Heroism doesn't come without trouble
Fallout Equestria - Price of Heroes
By Numbername
`The quiet of midnight was could be one of the few peaceful things in the wasteland, and nowhere was that truer then the swamps of the southeast Equestria, for here the sounds of bugs and frog can all through the night. On most nights it would be smoothing but this peace was broken by the sounds of gunfire and explosions.
On a loading dock with a large factory and ship docked at it, ponies on catwalks and the roof of the large building traded shots with a griffon and Pegues fling rings around them, picking off targets with every shot.
“Nice shooting Zelda. You're catching up to me.” The red-coated Pegues with twin hunting rifles strap to a battle saddle joked as he kept firing.
“Ha! Pegasus? Your counting marks while we're being shot at.” The hawk looking griffon said as she fired two handguns, putting three bullets between the eyes of a pony on the roof. “Besides I got fifteen marks already.” She flew higher dodge incoming fire.
On the ground, the ponies from other buildings on the dock began to cycle out of their stations and arm themselves against their air-born attackers. Only to be caught off guard by a giant brown dog with razor claws and green eye, that would out from the dock and slash at few ponies then it’s self back underground, disappearing under the stone dock.
Inside the large building itself, things were no more peaceful as explosions and gunfire ringed throughout the center floor. Bodies laid filled with holes as fires raged on an assembly line floor, ponies took cover behind machines and crates as they traded fire with a blue unicorn mare who was attacker from an office room window on the second floor that overlooked the level below.
`The unicorn fired weapons held in her magic grip into the floor below, one an SMG blast it any who step into the open, and other a grenade launcher blew apart their cover they hide behind. Behind another unicorn with glasses and her mane done into a tail was picking at a safe with blood all over it.
“Happy can you Hurry!, I’m not sure for how long I can hold them!” The blue unicorn shouted as she blew apart another set of crates.
“Well, it would be easier if you didn’t get blood all over it See Saw!.” Happy push her glasses back up as they began to fall. “Did you have to use the Semi on him?”
“Hey, he shouldn’t have hit the alarm.” The green pony took a quick look back at the body lading on the floor next to Happy. “Besides we can blow it open if we need to.” See Saw thinking to the TNT in her bags.
Just a thought passed her mind a yep came from behind her making See turn from the firefight below. “Got it!” Happy yelled executed, she pulls a piece of blue paper and large files in her magic grip and places them into a bag around her flank. “ We got what we came let’s get out of here!” Happy weaved a hoof to bring See over.
See puts her guns in from the window and rushes over to happy, duck down to avoid bullet coming into the office. Putting her hoof around Happy, she watched as the green unicorn’s horn lit up and a green flash consumed them, taking them from the office. Reappearing at a beach near a dense forest with a boardwalk on it. See and Happy looked around to see if anypony was around.
“We’re safe, they didn't send a patrol over here.” See looked west of each to see the dock where the battle was still taking place two miles away. “Give the signature Happy!” Happy put out a flare gun and shot it into the sky brightening the landscape and making the two flyers in the air to stop the fast pace movies and making them fly away from the battle as bats out of hell.
“They got it See.” Happy said smiling and beginning to move toward the forest.
“Love it when a plan comes together.” See look one look back at the dock with a dark smile. “But we shouldn’t leave them without a gift.” See floated out a detonator in her from her bags and press the button, causing the large building’s top to explore into a fireball that lit up the land around it for miles. It was a sight to behold “See ya kids.” See Saw said as she began running into the woods.
Peace returned to the night and the sound of battle died down, the band of attackers made their way through the thick swamps with the griffon flying overhead to keep watch. “These missions keep getting harder and harder.” Happily said annoyed while moving some brush out of her path. “ That was probably the stupidest thing we’ve done.” She said with a little laughter in her voice.
“What too much violence for a scholar.” Zelda flying over the green unicorn’s head put her claw on the unicorn’s horn. “We could always leave ya back at the liberty if it’s a problem.” She mocked with a smirk on her beck.
“Knock it off, Zelda! Happy’s just not used to being in the thick of it.” Said Point Break braked as he turned to the green pony with a smirk. “She’s more sensitive type.” both flyers began laughing as the green pony hung her head in shame.
“Do not let their mocking get the better of you, your skills are the most helpful of this group.” The large intimidating dog girl said in a claiming way. “Combat maybe the way of the land, but those skills in the use of the mind rule it.” With that, the green pony smiled at her.
“Thanks, Fluffy, you always know what to say.”
As the group kept talking they approached the end of the dense forest and came upon a hill that overlooked the ruins of a small town, while most of it was destroyed the hosted many small settlements around it, the largest of which was a pair of office builds that looked like they had been restored almost to working condition with metal brides created between one building and the blown-out half of the other building. Surrounding the large structure was a settlement protected by walls of repurposed metal and wood. Guard towers made from boxcars dotted around the settlement with ponies in old equestrian army uniform patrolling around it.
As the group approached the wall guards began to take at their arrival. “Wonder if they will round out the red current for us,” Zelda said weaving to the guards in the watchtower.
“I wouldn’t get ya hopes up Zelda, he did the attack last night.” See Saw dismissed. “They probably only just hear of their little stunt.” The ponies sighed for them to wait then disappear into the structure, a minute later the cracking wine of the metal gate lifting brought the party forward into the town, only to be greeted by a large crowd of ponies hoof stomping in applause.
“Hail the heroes of Mare Mist.” The crowned cheered in awe several ponies even walked up to hoof bump or ask for autographs from the party. Fluffy and Happy looked taken back from the crowned while Zelda and Point ate it up. See moved faster toward in the main building in embarrassment but stop when a yellow age buck in a general uniform came up to her.
