouldn't have just done that anyway?

When we were both alone in the "castle" that was made of plastic, metal, and some other materials that I didn't know. But one thing was for certain that it hid us from view. Nopony could see in or out. The perfect place to do despicable. What was she planning? This place was about the size of my restroom which wasn't very big. This place was more empty of anything but filled with space.

I got roughly shoved into a wall which made me cry out in pain.

"Now we can get started! Negro, dirt pony, lover." She hissed getting right in my face.

I kept my eyes shut not wanting to look at her. The only reason I knew she was this close was that, her voice and her warm breath that tickled my face.

"Open your eyes!" She shouted causing me to flinch instinctively refusing to meet her demands. "Come. . . on. . . we're friends! Remember?!" She chuckled nuzzling my face. I wanted to groan at how disgusted I was from her touch.

In truth, we were once friends. She was my only friend and I was only hers. We stuck together until she changed. Or was always this cruel. Most unicorns were to earth ponys. Every pony race just seemed to spit on them. They were like the butt of every joke the lowest of the low. The lowest social class. The only other ponys that knew their pain were the bat ponys. But, saying "bat ponys' is racist. You had to say "Threstal", "Thestral"? Yeah, I don't know how you say it. My mind can't really remember with this filly in my face. Her name was Morning Star.

Power Corrupts. After her family got rich after winning a lottery she's been snobby ever since. Who knows, I could be wrong, I'm not perfect. Especially when she found out about my sister. When she first heard that I had a sister she got excited, but when she met her she got furious. I was so scared that she might hurt Ruby that I ended our friendship before it could come to that. Even mom agreed, refusing to take Ruby to school in fear that somepony might hurt her. So mom homeschool Ruby. We were actually kinda moving somewhere else. Maybe to the crystal empire, or maybe Prance, or maybe even Appaloosa where earth ponys were common. The earth ponys there had a reputation for being kind-hearted folks.

"HEY! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!" Morning Star screamed in my face angrily. Her face contorted in rage. As if catching herself trying to calm herself down she got away from me pacing across from me. Taking deep steady breaths trying to calm her nerves.

After a while of silent pacing and the white redhead filly muttering to herself. She came right back on over to me, fixing her mane as she did so. Sighing she got close to me even hugging me. "Negro' Rose." Morning Star inched her face closer to mine narrowing her eyes. "Do you know why I brought you here? Don't you remember what this place was? To us?"

Now I don't remember much. Or what had happened after that. I've seemed to have forgotten, but what I do know is that she was crying. And now I was mad. That was all I remember. I know I didn't hit her or anything like that. But it bugs me to this day. What happened? What did I say? What did she say? I don't even know what she was talking about. Did we use that place when we were close friends? Is it sad that I don't remember at least that much? I should probably feel ashamed for forgetting.

*****

I opened my eyes to be greeted with the same old mad Peaches. What was I supposed to say? I broke her trust. Wait. She trusted me? I said I would kill her! Then why is she trying to hurt me? Did I hurt her with the thought of killing her? Did she want to die? Did the bite override her fear or was it betrayal?

"When I do something wrong. The best thing to say is that I'm sorry." Ruby said beside me staring directly into the wall that I had my back against for some reason, she wasn't even looking at me this time. Completely different from what she usually did. So I just ignored her sense of direction but taking her message to heart. Ruby was good at being a good example of a pony. Wait what? Ruby's here again? But after I finished blinking she was gone. Typical insane people. I was losing it.

"Um... Peachy?" I slowly drawled out hoping that it was okay to use the pet name I gave her earlier. Trying to drain away her killer attitude towards me. I didn't want to hurt her, and I didn't want her hurting me. Besides I needed her, she was crucial to my survival of sanity.

Snarling in my face she punched me again this time knocking me to the floor. Again... I deserved that.

"DON'T CALL ME PEACHY YOU UGLY FAT MAGGOT!" She screamed at me. The irony, she was anything but peachy!

Was that supposed to be an insult? Like, come on. You could do better than that! Like my bully called me worse things than that! Like: hoarse, slut, cum sock, cum rag, filly dish, cum muncher, meat taker, stick lover, cream lover, fucker, filly licker, condom tasting uh... yeah, half1 of those insults I don't even know what Morning Star meant by them. I needed a bully translator for that. But nah... waste of money that would be so I took those name in stride. No, actually those insults didn't anger me. What angered me was that I didn't know what those insults meant. More than those words hateful meanings. The other children didn't know what she was saying either and just laughed along with her insults in fear.

