"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!"

I listened as the amethyst unicorn mare - Sparkles, as I've learned - sang to the foal, teaching the squirt how to do the hoof pumps. Apparently there was some sort of shake part, but neither could really do that while riding on top of my back. I had not only agreed to carry the mare back to her hometown, but we had tied up the surviving slaver and now he was being dragged along. I may have made sure to step over every possible stone I could. Those little groans and "ows" definitely made my day a little brighter.

Sure, dragging a buck, and carrying an injured mare and tiny foal - and all the scavenged goods and weapons from the dead - was not easy. So we weren't exactly making fast progress. From what Sparkle had told us, however, the trip wasn't going to be long, thus why I had decided to take the weapons too - those'd be good caps. I couldn't use any of them personally, was never good with firearms, and those power hooves wouldn't fit. The knife was just not something that would fit me either, though I was planning on keeping it as a tool if possible. I'd have to check at the town if they sell anything useful - me and the little one would need supplies, and I'd like a check at a doctor to clean up the cut on my chest.

Soon enough, I started to see small barricading and housing. And a guard tower, with someone standing up there with a gun. A guard? Good, they had some protection going on. The guard yelled something I couldn't quite make out thanks to the distance, and there came a small gathering at the opening in the barricades. Two, three... five ponies. Some armed, some not, but the moment I lowered my head to show the white maned mare on my back - who waved at her friends - they relaxed. I trotted closer, giving them a friendly smile as the little foal jumped off my back finally. Sparkles settled on my back, waving her hoof again and giving them small, embarrassed smile. An old buck walked closer, an earth pony with a brown coat that was slightly graying due to age. He looked over at Sparkles, then at the hogtied slaver, then at the squirt, then at me, arching an eyebrow before looking at Sparkles again.

"Rough day?"

"Sorry Grandpa Bucket. The slavers were waiting in ambush." she explained to the older buck, and then motioned towards me and my companion - or so I think, I could only feel her movements on my back. "These two helped me out. Even caught one of the attackers!"

Grandpa Bucket - I wondered what was the story behind his name - blinked a few times before flashing me a smile. A wide one. Clearly I had been accepted now, which made me relax a little bit as well. I bowed my head a bit, respectfully.

"Name's Jackpot. The little one has no name yet, found 'em running around half a day’s trot from here." I explained, nodding towards my companion who jumped a bit happily.

"Well Jackpot, thank you for bringing our bartender back. Welcome to Barn Sour." With that, I was lead into the town - with the occupants looking at me curiously. Me and my haul. Another unicorn with a green coat walked closer, her horn glowing before levitating the captive I had been dragging along. She nodded at me, and I noticed a star-like patch on her vest. So this was the local law enforcement, though she did seem rather... young. Really young. Probably only two or three seasons older than my little companion, a teen really. I nodded back, and relaxed a bit more now that I didn't have to pull the weight of an adult pony anymore.

"Let's get you two to Rush - he's the closest thing to a doctor we got here." - Grandpa Bucket motioned to us to follow, and Sparkles leaned in closer to whisper to me.

"We lost our doc two weeks ago to the slavers. They keep picking us off one by one, when we go to scavenge or to get supplies." - That made my back bristle a bit. Of course, with healthy ponies in a small town like this, it made sense the slavers wouldn't rush them - but ambush them, slowly weather them down, drive them into paranoia before trying to take over.

"Why ain't nopony tried to track 'em down?" I asked in hushed tone, but I could still see Bucket’s ears flick at that. For courtesy, he didn't interrupt as Sparkles continued to explain it to me.

"We tried. Two of our law enforcers went after them on the first day but... well you saw how we only have Mint left, and she's lucky to know which end of the gun goes bang."

... Oh.

For how bleak the situation in the town was, I was surprised how welcoming most were. I guess saving one of their own put me in their good books, as I was rewarded with free healing bandages on my cut, as well as some salve on my legs that was supposed to help with the burning. Rush had been a friendly stallion, trying his best to help both me and Sparkles out - who was now walking on her own hooves.

Granted her leg hadn't been healed fully. The healing potions were scarce in here, and the leg had a clean wound - meaning a brace and some healing bandages were in order instead. So, while she did limp, the unicorn certainly could walk on her own hooves now and looked happy about it. Especially when she got back behind the counter of her little bar, the Moonshine. It was an eatery as well, from what I could read on the sign, but as I soon learned...

"Now, for saving my live from the slavers, bringing one of them here for interrogation and possible bargaining, and carrying me back all the way from there to here..." she started out, smiling a bit as she placed a glass of purified water in front of me. "This is on the house. I'd offer a meal, but we need to ration it out a bit more - so I'll have to charge a bit more for that." There was a playful, nearly flirty wink at that, and I felt a hint of warmth on my cheeks as I coughed and drank the water, thankful for something else to focus on.

Squirt gained their own glass of water as well, and they couldn't help but to bounce again as thanks. Sparkles also snuck them a fresh carrot, smiling a bit - she had come to adore the little unicorn. One of the customers looked at us, looking pessimistic.