“Well count me surprise, ya did.” He said in a proud but still in awe tone. “Ya may be the toughest group to pop up in the Mare Mist area. But I have to ask?” He paused looking around and saying quickly to See in a hushed voice. “Did you get the plans?”
SeeSaw nods her head confirming his question. “Well follow me, we have much to discuss in my office.”
“SeeSaw I’m going to stay in town to restock our ammo at Dawn’s place.” Zelda took a check through her ammo packs around her black armor vest. “ I think this is the second fight we wasted nearly ten clips of ammo.”
Happy perked up saying “I need to see the records for more hints about the old military’s battleship station here, it may be helpful in once the militia claims it.”
“I will tend to my wounds. And get something to eat.” Fluffy added.
“Wow don’t ya all got a to-do list, but I don’t need ya to talk to the general about the mission.” SeeSaw smiled at her friends they were always running off when they weren’t traveling. “We should meet up at the cafe later for drinks, it’s all on me.” They all cheered at that but Point Break walked up to her.
“Mind if I tag along, ya might need some help keeping ‘old Stonewall off ya.” He joked making both the general blush and the blue unicorn to stare daggers at him.
“Fine! But keep those types of jokes to yourself, ya ass.” With that, the group separated into the town.
The office of Stonewall was something of old-world value, it was well kept and fastened with relics from around the area. Different rifles donor the left wall while posters from the war were framed on the right, a poster saying “Wipe the stripe, join the Equestrian army today.” See thought the old general was maybe too much of a lover of the old Equestrian military, she kept that opinion to herself as she and point in front of the desk.
Stonewall opened a safe next to the desk revealing 9mm pistol and a stack of files. See thought the old buck must have kept more personal things another safe, she wouldn’t poke around to learn more about Stonewall. The buck seat across from them and gave them both the biggest smile.
“What ya did is amazing, your team has a single hoof stop the operations of the Luna’s killers. Not even the Mare Mist militia toughest ranger group could put this off” Stonewall saw the two ponies in front of him get embarrassed by the overpraising but didn’t stop. “Ya have done so much over the last year and a half. From freeing the slaves at happy lakes to stopping Red Eye from allying with the Killers. And now all brought us.”
If Point and See were feeling a little embarrassed before they were feeling it now. They almost shake into their seats, the old Buck and everypony pretty much treated them like Superheroes. “ they can’t restore that old factory without these blueprints, ya have saved all of Mare Mist from their conquest.”
The old buck got two sacks and threw them onto the table. “ for your help we must sweeten the deal to four thousand caps!” He also pulled out a weird apple shape device. “Have this device our tech ponies cooked up, it’s EMP emitter that never runs out. Good for fights against Killers in power armor.”
Point whistled at that and even See was taken aback. “Wow is something sir!” SeeSaw said as she took brought the items into her bags, but then looked at him in worry. “But what if they try and attack ya in retaliation?”
Stonewall chucked. “They wouldn’t dare after the blown you dealt, With plans, we now have knowledge of all the Killer’s movements, hidden bases, and agents, within a few weeks their only stronghold will be the ‘old docks. But we will siege that soon enough.” He smirked as he looked into the air. “I wonder how she’s taking it?
“FAILURE!” Two blue hooves smash a wooden desk into pieces as if it was paper. The docks were live tonight after the attack, ponies rushed here or there either treating the wounded and moving rubble. The large battleship sits quickly as if watching the aftermath in shame, it’s many guns unused for a century. But on the bridge, the quiet was broken by the mad angry of a mad blue mare as three ponies looked on.
Two of the three ponies were bucks suited in heavy metal armor with spikes on it, and the last was a small but well-kept unicorn mare with her mane done into a ponytail, holding a radio in her magic grip her unlike the bucks looked more annoyed by the display.
“Without the blueprints, we can’t restore the factory or the ship to working order. Our plans are on hold.” She smashed a filing cabin in her rage. The two bucks began to shrink back almost wanting to leave.
“Lady Violent we’ve recalled all patrols, and put every base on high alert.” The buck to the left of the short mare said hoping to calm her down. “We even trying to reach all-out agents to have them pulled from every hideout.” He said with weight hoping it would work.
Violent looked at him as if he was a native foal trying to explain away a mistake they’d did. “Well that’s all for nothing, we know where are hidden bases are, supply routes, and allies are. We have to go on the defense now or the militia will slaughter us, we have abandoned everything now and start over.
”
She stomped denning the hardened floor. “Years of work destroyed by those damn heroes. They’ve more than anything have caused us more trouble in the last few months. If I could get rip off them maybe we could have a chance.”
One of the armored bucks steps up but carefully. “What about a combined force of mercs, gangs, and bounty hunters they could deal with the hero problem.” She just stared at him in disappointed.
“Oh, you mean the nitwits around Mare Mist that use poorly put together guns and armor that these heroes have easily beaten before!” Her voice boomed as never before. “They have a Talon merc, a former Enclave soldier, and a Hellhound and you want to send a bunch of low tier raiders and farmers against them! How genius.” He backed away hanging his head in shame.
“Besides the stolen plans and blueprints are the main problem here, the heroes are second. I need pony that can take care of all our problems, but nopony like that exist out here.”
“Your right Violent Ride nopony like that does exist here.” The small unicorn began to walk up to the large mare with confidence in her tone. “In the wastes ma’am good help is hard to come by to deal with such problems as these, but there are those out there who are dangerous enough to handle such problems.” That got Violent attention and she turned to the unicorn in surprise.
“Well Scroll you to seem something up your mane, who do you have in mind?”
Scroll slimed bringing the radio to Violent. “Simple a professional.”