Come on Peaches, fat and ugly? Is that the best insult you have? It was difficult trying to hold back my laughter when she was screaming the dumbest insults I've ever heard. She was so serious! This was rich!

"IF I HAD A FACE LIKE YOURS I'D SUE, MY PARENTS!"

Alright, watch it, missy! Don't you DARE TALK ABOUT MY PARENTS THAT WAY!

Peaches continued her verbal assault. "DO YOU JUST PRACTICE BEING THIS UGLY?! I'VE SEEN SOME PONYS LIKE YOU BUT I HAD TO PAY AN ADMISSION FEE!" Oof my pride. "MIRRORS CAN'T talk." Ah... finally, she's going to calm down now- "Lucky for you, THEY CAN'T LAUGH EITHER!" Are you serious?! Still going at it! I'm not that ugly!

Enough was enough I gave this bitch too many chances! "Hey!" I stood up pushing her away to give me some space. "Enough!-" I thought I was going to be able to stop her but she had a different idea in mind instead of peace.

"You're the reason the gene pool needs a lifeguard." Peaches growled scruffing her hoof along the dirt floor, moving dirt around. It looked to have been her getting ready to do a charge attack.

"Stop being mean!" I retorted my horn now glowing a dark blue aura with black stars, helping me give off that intimidating vibe. Luna, I sound like a foal saying that! Let me rephrase that. "Stop being a bitch!" Hmm. . . better? Nah I made myself sound cringe-worthy.

"YOU ARE SO UGLY THAT YOUR ONLY CHANCE OF GETTING LAID IS TO CRAWL UP A CHICKEN'S BUTT AND WAIT!" She just kept roasting me with these insults.

But I got to admit that the last one was pretty good. But I had to get through to her. Maybe... what if I cut her infected leg off? Then she could live! Besides what's the point of walking when you had wings! Genius!

"Calm down Peaches, I'm sorry okay! Are we good? I thought we were friends!" I stomped a hoof to enforce my statement. "If I meant to kill you like I said, then you wouldn't be alive right here, right now," I reasoned. Which actually caused her to stop and think.

"You stupid potato." My friend weakly insulted me, so I must have been doing something right.

Now, what was I supposed to do now? I had her this close to coming back to my side. How would I give her that extra push to bring her back to friendly? So I waited for an answer hoping Ruby would come back. I waited and waited yet she didn't come to the rescue as I thought she would. Why couldn't my insanity at least be useful for once?! Forced to do something and quick before the good side of this conversation loses it's momentum and turns back towards tragic.

Time to wing it I guess, so here I go: "Peaches, I'm sorry. I was just scared for you... I didn't want you to suffer. Becoming one of those things is a fate worse than death. Okay. I was just thinking about your own well being. So we good now? Because I really don't want to hurt you, and I'm sure that you didn't mean to hurt me." I chuckled gesturing to my face. I was responsible for her retaliation so no killing. She didn't do this on her own accord. The only reason why she did this was because of me. I created this situation so I was the one to make things right. If things were the other way around, she would be dead.

Taking a deep steady breath and losing her charging stance she got into a causal calm stance. Peaches visibly relaxed nodding her head.

I let out a breath that I didn't even know that I was holding. "But only on one condition."

"Uhmm okay? What is this condition of yours?" I asked just as cautious.

"You don't decide my well being! I'm my own pony and my own adult! I make my own decisions! No one decides for me!" Peaches stated her terms. Terms that kinda defeated the purpose of my servant "contract". The debt that she had for me. But was sacrificing a contract really worth friendship? I... Yes, yes it was.

I nodded my head, "Sure, you can even be the owner to hold the gun." I said placing the plasma pistol on the floor sliding it over to her. She picked it up cautiously walking over to me with a smile. Then she hugged me even started to cry for whatever reason. I was also relieved to see the static in my vision start to relax slightly stupid faulty Pip-buck. Needed a new one now. It was the problem right? This computer is connected to my nerves system and all that scientific stuff. WAIT! If I can't think for her well being then how could I possibly save her?!

