Danganronpa: Fallout Happy Horses

Tuesday, 10/26/2077
POV: Dangerous Magic

Danger couldn’t hear herself think, the echo of gunfire and explosions ringing in her head. Dirt and muck stained her white coat, which along with her blond-orange mane and tail showed filth so very easily; she was glad there weren't any reflective surfaces nearby that she might get a good look at herself.

Dangerous “Danger” Magic, 22-year-old female earth pony, tailor

She scrambled down a residential side street but saw no residents. They had fled the city, left for Stable 27, or hid in their basements. Too bad hiding in a basement would do them no good if Cloudsdale succeeded in their task before Canterlot could end them.

But maybe that meant there would be less violence here than in other parts of the city. Danger galloped at full speed, wishing for luck.

But she got no such luck.

A stray bullet, shot from the town square nearby, struck the generator that provided the neighborhood with power. The plasma burst splattered all over the circuits, which smoked and sparked. Danger galloped for cover through the open door of a nearby house before it went up, the explosion shattering her ears, leaving her momentarily blind and deaf.

She looked out the front window of the empty house she'd taken cover in to find the two houses across the street taken out. Each had the half closest to the baelfire relay disintegrated, the rest spattered with glowing green sludge. What the buck were they thinking, powering cities with such dangerous magitech?

Either way, she couldn't go that way; she was getting irradiated from it already. She ran to the back of the house and out the front door. Unfortunately for her that took her right into the heat of combat.

She stepped out less than ten hoof-steps from a zebra treating a unicorn with a broken horn and a half of one front leg missing. Another zebra next to him finished a fallen pegasi even as he begged for mercy. They jumped when the door opened, but relaxed upon seeing a civilian.

“I-I need to get to the stable,” Danger could barely speak through her heavy breathing.

“There, friend,” the second zebra said, pointing her hoof towards Canterlot tower which showed in the distance. “That tower is where your shelter is. Go and be safe from evil.”

“T-thank you,” Danger turned and galloped.

She felt bad leaving them there, but it wasn't like Stable 27 would let anypony in that wasn't registered. Even if they would, most zebras would fight to the death, or maybe longer with their strange magic. Cloudsdale took out the Zebra Kingdom, or that's what the Minister of News claimed on the radio, so they had nowhere to go home to now. Their families were dead, and they were just as peeved as one would expect. No zebra would rest as long as a single pegasus lived.

There was so much fighting within her line-of-sight that she couldn't keep track of it all, so Danger just galloped. That's all she could do. She paid no attention to her surroundings, panic passing the breaking point. Perhaps her lithe body would be too small a target to hit.

She almost made it to the line of buildings, the tower on the other side, when an object smacked her from one side and knocked her to the ground. Horror coursed through her when she realized it was a severed unicorn head, the last expression of terror still frozen on the stallion's face.

Danger skidded to the ground, twisting her right front leg, a stabbing pain coursing up through it. As she looked up, she saw the unicorn's body fall, a fountain of blood shooting from his neck. His killer stood a mere hoof-step away, a pegasus mare with razor attachments on either wing. The rifles under her wings clicked into place and she wrapped her wings along the triggers.

“I'm a civilian!” shrieked Danger.

Most soldiers, even featherbrains, would not go after civilians on purpose at a time like this, even if the end goal was to murder everyone in the city. Unlucky for Danger, she'd met an exception.

“You're a dirt pony,” snarled the pegasus through clenched teeth as she raised one rifle higher. “I’m going to put you all back in the dirt where you belong.”

There was no escape. Most pegasi were crack shots even in flight and Danger wouldn't get ten hoof-steps before this one ended her. But before they fired, a burst of energy slammed into her head. The scalding beam of energy burned through, leaving a smoldering, cauterized hole where the pegasus' brain used to be, the rest of her collapsing to the ground.

“Are you okay?” A blue unicorn approached though it took Danger a moment to answer him.

Night Light, 36-year-old male unicorn, Battlemage

The unicorn galloped to Danger when she didn't answer and shook her. He had a darker blue mane and lighter blue eyes, his cutie mark a small crescent moon inside a larger one. He looked... familiar.

After she pushed down the horror from her broken mind again, she nodded to him.

“Thank you,” Danger whimpered. “For Break's sake, I thought I was a goner.”