The dinner’s smell was a tough thing to sit through, the smell of weeks old ale along with the consent smoke of its customers made it a hard choice for anypony to enjoy themselves at. This did however not stop the heroes from having the time of their lives. “Another hit waitress!” Zelda said holding onto a bottle in her talons and shaking making a mare move toward the kitchen door.
To say that Zelda was enjoying herself would be an understatement, one could believe she was barely stable after four bottles. She took the last sip of the bottle's content then laid it with others, taking pride in her endurance she looked to Fluffy saying. “I may spend the whole night here if y'all don’t stop me.”
Fluffy only nodded her head she was in her own paradise consuming large amounts of meat. Ten plates of different meat sat in front of her, the Hellhound doesn’t even eat slowly just put her claw into a piece of meat and consume it whole. Everything from gecko to scorpion was served to her. The table had to be double the size to serve both griffon and dog’s needs.
Point, however, had all the attention from the rest of the dinner, standing on a stage with a mic in front of him he sang the great old Sweetie Belle classic. “Maybe you will think of me. When you are all alone.” Everypony dinner and those passing by stopped to listen to his voice.
Only Happy ignored him being buried in an audiobook she was listening to from her pipbuck. “Interesting, so guns aren’t that old in Equestria.” She jointed down notes in a little book she had. See Saw was the only one of the groups not in the bar, she was instead in the basement looking after a boiler. Hard at work as she listens to the party upstairs.
“Those guys always know how to blow off steam.” She lifted a screwdriver from a metal box with her magic and screw in a few nails into a large boiler on the wall. “I enjoy some quiet.” She said putting the final touches on the machine then rubbing sweat off her forehead. The job had not been her hardest but was still tough, these old Equestrian boilers were remarkable in that they were built to last, powered by magical energy cells and the earth pony way. However, two centuries of poor maintenance and barely hold together also made these things dangerous, one bad day and bloom.
When See emerge to the dinner she weaved to a muscle buck at the bar showing that the job was finished, taking a seat just as Point finish his song she took note of how packed the dinner was. While her party got the biggest table that didn’t mean other tables weren’t packed, even the VIP room adjusted to the bar was full this even. See though everypony must be celebrating their victory with their main enemy defeat.
“everything's going to be fine in Mare Mist now, but I still got work to do in the wastes.” She was cut from her though by Point who placed a hoof on her shoulder. Motion a glass of ale in his another, taking it into her magic she watched in surprise as he beat his hoof on the table.
“Now listen up anypony I have a speech to make.” With that, the other party members stop their enjoyment to listen in. “I like to thank y'all for helping me and See over the last year, y’all done more good for Mare Mist then anypony has any right to.” Point grabs another glass in his hoof and raising it high making the others follow suit. “With y’all help we've destroyed the Red Eye’s holding here, fought off the gangs and drove off the worst of Mare Mist. I thank we earned some R&R!.”
“Here, Here!” they all cheered and raised their glasses.
As they began their drinking Happy, the only one without a drink just shirks back into her audiobook only asking the rest. “So if we’re going on vacation can it be Tenpony?” She asked in her usual quiet voice. “Was thinking of scanning their records and book for anything interesting.”
The others gave her weird looked then laugh, only Happy could think of books and records on vacation. “Jeez girl there’s being a bookworm then there’s you, you could go to Flank and still buried in a book while mares try to get you drugs.” Zelda laughs at the green unicorn making just shirk into her seat hoping to buried herself.
Fluffy was the only one who didn’t laugh instead gave the small unicorn a proud. “I think it is great that you seek knowledge wherever you go Happy, this book your creating could help bring knowledge to future generations.” The Hellhound talk with wisdom and years in her voice bringing the small unicorn’s hopes up. “My pack’s storyteller is the most respected person, he tells us of our history and gives us the importance in what we do.”
Happy smiled at that, the old sage always knew what to say. “Tenpony is nice but let’s stay local.” See Saw injected. “If somepony needs our help their only a few miles away instead of the hundreds from Tenpony.” She had a point, they needed to stay in their home just in case something happens in the next few weeks.
“I was thinking of returning home, I haven’t seen my dad in a while and you know how lonely he gets when I’m away.” See thought of her whole stable. Stable 43 wasn’t cut off from the rest of the world but it was not very open to visitors, nopony left expects for scouting parties and most barely knew what happened in the wastes. “It could also give me time to change my stable barning it’s been getting damage.”
Point Break pipe up. “I will go with you ya, let the old pops I’m taking care of you.”
“Oh, you two love birds finally get some alone time together.” Zelda mocked taking another sip of her ale. The two ponies blushed in embarrassment but Zelda kept on. “Well so we don’t get in your way, how about the rest of us go to Tail?”
“Is your drinking not enough you have to try drugs too.” Happy frown at her.
“Best joint to relax in this part of the wastes, I don’t see the problem besides nopony will miss with us there. Not after we saved their collective butts from that traitor Raspberry.” Zelda had a point they needed to relax but Stable 43 wasn’t a good place for outsiders, so it became a agree on the idea.
“Okay, we will split up, Tail only a few miles from Stable 43 so if you need anything just call.” See said getting up from the table with Point.
It had been days since the heroic actions of the heroes and the militia were taking every step to repeal the benefit of their success. Stonewall knew this was the time for the militia to strike while the iron is hot, he sat at the front of a meeting table with a large blow out map in front of him, four other ponies of major rank, three bucks and one mare, sat on all sides discuss battle plans and moving pony shaped fingers on the board to show their next move.
“Now everypony listen up this next part is really important.” The others stop what they were doing and listened to the old Buck. “ With the plans we’ve been delivered we have been able to drive out the agents of Luna’s Killers. Our enemy is in the dark now about our movements and we have conducted several raids on their supply lines. I think it’s time for more serious action.”
The mare injected. “What action sit?”