"Sure, you're saved today. But what about tomorrow?"

That seemed to get everypony’s attention, as I noticed I wasn't only one to look at his way.

"Oh not this again Steel..." the mare next to him sighed, waving her hoof at me apologetically. "Don't worry about him. He's lost someone recently and is taking it out on everyone."

"Easy for you to say. We all know it, those slavers got us trapped here, can't even go to scavenge without getting shot at. We lost our Sheriff and deputy, and it's been at least a week since Wanderlust disappeared too after trying to go and save anyone who got captured - and don't get me started on Gear!" the buck continued, snorting a bit. "And if they got Wanderlust, you know we're fucked. He was the best shot we got, tough as nails, always got up. Nothing kept that old buck down - except something those bastards have. Scariest part is no one knows what that something is!"

"That's enough Steel." Sparkles said, softly, before reaching with her magic to remove his glass of whiskey. "We'll pull through. We always have."

"Oh sure, that's what we always do, play the waiting game. But they'll out wait us this time, just you wait." he snorted, eyeing at the glass that was denied from him, before laying his head down on the counter. One eye glared at me, as he then continued. "You want to be the hero? Deal with the slavers."

My next words silenced the room, completely. Aside from one or two dropped glasses that is - but otherwise, I had managed to stun the customers with three words.

"Was planning to."

Sparkles stared at me in awe, the buck’s glare turned into a look of shock, and the little unicorn looked up at me with questioning eyes. I couldn't help but chuckle a bit, drinking the rest of my water in single gulp. It made me feel so much better already, the water making my throat ache a bit less.

"Hate slavers. So would be my pleasure to go down there and show who's who." - The foal reached up to hug my hind leg. I gave quick look at both of their concerned expression, and chuckled lightly with what I was hoping was reassuring smile. "Oh don't ya worry none squirt." - I reached down to ruffle their mane a bit with my hoof. "I know slavers like the back of my hoof, and I ain't going there just to be shot at. These folk need their friends back though, and the slavers out."

I leaned down a bit, whispering to the foal bit too loudly so that everyone knew what I was doing. "Can ya do me a favor and look after Miss Sparkles here for me? Won't do any good to leave her without any protection at all."

Sure, the town was a way safer place. Hell, Sparkles was probably most safe she had been in the past day or so. But nonetheless, the little unicorn puffed their chest, saluting and giving me a serious face. With that I knew the little fella was going to stay behind - no way I was going to take 'em with me to a sure fight, even if I was planning on a more stealthy approach. Well, as stealthy as a buck of my size could manage at least.

Sparkles didn't seem too thrilled with the idea, but sighed and motioned Steel to come closer. The blue buck groaned, pushing himself off the counter before walking closer, making a bit of a face.

"Feel like paying your tab with a bit of work?" she asked, and then nodded at me. I wasn't quite sure what the idea was - was she going to send Steel with me? "Gear him up and we'll be even." Steel looked me over from head to hoof, side to side, rubbing his chin a bit.

"Yes. That'd be fair trade. I should be able to cobble something up for him, though nothing too fancy with this short of a notice." He suddenly took hold of my foreleg, testing the weight a bit, before going around me doing some measurements with his hooves, comparing me to himself. "Alright then. Jackpot, wasn't it? Come over to the Steelforge once you get your supplies ready, and we'll get you some armor to keep you from dying... for the first ten minutes at least." There was bit of a snort, a clear indication that he didn't think I'd survive too long. At least if I wasn't smart. I did nod however, watching after the buck who was walking off talking something about measurements and materials he had as spares. Apparently his tab was quite large for him to agree to make something for me... But now. I had other things to attend to. I couldn't just run in knowing nothing - so I got up too. I had a prisoner to talk to.

"He hasn't been very cooperative," the green teen unicorn, Mint as I knew her as, told me as she lead me into the makeshift cells. The maroon stallion was sitting in one corner, staring at the walls, his tail tucked closely against his leg and partially hiding his heart shaped cutiemark. Mint’s horn glowed as she opened the cell door to let me in - not sure if it was because I had battered the prisoner into a pulp earlier today, or if she didn't know the rules or procedures yet. Whichever the case, I appreciated it, giving a short nod, and then walked further in, looking at the stallion. Time to get some information.

I sat down, waiting patiently for a bit, staring at the buck’s neck. I'm not sure if it took seconds or minutes, just sitting still and staring. But finally, the slaver looked over his shoulder at me, quickly looking away again.

"These are good ponies," I finally stated, calm and even. The buck’s ears flattened a bit, which didn't go unnoticed by me. I kept staring, as I then continued on. "Good ponies are dangerous when their friends and family are in danger. Especially when somepony can help but won't. They don't know how to get information, and kill their prisoners without meaning to."

