Chapter 6

Welcome To Diamond Dog Town

A day has passed since Rebecca and the others took over the train as a means to both save the slaved ponies, and transportation. Once they unshackled, tended to the ponies that were still alive, and found two ponies who were willing to help them keep the train moving, Rebecca and Flare Warden kept an eye out for any raiders or monsters from on top of the train cart that might want to attack them as they made their way to Diamond Dog Town.

“You know, you don’t have to be up here with me right?”

“You saved my life along with some of the ponies on this train. It’s the least I could do for you.” Flare said as she took a seat next to her. “Had you not come here to take over the train, I would hate to see what could’ve happened to us if that mare kept on killing us one by one.”

“I guess. But given what Sunny said about you being weak due to malnutrition from lack of food and water, I would’ve expected you to be asleep for the next couple of days once we had those two colts help out with the engine.” Rebecca said as she stretches a bit. “Not that I didn’t mind the workout, but I can’t do everything by myself.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, but where did you come from?” Flare asked as she looked at Rebecca up and down. “You don’t look like you’re from a vault, nor do you look like you've been in the Wasteland for a long time.”

“I...Um...well... Vanessa and I are...from a different country.” The pegasus said as she looked off to the side trying to avoid her gaze. “We...um..wanted to test our skills with the monsters of this land.”

“...Really? That’s all you’re here for?” Flare asked as she raised an eyebrow at Rebecca who was smiling nervously.

“Yep, though we do tend to help out from time to time when we see some...pony that needs help from either monsters or raiders trying to kill them.”

“Hm...well whatever you’re real reason is for being here, I’ll ask once I’ve gain your trust and we’re in a better position to talk.” She said before looking at the clothes she was wearing. “These clothes you’ve given me are really comfortable. Reminds me of Rarity’s clothes back when carousel boutique was still open before the war.”

“Carousel Boutique...isn’t that the old abandoned fancy looking house in the ruins of Ponyville?”

“That place is still standing? Even after the passing of time and stuff?” Flare asked as the mare nodded. “Huh...wait, how do you know that place?”

“We stopped there a few days ago. It’s kinda where we met Littlepip and how she joined us. Mostly because she was alone from the looks of it...and we kinda had to run away from a monster that was trying to kill us.”

“....Was the town still standing?”

“I believe so, that is if the Deviljho hasn’t made it his stomping ground and didn’t wreck the place when we left it.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Anyway, my name is...or was Lieutenant Flare Warden. Second in command of the Crystal Empire Army during the war between the zebra’s two-hundred years ago.”

“Wait a minute. If you’re two-hundred years old, how are you still young and not old?”

“You can thank the Zebra’s for that. During the first wave of the war between Equestria and the Zebra nation. Shining Armor and I got captured when they dropped the megaspell onto Canterlot. I thought we would be dead due to the megaspell seeing how everything was dark when I woke up. Turns out we both got knocked out and were sent flying into the enemy’s ship from the force behind the blast. I think we would’ve prefer death then being the zebra’s...test subjects.”

“Explain please, that is if you’re willing to that is?”

“You saved my life, you at least get something in return for that. Even though it won’t be money.” Flare said as she laid her back against the roof of the cart they were on. “Form what I can remember before I was put on ice, they made a secret base within the Everfree Forest due to what I was able to see from out of a hole in the cell we were in. For the past year or two we’ve been used for either science experimentation, potion testing, punching bags, and...stress relievers. Originally it was just me they were focusing on, but Shining Armor willing to let them do whatever they want to him so long as they don’t hurt me.”

“I take it they didn’t do that?”

“For the most part...each time they come for Shining Armor, and each time they were done, his body would become more and more to that of a mare. Those rock hard abs, huge muscles on his arms and legs, that firm flank…” Flare paused as a blush started to form on her face. Rebecca took notice to this as she smirked and snapped her fingers near her ear.

“Focus soldier. You can have your perverted sex fantasy after you tell me what happen.”

“O-Oh! Right! Sorry...anyway his abs, muscles, and coltish figure was gone. It was like they were changing his gender from that of a colt to a mare. I had heard rumors about the zebra’s having the means to change a pony’s gender from a book they have, but I guess they were true after seeing the changes done to him. During the times they schedule Shining Armor for testing, they would do...things to me from time to time.”