Stonewall slam his hoof down on the table, showing he meant business. “It’s time for us to siege them.” just as he said that the power to the building cut off, shouts began to echo throughout the HQ as guards and desk workers began turning on flashlights to lighting candles.
“Damn it that’s this is the third blackout this month! Why can’t those unicorns down in maintenance keep the damn generator running.” A pink buck said as he turned on the flashlights on his battle saddle. Standing on the stairway the buck moved his light up and down to make sure he kept step. “Somepony gonna get hurt from one of these blackouts.” As he said that a force grab his neck from behind and crushed his windpipe.
The pink pony fell lump as his body tumbled down the stairs. Two other guards heard noise and came down.
“You hear that?”
“Somepony must have fallen, let’s hope it’s nothing fatal.” Just as the two guards walked down the stairway they were met with two bullets between the eyes, they joined their friend down the stairwell.
Stonewall place the last candle on the way behind him, the ten he set up around the room lift brought just enough light they could counite their planning. “Let’s not get distracted we still have plans to go over.”
With that, they all nodded and went back to discuss the attack when the door opens. The mare commander turned to address whoever enter. “This is a private meeting please wait out-” Her eye was blown open and she fell back into her chair, the other three bucks tried to reach for their weapons only to be met with three perfectly aimed shot to each eye.
Stonewall ducked under the table and pulled out his into a mouth grip ready to meet his enemy, however, no pony was there to meet him. “Damn it where are you?” Those words quickly became regret as he felt cool metal press against the side of his head. Knowing his fate split the gun to the floor. “So they sent an assassin like you here huh? They must have been desperate to ask you for help.” If nothing else Stonewall could make peace in the fact Violent had to bring in the top guns to deal with them. “Don’t you get cocky the heroes of Mare Mist will stop you like all the others.”
The shadow chuckled but in that instance, Stonewall tried to buck away from the gun only for lead to fill his head.
See Saw stuck into the couch as she had never sat on one, the few days she had been home she barely did anything except sleep and talking to friends over her pip buck. Point sat next to her with a wing around her, they were both looking at an old horror tape from before the war. The sun heroes vs the assassin of Nightmare moon.
“This is the corniest movie I’ve ever seen See.” Point laugh at the assassin turning into a Zebra/griffon hybrid then ate one of the heroes. “Ponies before the war really couldn’t come up with anything scary could they?”
See thought about that, Happy told them that Equestria never had a war before the zebras attacked, perhaps things like this was the best horror they could come up with. “A thousand years of peace kind of makes you a soft hoof after a while.”
“Mmmh, I wish the wastes could be that safe.” laid back hanging his head in the air. Several minutes of awkward silence as See thought of something to say. They were alone after all.
“Hey, I want to say something to you.” Point break out of his half-sleep to look confused at the unicorn.
“What is it Seesaw?”
See turned away kind of embarrassed. “I wanted to thank you for saving me when we first met. I would probably be a slave mare without you.”
“Point started rubbing the back of his head and looked away. “Well ya know I can’t leave a mare in danger, poppy taught me better than that.” He said taking in pride in the comment.
See got a little annoyed at that and raised an eyebrow at it. “So if I was a stallion you would have left me behind?”
Point felt at little attacked by just smiled a smug smile at her. “Nah it’s just my policy that mares always need saving.”
“Oh, so mares are what you're after huh! I guess I could expect nothing else from a buck.” Fired backcrossing her forehooves. “Bucks such pigs.”
Point just smiling at See trying to be offended. “Ya just being pissy, mares always get frustrated around tough bucks.”
“Why you-” See was cut off from cursing by the laughs of her father bringing pies with his magic.
The old buck was a pale blue with a black bread around his face. “Ya argue like me and See’s mother use. It’s the first sight of love I say.” He chuckled as he cut both of the pieces. “Ya ain’t thinking of making me a grandfather now aren't you?’
They both just looked away in red as can be, barely able to say a thing at that. “Well if ya are comfortable you wouldn’t mind staying awhile. You have been gone almost a year See.” Her father kind of longing look. See thought of staying, she technically saved Mare Mist maybe not the whole wastes but if the Militia kept growing they rival to any faction in the south. She had done her part for everypony but...she still saw the horrors of the wasteland and knew some needed help.
“Sorry daddy I think after day I’m going to return to adventuring, ponies in the wasteland still need help.” She sat her pie aside. “After today we may go to Appleloosa, give those slavers a black eye.”
Her father gave her a worried but approving smile. “I can’t stop ya, just come back safe okay.”
The door slid open as Zelda walked into the room with a serious. “See we got another job”
Everypony looked at her in confusion. “What’s wrong Zelda?”
“A Killer's raid capture two patrols of the Militia seven miles west from here. The Militia’s asking us for rescue since they don’t have anypony else in that area and we’re the closest.” See and Point got up at that grabbing their gear on the way, back to the grind. See gave one last look at her father weaved goodbye before the door closed behind her.
The darkness of night along with the coset hymns of frogs and crickets covered the team’s movement through the forest. Zelda and Point hover above the forest scouting for any patrols in the area, Fluffy sniffed around for traps and See looked at her pip buck following the location on the map. As the forest began to clear the sight of a road began to appear, on the other side an Equestrian food mart appeared, wooden walls line the top of the ruined building with a ramp in the middle.
Ten ponies patrol around the building top with two snipers on the roof, they wielded battle sables and long-range weapons. A tough fight but not a hard one, I think attack plan 2 should work. See through as she waved her hooves in a circle.
Zelda and Point saw the sight and took to the sky, driving at the building they quickly dispatch the two snipers with battle sable hunting rifles and pistol shots before flying away. As the raiders began to take shots at the flyers See stomp her hoof telling Fluffy it’s her part now. The Hellhound dug as quickly as possible into the ground, disappearing.
