The rest of the way to Marebon Street was surprisingly quiet. No raiders, slavers, or monsters bothered us. Probably had to do with the fact that until recently there had been a huge horde of feral ghouls nearby.

Shadow wasn’t the most talkative person I'd ever met. He'd asked me a few questions and then was annoyingly silent for the rest of the walk. I tried to get more out of him but all of my questions were met with either an extremely cryptic answer or silence. Here's an example of a typical Shadow conversation:

"So... Do you live around here?"

"I prefer to wander."

"What was that thing I killed?"

"A witch."

"Whats a witch?"

"One of the two monsters that inhabit Neigh Orleans exclusively. They emit a magical soundwave akin to broadcasters in Canterlot."

"What is the other monster?"

"Vampires."

"Wait, vampires aren’t real, you’re messing with me."

"When you mix witchcraft, technology, and radiation anything’s possible."

Yeah, This guy needs to work on his social skills. At least I was no longer alone. I didn’t know how long Shadow would stay with me, maybe he would just drop me off at Marebon Street. I didn’t know if I could completely trust him yet either. He had had plenty of opportunities to kill me and hadn’t. So we had each other's company, for now.

Soon I could see the lights and hear the sounds of the settlement. Shadow stopped and looked back at me, a grimace on his face. "You’ll have to continue without me, I'm not very welcome there. I'll be here waiting for you."

"Why? what did you do?"

"I'm just not a popular pony in these parts, nothing to do with what I've done, but what I am. Don't go around asking questions about me. If they think you are travelling with me they might kick you out."

I was very confused. But I did need to talk to these guys. so if him staying here and me not talking about him made that easier, so be it.

"Alright, see you soon Shadow" He didn’t respond as I walked the last stretch towards the town alone.

I didn’t know quite what to expect from a town in the wasteland. But the busy street, neon signs, and general feeling of a noonday market were better than I had imagined. According to Shadow during one of his more talkative moments, Marebon Street had been famous for its vibrant nightlife, Exotic alcoholic beverages, and Jazz music. Looking around, it seemed it still was. Strange, interesting music floated out of multiple buildings. All the neon lights were on even though it was noon, probably due to the never-ending cloud cover. Most of the bars had been converted into shops and inns, but a few were still in business.

One, in particular, caught my eye. The sign read, Maison Marebon, dedicated to the preservation of jazz. Above the entrance was another sign, Come in peace or leave in pieces. Well, at least no one was going to attack me for no reason.

The inside of the bar was cosy and well lit. More of what I assumed was jazz music dominated the area, the conversations nearby muffled and hard to hear. Two guards stood by the bar, their guns in their holsters as they shared a drink. Tables were lined up against the wall with the bar on the far side and a bartender drying mugs. Everyone turned to look at me when I came through the door, once they all decided I wasn’t a threat they all went back to their alcohol and card games. ooooo, card games, I’m good at those. I wonder if they play blackjack? Mingling was a good idea, I could learn more about the wasteland and ask discreetly about my sister.

As I glanced around to find a suitable table to join an azure unicorn mare with frizzy white hair tightly plaited waved at me, yelling "Hey! Purple gryphon looking thing! O'er here!"

Well, guess my table is chosen for me. I walked over and sat down opposite the scruffy unicorn. She smiled and tilted her head in contemplation.

"Ye got the look oh a gryphon, but you're taller and more colourful than any I e're met before. And ye got hooves stead of paws fer yer hindquarters. Why don't I get us a drink and you can tell me bout yourself."

"No need to get a drink, I have one here," I said, summoning the Bottle of Applejack Daniels from the cathedral. The unicorn blinked and rubbed her eyes, not believing what I had just done.

"Weel, I guess drinks are on you!. Les no jus stare at it! I'll go grab a couple o glasses and you open it up!" The blue mare sauntered over to the bartender and asked him for two glasses. While I opened the bottle she floated two shot glasses over to our table. Picking up the whiskey with her magic she deftly poured the two glasses to the brim. With practised ease, she down the cup, frowning slightly.

“I dinna think I told ye my name, It’s Scruffy. And I’m the best mechanic in the whole Neigh Orleans area! Also the best medic in town, not cuz I’m good wi medicine but because I fixed all the healing talismans and the autodoc at the Crystal health centre down the road.”