“They raped you, didn’t they?” Rebecca said as Flare looked at her with a stern expression. “Touchy thing to say, but I don’t like to sugarcoat things.”

“Yeah..they did once the captain was weak enough to the point where he couldn’t fight back.” Flare gritted her teeth in anger and frustration for a moment before calming and continued to explain. “This went on for some time until Celestia found the secret base. If she would’ve been a little bit more smoother with the hole fire and brimstone thing, she would’ve saved us. But sadly that wasn’t the case. We were forced to go with them after they knocked us out. Once we came too, the captain and I were in these strange tube things that were slowly being filled with some kind of cold liquid. I looked over at Shining Armor trying to break out of there, but given his weakened state, that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. I was able to at least read his lips before I passed out.”

“What did he say?”

“It was a bit hard to read. But the words I could make out were Heart, Crystal Heart, and Friends.”

“...Not giving you a lot to go by huh?”

“Yeah...starting to regret not taking his classes for reading lips seriously now.”

“So after being on ice for the past two-hundred years. What happened afterwards?”

“Shining Armor was missing when I woke up from my sleep by ponies who work for a colt called Red Eye who’s interested in the captain and I for some reason. Hence why the Zebra’s traded me to him and why I was forced to be a slave on this train.”

“Seems like you’ll be needing some help with finding your friend as well?”

“What do you mean?”

“Littlepip is looking for a mare by the name of Velvet Remedy. We’re planning on looking for her once we make our way over to New Appaloosa. Right after we stop at Diamond Dog Town.”

“Wait, Diamond Dogs have a town named after them?”

“I guess. Like I said, I’m not from here. You’ll have to ask Sunny Day about this place. She’s smart and knows a lot about this place.”

“I’ll be sure to do that once she’s finished with what she’s doing...would it be okay if I join you four?” She asked as Rebecca raised an eyebrow at her as a means of explaining. “Look I’m going to be frank about this. But I need you and your friends help with finding Captain Shining Armor. Mostly because he’s my friend, and I am not so well equipped to make the journey alone. I can understand if you choose not to help me seeing how we just met and all, but I’m willing to do anything just to help my friend. E-Even if it means I would let you...do whatever you want to me.” Flare said as Rebecca simply deadpan before speaking.

“First off, I’m not that type of p-pony to take advantage like that. Second, I’ll have to run it by the others. If they want you to join and are willing to help, then we’ll help you out. If not, then it’ll just be you and me to help you out on your request.”

“You’re willing to help me, even though we just met?”

“Gotta start helping somewhere right? Plus we might be able to get some cool stuff from exploring the wasteland.” She said before noticing tears rolling down Flare’s face as she blinked in surprise. “H-Hey now. No need for the water works or anything. I’m just glad to help out when needed.”

“I-I know...it’s just that...No pony other then BellHop would be willing to help me...it’s been so long since somepony helped me.” Flare said as she started to wipe away the tears still rolling down her face.

“I wouldn’t blame you for crying like that if I was in your hooves.” Rebecca said as she handed the pegasus a piece of cloth as Flare took it to help wipe away the tears from her face. “But right now we should focus on what to expect on the ride to Diamond Dog Town.”

“Diamond Dog Town isn’t really a bad place, so long as you don’t tick off the mayor of the place.”

“Have you seen the mayor before?”

“I have not. I’ve been mostly put to work on this forsaken train since I woke up in this place. But I have heard rumors of the mayor being a good sharpshooter that she took down six of Red Eye’s greatest soldiers in his army. The mare that was in charge of the train said that they’re still recovering from that loss.”

“Interest bit to know. I’ll be sure to make a mental note on that.” She said before looking over Flare to see them coming up on Diamond Dog Town. “I believe we’re coming up on the town you mentioned.”

“I’ll do all the talking. You get your friends ready for when we stop at the station.” Flare said as Rebecca headed off into the train to get her friends and inform them about where they were heading.