The raiders felt a few shakes from the ground as it cracked under them, the look of terror on their face as the ground open and the Hellhound appear sent them running. Fluffy sung her giant claws around and torn apart four ponies in one hit. An earth pony mare who was far away enough tried to take a shot with her assault rifle battle saddle only to have her head explosion from a sniper show.
See Saw lifted the sniper rifle from her eye then put her hoof to her chest. Happy knowing what to do fired a beam at See inclosing her in a magical barrier. See Saw then lifted three firearms at once from her bags, a modified shotgun, a 5mm assault rifle, and a grenade launcher.
Walking with Happy behind her, keeping up the shield See became walking dead killing three ponies in front of her. Ponies from inside the mart fried at her only for their bullets to bounce off the shield and to be met shotgun and 5mm fire. As ponies in the building hide behind shelves and the front counter, See pointed her grenade launcher at the store and began, the explosion rip apart those still hiding.
As the last raider tried to flee Zelda put one into his head before he could escape. See and Happy entered the even more destroyed building and began searching for the captives hoping they weren’t hurt in the crossfire, split up to search the office and storage.
“Empty?” See’s confusion grew as the search turned up nothing, when she met Happy she too found no pony.
“This was the place right See?” Happy gave her a puzzled look, this hadn’t been the first missed location.
“No, the coordinates they gave us was right and this a Killer’s base so I wonder why there’s no pony here?” See began to go over what was wrong with this picture, did the Militia wrong place? No this is seven miles east of Stable 43 and sixteen miles south of their base.
As the two unicorns meet with the others outside the same confusion met them. Zelda and Point to the skies to see if anypony was around. See and Happy began to debate whether they had lain too. Fluffy, however, sniffed something.
“Something is here but not.” She said gazing around.
“What is it Fluffy?” Happy looked at her in worry.
“I think-” Her words were cut off as the left side of her head exploded and bites of the brain, fur, bone fall out. The hellhound fell over onto the ground, a look of shock filled both unicorns faces.
“Fluffy!” Happy raced over to look at her friend, Zelda and Point landed to see what happened. See just stood there like a dazed state, she couldn’t even grasp what happened. Fluffy breath heavily for a few minutes before going silent.
“Fluffy!”
“See what happen?”
“Who shot her?”
The world seemed distance from See Saw, it seemed unreal. It took Point shaking hr to sap her out of it. “See are you alright? See!” he violently moved her left and right.
“Yeah...yeah, I’m fine.” See looked down at Happy crying over Fluffy’s body, Zelda looked around for the attacker.
“See use your does pip buck pick up anything?” the hawk looking griffon gave her a worried look. See sapped back into action, looking at her pipbuck no red dots appear on its map.
“No! Nothing.” was the attacker that far away, if they were they may still be here. “Point grab Happy and let’s go back to Stable 43.” See began giving commands as she looked at her pip buck.
“What about Fluffy?” Zelda pointed out as Point fought to remove Happy from her body.
“We’re going to have to leave her, drag her body into the Mart. We can’t take her with us.” That got a quick took of shock from the other.
“No!” I won't leave her-” Happy left forehoof gave out as bullet went through it, the green unicorn fell to the ground gasping in pain, her glasses falling off.
See panic at the new attack, she needed to do something now. “Point grab her now and fly into the forest! Zelda the same with me!.” Point listen quickly flying over and taking the green unicorn into his hooves and flying into the dense forest. The rest of the party follows suit hoping to escape the hidden enemy. Having two flyers was always one up over many foes, it saved them multiple times in tough spots being able to escape a firefight, now was one of those times as the group took off into the forest.
An hour later the party stops as the forest gave way to fields, Happy was barely conscious and Point laid her on the ground. See and Zelda looked around to see if they were followed, they began checking their gear making sure they didn’t lose anything in chaos. Zelda balls her talons into a fist and punched a tree.
“Damn it! How could we be fooled like that!” Zelda could barely believe the situation. They had been fooled. “Those bastard Killers must have sent a fake call using one of the radio towers, we should have known.” Zelda angry punched the tree again breaking the bark a little. “They used their ponies as a trap for us!”
See check her pipbuck, no red bars even using the higher senor settings. Was this some type of advance stealth buck? Even stealth bucks would pop up on a higher setting any time you made a sound. “No, whoever this is different the Killers don’t have advanced spells or tech like this. No pony does in this area.”
See began going over who their foe could be, Talon sniper? Big possibility but they would still appear on the Pipbuck unless they were very far away. Some type of assassin with special zebra cloaks? Not impossible, maybe one of Red eye’s ponies or talons being used as a token of goodwill against them for the Killers. “Damn if I only knew how.” See shouted in dismay.
Ses sigh, they needed to worry about getting home first. “We need to keep moving, Point make sure Happy well enough to move then move out.” See didn’t become de facto by panicking and losing her grip, no her friends needed her at this time. They would be safe to make their way toward Stable 43 to regroup and plan what to do next SeeSaw through wishfully.
“SeeSaw do you think we are followed?” Point looked around and worried expression.
“No, only another flyer could follow us that fast and I already rule out flyers as the attackers.” See began searching the sky to confirm her idea, the cloud cover above may have darkened the sky constantly but one could still see shapes moving across the sky.
“Fluffy.” Happy muttered under her breath, barely above a whisper. “See we need to get Fluffy,” she said coming too.
See just looked at her in shame, the hard truth coming to her lips. “Fluffy’s gone Happy we need to move on if we don’t want the same. We will get her body later okay.” She said hoping the green unicorn will understand. “She will-”
“Shh, I hear something.” Zelda looked around frequently until the quiet was broken by an explosion behind them, Zelda was thrown back on the grass of the plains breaking her left-wing and right leg in a sick crunch. Point held onto Happy and quickly pull up before landing, See lucky fell onto a soft patch of grass breaking her fall.