"I'm sorry for the names I called you!" She sniffled pressing her face into the crook of my neck. Which tickled me. I literally wanted to shove her face away from my neck. That's how ticklish I was. Making numerous odd faces. She was also being a baby. Like, come on! Who says sorry like that? It sounds so childish!

I stroked her back as reassuringly as I could. Only hoping that I didn't come across as creepy. "It's okay. You forgive me and I forgive you." My voice sounded strained but she didn't seem to notice, as she nodded her head nuzzling my neck. Oh LUNA! I wanted to buck her into a wall. My neck itched now! I needed to scratch this! I shuddered nodding my head as well. "Uh-huh-yeah-yup!" I pulled back away from her. "FOLLOW ME!" I said a little too loudly crawling into the tiny hole that a light was coming out from.

Once I went through to see the other side I was surprised to find that it had a lot of supplies. But not supplies fit for a pony like me... but maybe for Peaches...

"Whoa... is this the basement of a pet shop? Pet store?" Peaches asked after she crawled through after me. Still holding onto her injured leg.

-"How would you know that?" Yeah, I was curious.

She looked over at me as if I was dumb, "We have stores in the sky you know, we aren't just raised by birth to be soldiers I went to school too. While some pegasi can have a normal civilian life or they can become a soldier. I have a military family so I have two brothers. You see-" Peaches kept going dumping information into my brain lucky for her I'm not an idiot. "-since we're in the sky we have a low limit amount of resources. Civilian families usually have one and rarely two foals. While us military families get two and sometimes three like me! I'm the youngest of my family. And the reason why us military families get an extra foal is because of our low chance of survival. Like my squad down there getting ripped apart by those disgusting dirt ponys. . ." She finished grumbling out her hate towards the shiny metallic power armor ponys that were the "Brotherhood" as far as I knew.

"Anyways..." I spoke quietly not wanting her to be mad when she was thinking about her enemies. Else she might just snap at me. Spotting the stairs with a door leading up I went over to it, climbing the stairs then unlocking the door at the top. Just to scout out what was outside and that the door would work. Outside of this basement was a normal store with a broken front door. So that was going to be our quick getaway. Locking the door I crept back down to Peaches who was yet again, hoarding things that we really didn't need. "Are you serious?" I face hoofed.

"You never know when we just might need it!" The peach pegasus retorted taking numerous leashes and dog foods.

Shaking my head I pushed a shelf to cover the small hole where we had entered with a loud crash, that caused Peaches to squeak and jump in the air. Cursing out about her injured hoof. Now I couldn't cut off her infected leg. But, maybe there was a cure? Then no time to wait! We need to find a doctor! A town! We need more information about this apocalypse.

"Peachy you know we don't have much time until you become one of those mindless zombies," I stated stomping a hoof. "And we still haven't treated your leg. We need to find a town and ask if that there could possibly be a cure. You know since it's been such a long time there is bound to be a cure somewhere."

"NO! I'm not going to turn into one of those freaks! I'm not that useless!" She argued her eyes starting to water. "It's just a bite! Who knows, what if I'm immune or something!" She looked away from me frightened at the idea.

Sighing I tried to ease her mind, "Let's say you are immune to the bite if your leg is infected. Then the infection will kill you." Peaches started crying falling to the floor. Great job dumb ass.

Regretfully I looked around finding a medicine cabinet that had the same trio of pink butterflies. Inside were supplies including, rubbing alcohol, antibiotics, and even healing potions that were a healthy blue. I just swooped in and took everything rushing over to Peaches. "Don't worry maybe we can kill the zombie virus with some disinfectants!" I tried my best to cheer her up. Damn socially awkward child! Why was I so stupid?! Even what I said sounded cringy even for a wasteland setting still sounds retarded in my mind. I really just can't grasp the concept.

She raised her head out slightly to see what I was doing.

"Um, beautiful? Hold out your leg out please." I said trying to ease her nerves. I think I succeeded when she blushed and obliged holding out her injured foreleg which I took. First I applied the rubbing alcohol on the wound which caused her to scream. So loud that I had to cover my ears accidentally spilling the whole bottle on her wound.

"SWEET CANDY MUFFINS!" She screamed crying from the pain.