(Wasteland)
(Location: Diamond Dog Town)

A few hours have past as the traveling hunters and friends made it to Diamond Dog Town. At first they thought that the town was gonna be a place full of thugs and savage dogs, but to their surprise it was...well nothing like that. It was more of a flea market with different races from ponies, diamond dogs, and griffins walking around either trading with each other or shopping for something that might interest them.

“So this is Diamond Dog Town?” Rebecca said as Flare Warden nodded before hopping off of the train. “This place looks like a flea market.”

“In a way it is. Just try to stay cool and don’t try to draw much attention to us. Mostly because the mayor of this town doesn’t like slavers, but he or she knows not to attack one of Red Eye’s slaver trains.”

“Yeah, but we kinda did that already. So I wouldn’t worry about that.” Vanessa said as she along with Sunny and Littlepip followed after Rebecca and Flare from off the train. “We should see if this place can help with changing the way the train looks.”

“That might be a problem given how we barely have enough caps to get the stuff needed to cover this up.” Sunny said as she looks over the train while going over the numbers in her head.
“About three hundred thousand million caps would be needed to make the changes to the train.”

“Caps as in?”

“Bottle caps. The kind that you see from soda vending machines.” Sunny said before pulling out a few caps to show them what she means. “Due to the war between Equestria and the Zebras, the currency of gold became useless what with the government being nonexistent in Equestria for two-hundred years, and Celestia and Luna being gone for that amount of time.”

“And caps were the only thing that survived the fallout of the war. So Equestria pretty much used bottle caps as currency.” Flare added before noticing a group of diamond dogs heading their way. “Looks like we got some company heading our way.”

“Given the fact that we’re using a slaver train. It doesn’t surprise me that we would get the town’s police force on us.” Rebecca said before looking over at Flare. “Think you can convince them not to attack or kill us?”

“Why me?”

“Because you’re the only one that looks decent and not threatening.” Vanessa answered as Flare rolled her eyes and took a step forward to the group of diamond dogs. Once the dogs were close, they moved to the side from each other as a mare wearing a texan-style outfit and a scarf covering her mouth and nose as she glares intensely at the group. Mainly Flare Warden, who flinched a bit before gathering the nerve to speak up.

“Um, greetings everypony...or dogs in this case. My name is Flare Warden, and we’re not slaver ponies of any kind!” She said which caused Littlepip and Rebecca to facepalm. “....Okay that sounded way less convincing huh?”

“About as convincing as trying to tell somepony the world is round, not flat.” Sunny said before noticing the mare walking up to Flare Warden. “And I’m pretty sure you just made the mare mad.”

“Oh dear Celestia’s fat flank.” Flare Warden took a step back a bit, but was stopped due to the mare placing her hand on the pegasus shoulder as one near her own face.

“It’s...been far too long since I’ve seen a familiar face.” The mare said as she removed the cloth around her face as Sunny, Littlepip, and Flare eyes widen in surprise by this. “I would’ve never expected it to be somepony that was lost during the war.”

“A-Applejack!?” The three mare’s said in union as Rebecca and Vanessa blinked in confusion from this as Vanessa spoke up.

“Wait, Applejack? As in the one who was in charge of the Ministry of Wartime Technology and the Applejack Ranger’s?”

“Didn’t she end up disappearing? Like two-hundred years ago from what you told us Sunny?” Rebecca asked as the mare lifted her glasses to clean them before putting them back on.

“Yes, that’s what the books in the archive said happened...unless she’s a ghost or something which I wouldn’t be surprised...for the most part.”

“I can’t believe you’re alive. I mean, you are alive...r-right?” Flare asked as Applejack nodded before placing the mask over her face a bit.

“I would prefer to talk more back in my office if ya’ll wouldn’t mind that is? Not a huge fan of talking out in the open like this.” The southern mare said before looking over at the group of diamond dogs that came with her. “Tend to anypony inside the train that needs treatment, and cover up the colors on this train as best as you can. I prefer not to have Red Eye coming here to see one of his trains here and it hasn’t left yet.” She order as the dogs quickly went to work as she motions for Rebecca and her group to follow after her. “Come on. We have much to talk about.”

Author's Note

AppleJack's Outfit.