See got to her hooves, only for a small object to fly past her and explosion with a cracking Boom. See looked around for the source of the attack and then she saw it, a shadow in the bush of the forest moving around a large gun-shaped weapon. The shadow seemed to flicker in and out of vision whenever it moved the bush around it.
See didn’t wait to give it a chance, quick drawing the grenade launcher, 5mm assault rifle and opened fire into the bush. Explosions and fire filled the forest as See Saw unleash almost entire clip into the forest, three trees fell over and the bush burned as she finally ceases her attack.
Taking a breath See realized Zelda was trying to get to her feet and rushed over to help the griffon. “Come on Zelda we need to move.” She said placing her hooves around Zelda’s waist.
The griffon stuffed her off and looked at her sternly. “No, you guys need to escape now.”
The statement confused See, she wasn’t going to leave her behind but as Zelda showed the blue unicorn her wing it made sense. “Wing is gone and my leg is spring, if I go with you I’ll be dead weight.”
“Wait I have healing potions!” See tried to go for a healing potion but Zelda stops her.
“See you don’t have time to crack my bones back into place for the potion to heal me right. And I’m going to be imping for a while.” Another explosion went off not far from them, the debris raining down on them. “Their still out there y’all need to move!” She pushed See and grabbed an SMG handgun from her belt.
See tried to respond but the voice of Point cut her off. “See come on!” She saw the green Peguse holding Happy on his back moving as fast as possible. She looked at the hawk-like griffon and knew she was gone.
“Take this then.” See grabbed in her magic 5 mm assault rifle and floated it over to Zelda. “Don’t die on us. Okay.” Zelda nodded and See ran not looking behind her.
Zelda looked around hoping her enemy would show themselves when a red dot appeared on her chest and began to move up. Zelda was hit in the chest be something but quickly began firing wildly into the upper bush, hoping she shots would make their mark, only to be shot through the left arm from behind.
Zela drops the 5mm but tried to turn to shoot only for the SMG to be shot out of her talons and her other arm to hot too. She fell on her side barely able to hold it together, the shadow approached her. It seems completely invisible except for the flicker that showed the shape of a pony.
“At least show me your face before ya kill me” She barked if she were to die she at least wanted the face of the pony to do it. A moment passes as if the shadow gave it thought then a flash as the form of the attacker showed itself. “You!” Zelda couldn’t believe her attacker, the idea that this pony was the one chasing them made it all make sense. “A hunter like you was sent to stop us, well at least I know they sent the best after us.” the figure put out a silencer, put it to Zelda’s head, and pulled the trigger.
What remains of See’s party ran as fast as possible toward the safely of Stable 43. When they reached the old town the stable was buried under a sense of relief came over all of them.
“We’re safe.” See gave a tired voice, one that showed a sense of defeat and longing. “We’re safe.” Point looked at Happy on her back, the unicorn was coming too fully so he gently laid her on the ground.
“Happy y’all okay to lump into the stable?” He gave her a worried look. “I can still carrier y’all.”
“No, I can stand, let’s go home, guys.” Happy struggled to stand but Point wrap her head around his right hoof and used his as support. As the group approached an old iron shots firearms building See was worried when she found the door to the building open, rushing into the lobby then to the stairwell she hoped her Stable’s wasn’t in danger. Making it down to the basement she was met with the horror of the door to Stable 43 being buried under the collapsed hallway.
“No!” See began using her pipbuck to contract the Stable’s listening team, hoping for the best. When the signal picked up her heart skipped a beat. “Hello, this is scout repair pony 660d calling in.” See’s voice became increasingly worried, had the whole stable been destroyed?
“We hear you See Saw, what’s the problem?” the responder asked in confusion.
“The Stable is buried under rubble what happened?”
“The tunnel finally collapsed a few hours ago. The main entrance is blocked but we can remove it by the end of tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait for that!” Her voice echo to the radio pony. “Me and my team have been chased all night, two of them are dead.” Her shouts became wilder.
“What?! Hold on See what happen?’ She could feel the shock and horror of the radio pony.
“Half of my team is gone I need a place to hide now!” See could barely hold back the disbelief of what was happening. This attacker planned out everything, they knew would return here and blow the tunnel before they got here. How were they moving so fast, were they a pegasus or have some old flying machine?
“See we will try to contact our radio to the Militia, they will get you to a hideout unlit then” See couldn’t wait, they needed a secure location to stay where a surprise attack was impossible, there they could wait an unlit day then get to the Stable.
“Damn it.”
Happy began to hold herself but still struggle, Point being ever so the gentle pony helped keep her balance. “Y’all take it easy now.” He said hoping to slow her down.
“Don’t worry I got this.” She hoped he’d give her some incidence now. Both had their attention sap to the entrance as See rushed to meet them.
“We need to find a place to hide for the night.” the statement sent fear down both ponies spines.
“What happened to the Stable See?” Point was almost afraid to ask, this night just kept getting better.
“Whoever is chasing us destroyed the tunnel we can’t enter tonight.” the look of fear and destroyed hopes showed itself on both ponies, Happy began to think they were truly going to die. Point wonder if they should abandon Mare Mist to get away from this enemy “We need to find somewhere to hide where this attacker cannot surprise us.”
“What about the old school you guys met me in, it has a basement and it’s still mostly in intact so it wouldn’t collapse on us and it’s deep enough scanners what not pick us up.” Happy’s plan may have just been their saving grace.
“Good idea Happy!” If Happy wasn’t always coming up with the best plans in the worst situations “Come on we need to move.” The party left the old office building and moved throughout the ruins.