That seemed to get his attention more, glancing over his shoulder again at me. I kept my expression as neutral as I could, before getting up and closer to the buck. Leaning in, seeing all the bruises and small cuts I had caused on the drag back here, I bit back the urge to smile, instead whispering to him. "Too bad for ya, I ain't a good pony. I know every trick, every stunt you scum use to get your slaves talking. So unless ya want to crawl out of here, instead of walking, I'd start talking before I start breaking ya bones. One. By. One."

With that, the stallion started to tense, and only after I had pulled back did he dare to look at me, with wide, startled eyes. I did not smile. I did not grin. I did not scowl. I merely started with as straight a face as I could. That, had been all I needed today - no breaking bones. Not yet. Not now.

Steelforge, as I learned, was an armor store. I had trotted out of the jailhouse, having not only the location of the main camp, but other good tidbits - so I was in a rather good mood, and was already making some plans on how to approach the camp without getting shot. The second I got into the house however, I gained a bit of a confidence boost as the buck named Steel was doing the finishing touches to something that looked like a leathery vest. Upon noticing me, he quickly walked over with the vest in mouth, flinging it on my back.

"Try it on, so I can see if I need to adjust anything," he instructed, and I obediently pushed my hooves through the sleeves, shaking my body a bit to fit in better. The vest covered my back, shoulders, and stomach, and had a bit of a collar to it, closed via buttons and one belt. Partially made from dark leather, and partially from thick dark fabric, it was a rather good looking piece of outfit - one I hadn't expected to ever wear myself. Lifting my hooves, I tried the range of motion - with my size, it wasn't often I wore anything aside from maybe some scarfs and hats. But somehow, this seemed to fit rather well. Or so I thought, but clearly Steel did not agree as he started to tug some parts and tightening others. Finally, he stepped back with small huff.

"Well it's not my greatest work, but it's a hellava lot better than nothing," he commented, before turning around and getting a couple other things, dropping something that looked like wraps at my feet. "Leg guards. You're a puncher, so figured you want some protection for your legs," the blue buck explained, before going behind me and dropping something on my back again. Looking back, I saw him attaching saddlebags onto the vest. They were somewhat armored too with the dark jade-green leather, on the bottom and top. Some protection to my equipment? Not a bad idea, really. I started adding the wraps onto my fronthooves, and soon enough I was moderately armored.

I felt a lot more confident now. Not only did I have a ghost of a plan ready, but I also had some protection. I then felt a tug on my saddlebag, and saw the yellow glow of telekinesis of my little foal friend - who was levitating a healing potion into the bags. The kid gave me a happy grin, and I noticed how their- our burlap sack seemed much lighter. I hoped Rush hadn't charged too much from the little unicorn, but nonetheless, I figured the healing potion was going to be a real lifesaver while I was out there. I leaned down, giving a quick nuzzle on top of the foal’s head - dammit, I have to figure out a name already for the lil one - as a thanks, something that made the unicorn squeak in delight.

"So, you got any idea what you're about to do?"

I nodded, grinning in a way that I hadn't for a little while. "Ayup. I just need the lay of the land so I can tell where I'm headed." This made Steel pause for a second, before he went to the nearby desk, pulling out an aged piece of paper, laying it on top of the wooden desk. I followed him, knowing full well what locations I needed to know.

"I need the locations of Stinger Hole, the water pump, and the route to the Windbreeze street ruins. As well as any roads you can think off between those areas, and back here."

Steel quickly doodled the map - it was crude, but it did give me some idea where to go. I pointed at a spot with a hoof, marked with a waterdrop. "According to 'roon, there's three ponies there - a small squad, waiting for ambush." Then, I tapped the spot that was marked with a... bug? Well made sense, bugs had stingers. "That's their base. Or at least it's near there. There's at least four ponies there, including a sniper, with reinforcements coming in sometime tonight. And... to collect their captives." My voice turned into a low grumble that made Steel jolt away from me for a second. I didn't mean to startle him, but really I couldn't help it. The buck stared at me for a second, then tilted his head with a small curious frown, pointing at me with one hoof weakly.

"You're... really going to try saving them?" - I don't know what it was with his voice - there was a weak shake in it. Like he couldn't quite understand why I'd do something like this. I wasn't going to dash his hopes, and only gave a small nod to confirm the plan. For a moment, Steel merely stared at me... and then trotted over to a shelf, picking up something with his teeth, and then turning back to me. It was a bat - a silvery metal bat, with a nice leather wrap as a mouth grip. I didn't object as he stuffed that into my saddlebag, allowing the buck to explain then.

"Look. This is a long shot, but there might be a mare there that can help you. Copper Gear. Red brown coat, orange grey mane, really nasty attitude. If she's there, alive, and not missing any limbs, you give that bat to her and she'll help you out." I couldn't stop a small smile, adjusting my bags a bit to compensate the fact that one side was way heavier than the other.

"Thank you, Steel. Wish me luck, the both of you."

And with that, my mission was set.

Author's Note

Footnote, level up. New perk added - Terrifying Presence. In some conversations, you gain the ability to initiate combat while terrifying a mob of opponents, sending them fleeing away for safety.