When she was done screaming and just whimpering I hugged her, "Come on now, now to heal the wound I found some potions that will heal your wound closed." I said stroking her mane reassuringly while I held her close. She nodded quietly pressing a small health potion to her lips. Downing, its contents slowly like if she was drinking water. We watched together as her leg healed, but not all the way so I wrapped bandages around the wound.

"I-i-it wo-orked!" Peaches cheered kissing me on the lips which surprised me. She closed her eyes while mine were wide in surprise. After a few seconds, she pulled back with a loud smack of our lips parting. She started hopping around the basement. "I'm going to live! I'm going to live! You hear that everypony I'm going to live! Woohoo!" She saw my bewildered expression giving me a confused look. "Hey, you alright Rose?" She asked me confused frowning before smiling again. "Anyway thank you, Rose! I really don't know how to express my thanks. You really saved me!"

I really wanted to I don't even know. But one thing kept bugging me. She kissed me! And she could still be infected! You couldn't just kill a zombie virus by dropping a bottle of pure alcohol on a wound!

Peaches waddled over to me nuzzling my face, "You cawwed me beutifwl rigggght?" She asked fluttering her eyelashes before falling over her hooves. Wait what? She giggled on the floor rolling around like an idiot. "Shh... or they miwght hearw uws." She whispered to me then quickly burst out in obnoxious laughter.

"Peaches what is wrong with you?!"

"Quiwet pwtty pony." Peaches slapped my muzzle with her wing while she rolled her the floor causing my eyes to roll at her stupidity.

Wait was she drunk? I know I dumbed the rubbing alcohol on her leg but that should have just burned her really bad not getting her drunk! Maybe the healing position had something to do with that? It a healing potion speeds up the healing process maybe it sped up the drunkenness that the alcohol brought? I don't know I'm not a scientist or a doctor. Well since she kissed me, I could use this as an excuse for this.

Taking from one of the cabinets was a muzzle that I carefully applied to Peaches. Just in case she might turn into a Zombo killing machine. Now she looked like a drugged dog. A mare's muzzle was smaller than a stallion's and a dog of her size. So the muzzle she was wearing was a bit too large for her snout but hey it works. I tightened it just enough so that it wouldn't come off and that it wouldn't hurt her.

I know it was wrong but I really needed her. I needed to find this cure before it was too late. She was the last friend I had. The last hope for this world. I've only heard stories of those who have fallen before me. In Germaney there is a huge record of ponys turning bad. But maybe, just maybe I could change all that. I would stay good the whole way through. Not lose my way.

Now I'm starting to sound like a storybook character with all my ramblings will all my bark not getting backed up with some good ol' fashioned bite. I came before this wasteland so I would be considered old. Well, you know what they say about old ponys. They're full of wisdom.

With Peaches now on my back the heavy burden greatly pulled me down. But the hope I had to cure her and the love of a friend is what pushed me onward. I would make my mark on this world. I trudged up the stairs that I seemed to have no trouble going up. Feeling my load lighten slightly from my side confused I turned my head to look, what I saw was a filly. Ruby was there holding my bag up with her head using it to lighten my load. Turning back ahead I unlocked the door.

Making my way out when I turned to look again to look back she was gone. But all the weight I was carrying felt lighter. I was going to find that a cure even if it killed me. But there was always that small chance of this being for nothing. Who knows we might even get lucky.

Outside the store, the sun's rays of light were still shining through the cloud cover. Feeling like Celestia was watching over me I began my walk following the road that led back home. My home. I don't know why. But I just wanted to see what happened to it. Besides, I didn't know where to start looking. Making up my mind now stopped me from wasting time. Good-bye shit town and hello Wasteland.

On the cracked road, I flicked on my radio. Hearing the cheerful music from the Enclave. "Hello again this is your President, Snow Mare."

I don't know what it was, that made me grow so attached to the voice of the Enclave president. It was nice and charismatic to listen too. Especially on the lonely quiet road. It was like if she was talking right beside me lecturing me, teaching me about the Wasteland. Since I was new listening to her was Useful. It was like she was my guide.

Now I must admit, I really didn't know what to believe since I only had this one-sided point of view on the Enclave. So I really couldn't make a final judgment on the other factions. That would just be bias and unfair. I was fair, I was kind-hearted, now don't go on and tell anypony about that. I was tough I was cruel only to those that deserved it.

Only now this was just the beginning of this long and painful path that the wasteland had created. I could either overcome this or get swallowed whole.