The quit of the town put See on alert, had the assassin found them by now, was there more than one? All these questions came to a head when the sound of music started her making her pull her shotgun on the source.
A metal circular ball with four wings keeping it flying bobbed up and down as it went on its way. See put away her weapon, she had been losing it to this fear. “Come on, let's move.” She said making their way toward a large building.
The old school was a three-story building with it’s left side and roof blown in, the front lawn was filled with the skeletons of ponies all who must have been trying to escape the building before the blast. Newer bodies liter some of the third floor and lower halls remaining See of her first few weeks in the wastes and the battle she had in this building.
As they opened the door See let out a breath, she turned to her friends. “Let’s set traps around the basement when we get down there.”
“Y’all think their stilling following us.” Point looked her corned.
“Can’t say but-” See stop herself as she saw the sprite bot from earlier, it stood behind the party and charged up a magical energy beam from below. “Look out!” It was too late the machine fired a beam so fast See barely had time to pull her shotgun before it hit its mark. Happy screamed as her form was consumed in light then turned into a pile of ash. See slip into SATS, and targeted the sprite bot as many times as possible.
When she was done the machine was smoking weck, See kept firing long after her clip was spent. Dropping the gun she rushed over to the pile, picking at it as tears rolled down her eyes. “No, no, no ...why” she fell on her hind wanting to curl up into a ball and just wait there. She would probably stay there if a hoof wasn’t placed on her shoulders.
“Point I failed them.” See’s voice became whisper as she buried her face in his red-coated and cried like he never saw her do before. “I failed them.”
He hugged as tight as he could. “See you did nothing wrong, nopony could have seen this coming.” He knew there was nothing he could say to make it better, they were all that’s left now and they needed to survive. “Come See we need to hide.”
No, I can’t keep going Point. I just can’t” SeeSaw gave into defeat as she broke from his grip and laid on the ground. “We lost.” stop at that. “No, I lost. Let whoever is for Celestia’s sake chasing us just get me, it’s just like before.”
Point Break grabs her and turned her to face him, his look stern. “No it isn’t See, I’m here to protect ya like before and I ain’t going anywhere.” he smiled at her. “If I didn’t let ya dead then I’m not going to start now.” He kissed her forehead barely missing the horn.
She gave a faint smiled at that, he was right she failed to protect her scout team in her first days in the wastes and now she failed her friends, but if she gave up all their deaths would be in vain. She got to her hooves and began moving into the building. “Your right Point I can’t give up not after everything.” If she gave up she would be betraying everything she valued and stood for. She’d face deadly odds before and won, the Killers, Red Eye’s slavers, the mutants of the hills, and the taint Hydra. She’d face all of them and come out on top, she was a hero damn it and she will win!
Making their way through the ruined halls to the basement of the complex See and Point found the basement mostly filled with boxes, dust webs, and an old large Boller that seem to be running but smell as old as the building didn’t make staying here lovely but it was their safest bet. See began forming a plan on how to deal with this assassin while Point planted mines on the only stairwell to the basement. Both settle next to each other cuddling up.
The night turned today and the light of morning shrine through the window, See woke from her sleep and began to put her gear on. checking her pipbuck for any red bars a message pop up on the viewscreen. “See they moved the wreckage!” She shouted waking the red-coated pegasus. “We can leave now!”
Point was happy at that but had one worry. “That assassin is more than likely around here See, if we go out into the open we will be easy pickings.” That killed the joy on See’s face but he was right they needed a plan on how to escape this attacker.
“I was thinking how about trapping them right?” Point looked at See in confusion. “We lure them into a trap by making them think we’re helpless, then take them out.” See stomp her hoof at the genius of her plan.
“What’s the plan See?”
The blue unicorn flip a digital over to the send signal side of the radio part of her pipbuck and began to speak. “Hello? Can anybody hear me?” She pretended to be scared to sell it. “If your Militia or a ranger please respond?”
They gave it a moment then crack of static as another voice began to speak. “Yes this is Militia hideout 007, See Saw is that you?”
See smirked at that. Now I have you. “We need assists now most of my team is gone and we’re held up in the school building right now.” This was their best shot at taking this assassin down they just needed to take the bait.
“We have a unit in those parts right now, we will be sending them to your location.”
“No, the pony or whatever attacking us can attack from far ranges without being spotted.” This trap had to happen indoors, can’t have them use a trick from the outside. “We need a ranger to bring us a stealth buck to sneak in here and sneak us out.”
“Okay we’re sending a ranger to your location, they should be there within a half-hour.” Just long enough for them to prepare the trap, SeeSaw knew this next step was done or die.
As the hour passed SeeSaw and Point waited patiently, the blue unicorn checking a list and gear making sure everything was in order, and the red pegasus cleaning his guns in wait. then it came, the sound of hoof steps above sapping both ponies to attention. Point and See took positions at the door, guns aimed in wait for whoever enters, when the door opened and nopony was there they fired a warning shot.
“Stop reveal yourself,” Point commanded aiming his twin battle saddle at stairs. His command was answered as the form of a pony reveals itself in a small flash of light. She was a pitch-black unicorn mare wearing a ranger hat that covers her white mane, she looked down at the pair stunned.
“Is this how you greet your savior, jeez some heroes you are.” The mare looked at them disappointed and a little betrayal. “ you don’t mind taking the mines down do you?” She pointed to the careful line of death behind her. “Can’t save you if I died.”
At that Point got to work dismaying the mines, as the black unicorn came down the step See gave her a relief look. “Thank you for coming here, we probably wouldn’t have given up by now.” See place a hoof on her shoulder.