I have to admit that I liked her rough highland accent. Not something I thought I would find this far south. According to my Equestrian geography class, the highlands were in the far eastern part of the nation, near the city of Hoofington, and was actually its own nation before Equestrian military made it a protectorate of Equestria. Many bloody and unsuccessful revolutions later the highlanders were able to gain equal rights for their people, sadly not before the great mountains of their homeland were gutted and stripped of their coal.

A cough from Scruffy shook me from my thoughts.

"Hmm? What?"

"Ah said, was a wee hippogriff like you doing oot here in the wasteland? I thought you all had a nice island to hide on while we all rot in this hell hole.”

I told her the whole story. Starting with the crash and ending with clearing out Coltson Square, leaving out the part about meeting Shadow. Scruffy was politely quiet, asking only a few questions throughout.

Afterwards, she downed her glass and refilled it just as fast.

“Weel yoo’ve had quite the adventure haven’t ye? Now tha you’re here, what do ye plan on doing? My suggestion is ta get the hell out of here and head to friendship city or tenpony tower. This place is a death trap if ya dinna ken what you’re doin.”
“I can’t leave without my father and sister. Judging by the stares I’m guessing that she isn’t around here.”

"Yup. You're the only hippogriff here ah the moment. What are ye gunta do after that? I doubt tha findin yer sister will be a long venture."

"Well, I also have to get home."

"Weel tae do that, you'd hafta talk to some oh the traders here, lots a people stop here on their way from New Pegasus to Friendship City on cargo runs. I bet if ye talked to one and ye had enough money they might go a wee off course for you and yer family."

This was all good news, from here I could ask around about Ashaa while looking for a merchant to take us home!

“Who should I talk to first?”

Scruffy mused over her glass of whiskey, taking another sip before responding.

“ I would go speak with Mr Round Trip, you’ll probably find him ah the Red Pegasus across the road. He’ll ave room on his boat fer you and your kin, high prices but a safe ride.”

“Thank you for the advice Scruffy. Anything else I should know?"

"Stay away from the Bloody Hoof Inn ah the edge oh town, tha place es fer vampires only. Unless ye want tae be their dinner."

I nodded as I turned to walk out.

"Got it. It was nice meeting you Scruffy."

"Same to you wee hippogriff! Hope you find wha you're lookin fer oot there."

Walking out of the Maison Marbon I looked around for the Red Pegasus. It took a while to find as the sign was just a red pegasus, no words. Being slightly colourblind I had thought it brown, but after searching around for a bit and finding no other Pegasus themed taverns I decided to head in and try my luck.

Calmly ignoring the stares I headed up to the bartender. Upon asking him if a Mr Round Trip was here I was directed to a brown earth pony with a cutie mark of a boat going in circles. As I approached he slowly lifted his head, turning to look at me.

"What do ya want? If ah've pissed somepony off let me finish mah drink first."

"No, nothing like that. I just wanted to ask about you giving me and my family a ride home." Round Trip scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"How many of ya? where ya headin?" I pulled out a map and showed him the location of Mount Eris and told him it would just be me and my father and sister. He laughed quietly.

"If you want me to transport you and your kin that far outta mah rout it's gonna cost ya, A thousand per passenger, five thousand in case ah accidents, and two thousand for the time I could be selling goods in Friendship City. So bout ten thousand caps in total."

My jaw almost hit the floor. Ten THOUSAND caps!?

"How am I supposed to get that much?" He shrugged.

Ah dunno, try doin some odd jobs round town, go treasure huntin, collect bounties. If ya really want on mah boat you'll find a way. Also, I leave town in a month, so you've got a time limit as well. good luck kid." And with that, he got up, paid his tab, and left.

I sat there for a while, processing all of this new info. I had to find my family and get ten thousand caps in a month. I could do this. I always worked better on a deadline anyways. I was going to do this. It was happening. the first step: get a job.

Footnote:

New Quest unlocked: In a rich colt's world. acquire 10,000 caps to pay your way home. Progress: 75/10,000 caps. quest time limit: 31 days left. good luck kid.

Author's Note

Sorry this one took a little longer. with working on my part of the ABC Dangers of the wasteland collab and school starting up again I haven’t had the same amount of time as before. But I'm almost done with the ABC story and will have more time. So I hope you enjoy this chapter and the many more to come!

-A Bloodthirsty Unicorn.