“No thanks needed it’s just nice to help good ponies, that’s the life of a ranger.” She said smiling at both ponies. “Now for the reason, I’m here.” She used her magic to open her bag then pull out two Stealth Bucks, floating them over to both ponies she gave them a stern look. “Now I snuck in here without noticing anypony but they're most likely still out there, you need to follow me back to the hideout okay?”
Point shuck his head but See stared at her smug look. “You said you're from hideout 007 right?” The ranger looked at her and nodded a little confused at the comment. “Well that’s strange because that station hasn’t been active in a month!” the pitch-black unicorn sung her left foreleg at See barely missing the blue unicorn as a blade came out of her arm, she was met with the twin battle saddle of two hunting rifles fire, knocking her against the wall of the stairwell. See Saw then pulled out an EMP device and pull the pin, letting the electric Cricut take her and the not ranger in its pulse, taking out See’s pipbuck and causing not ranger’s form to change.
The form of the not ranger slowly turned into that of a unicorn in strange armor, the armor at first seemed like that of a Steel Ranger with armor that covers the whole body but it’s difference showed. The armor was less bulky looking and seemed lighter than Steel Ranger power armor, rather than being a full suite of metal the metal ended at joints around the legs, tail, and neck, a black sort of under armor was shown between the joints, and finally the helmet itself. The respiratory that covered the muzzle was done in the shape of snarl with marking that formed teeth into a dark grin.
“Impreviess, you set a trap for me.” The voice of what sounded like a mare came through, her voice a serious yet calm mare. “Too bad I plan for it!” Two magical beams came from the top of the stairs, one hitting See on his hide and another barely missing Point’s head.
The armored mare began to lift herself and point her hoof at SeeSaw, Point quickly grabbed See and flew through an open window. She through the pain used her magic and open her bags lifting a detonator in her grip, waiting until they were far enough away then pressing it.
The armored mare struggle to get up, the powered down suit weighing on her but she mange, muttering under her breath. “This job been a big annoyance but I’m a professional comes with the business.” She said reaching the top of the stairs, as the mare began to leave the basement a sound of “Click” is heard.
She turns just in time to see a blast of fire that consumed her. Outside Point and See land on a roof of a hotel two blocks away and just laid there as the school building gives a loud ‘explosion then collapse on itself. They both looked back at the school as huge clouds of dust and smoke rising from the building, they had done it they won against the odds again. See fell to the ground laying there, almost just wanting to stay there forever, she had done it, she had avenged her friends.
“We did guys, the heroes won.” See said softly crying, closing her eyes. “We won guys.”
Point got up and looked around, making sure no surprises were left in store for them. He sighed then put a hoof on See. “Come on See let’s go home.”
The two began to make their way off the roof when a flash appeared behind them. Quickly looking back they were met with the armored unicorn mare cleanly damage, her armor seemed badly damaged, her visitor broken showing a rudy eye underneath, dens lined the armor with the helmet having a large den in it, the tail. piece complete fell off leaving the under armor coat covering the tail.
Point tried to fire on her but she teleported to the left of him and deliver a quick uppercut to the chin with her metal forehoof, knocking him out cool. See grab her in a tight magic grip, lifting her a few feet off the ground See put all her strength into her grip. Her horn burned bright blue as she hoped to snarl the life out of this monster.
“I’m going to kill you!” the magic grip kept tightening, the one visible eye from the helmet starting to stare off. See had her now, she was going to pay and no more tricks. “I’m going to kill you if it’s the last thing I do!”
“No” was her only reply through choked breath as she pointed her left forehoof at See Saw, and shot a small metal dart-shaped object into her throat. Almost imminently in the blue unicorn dropped the armored pony and fell to the ground unable to move, the armored mare landed on her hooves barely keeping study. “Always come prepared.”
The armored unicorn’s horn lits up and a knife appears from a compart in the right forehoof. Walking over to the knockout pegasus, See could only watch in horror as it happens. “No!” was all she said as the knife plug straight into Point’s throat, the sick slashing sound made her scream in agony. “Noooo!”
To say that Violent Ride was impressed by the hunter’s achievements is understating it, her hind hit the metal floor as she looked the damaged mare over. “You did it?” She looked at the ground the items of the various lined up in front of her, the plans and blueprints, Fluffy’s paw, Zelda’s twin pistols, Happy’s glasses, and Point’s battle saddle, Violent looked at her in shock.
“I don’t believe it.” Rosa who had been standing quietly in the corner of the room grinning smugly at the display. Walking over to her boss her face read a smug, I told you so face.
“See my lady we just needed to find the right help, I believe this mare has earned a handsome reward.”
Violent stop being awe at that. “Wait, what about the other part of the job. Did you get her?” The armored mare nodded then motion for two guards to bring in her prize. See was dragged in chains for Violent to see, her horn was destroyed and her pipbuck shot to pieces. The dark smile that filled the bulky mare’s face as she watched her most hatred problem be dragged at her hooves brought joy she had not known in years.
“My, my See Saw, not the big hero anymore huh?” She mocked sheepishly.”Well, don’t worry My little Pony we’re going to have lots of have here.” See Saw lower her head knowing her fate would be one worse than death, Violent looked a the battle damage armored mare giving. “You know, you could still, become an honorary Killer.” She hoped the mare would stay seeing how skills like hers were needed.
But instead, she turned away. “No I have finished my task, I will get the reward on my way out.” With she made way to the door making one last comment before leaving. “Call me again if you require professional help, simply put a price tag on it and I will get results.” With that armored mare, her job completed.
Violent and Rosa looked down at the filly in chains, tears slowly going down her eyes. See was defeated, alone, and at the mercy of her hated enemy, there was nothing to do but cry. Violent smiled at that then lower her muzzle into See’s ear.
“I think it’s time for you to learn the price of being a Hero.”