“I'm Night Light,” he said. “Are you on your way to Stable 27?”

“Y-yes,” Danger nodded, but then her eyes widened again as she recognized his name and face from the news. This was Midnight Sparkle's father.

“He won't hurt you,” another voice from behind Night assured.

The unicorn who had sensed Danger's fear was a bright orange one with even brighter orange mane and tail. With those bright colors he was lucky to walk through the city and not be shot. He wasn't half adorable though, with his bright blue eyes and the white patches above each hoof, all put together with a goatee and white stripe between his eyes.

Sunburst, 22-year-old male unicorn, associate at the Ministry of Forgotten Knowledge

“I'm Sunburst,” the unicorn said. “Are you hurt? We're on our way too, so we'll carry you.”

“Thank you so much,” whimpered Danger, relaxing as Night and Sunburst's magic picked her up together as they raced towards the Canterlot Tower.

Danger pushed down her judgment of Night Light. Regardless of who he was related to, he saved her life. She owed him at least that much kindness.

The line at the tower was getting long, but the main violence hadn't reached that far. The Canterlot Tower was impressive, but had no strategic value other than hiding. Every pony waited patiently in line, seeing the scattered corpses of more impatient ponies keeping them organized.

“Names?” a large griffon asked when they came to the front of the line. He poked at his pipbuck as if he'd never used one. Danger supposed she'd have to learn to use one too; she didn't look forward to having to learn, but they could be useful.

“Dangerous Magic.” Danger said as the stallions floated her ahead of them. She always felt weird giving her name when she was an earth pony. She wondered sometimes if her parents named her that hoping she'd get an alchemy or potions cutie mark. But nope, it was dress-making for her. She probably should have changed it at her cute-ceañera
as many ponies did, but she sort of liked being called Danger for short.

“Right, you're on the list,” said the griffon, speaking quickly. “My name's Thunder, nice to meet you. Have someone get you to the infirmary if you're injured, but expect to wait behind the more pressing injuries.”

“Thank you,” Danger said in relief. The magic put her down and another younger female griffon helped her stay standing as she waited.

“Night Light,” Night whispered when it got to him, afraid for the other residents to hear him.

“Yes, I know who you are,” Thunder growled, but pulled him up on the pipbuck. “Why should I let you in?”

“I may be her father, but I'm not her ally!” Night insisted. “After what she did to our family... you can't possibly think I'm lying when I say I have utterly disowned her!”

“Right,” Thunder shrugged. “Well you're on the list so I’ll let you in, but Gale here will escort you to the brig until the Overmare decides otherwise.”

“Fine,” Night wilted, but nodded.

“And you?” Thunder asked Sunburst.

“Well, um,” Sunburst chuckled nervously. “I'm not on the list, but I was hoping you had enough space for extra? I'm Sunburst, I'm an employee of the Ministry of Forgotten Knowledge and know a lot that you’d find useful. I should be on file.”

“Hm,” Thunder eyed the screen and then nodded. “Forgotten Knowledge? You're the ones that found that ancient tech we're blowing ourselves up with... eh well, the Overmare said to let useful ponies in even if they hadn't registered. I see you're in the ministry and have good marks, so head inside.”

“Thank you,” Sunburst sighed in relief. “I'll be as helpful as possible, I swear.”

Sunburst moved to walk with Night Light and Danger. They lifted Danger again and walked alongside Gale.

“So what's with you, Night Light?” asked Gale. “You must be a shitty dad to have a daughter like Midnight Sparkle.”

If Danger hadn't been suspended in magic, she might have slapped the griffon for saying something like that to the one that had just saved Danger’s life.

“You...” Night's face tightened at her rudeness, but took a deep breath. “She wasn't always like that.”

“Oh yeah?” Gale asked. “So what was she before?”

“My daughter," Night Light sighed, but refused to say more.

POV: Devil Rose

“Yeah buck this,” Devil Rose grunted. “The ones paying us are probably dead anyway. I say we head to Stable 27 right now.”

Devil Rose, 26-year-old male earth pony, leader of the Devil Hunters mercenaries

Devil's body fit his name well. He had red fur with a silvery mane which made his teal eyes stand out. His outfit matched his body, a black shirt with the red symbol of a stabbed devil on the upper right, fitted tightly enough to show his muscular frame. The deep red cape covered most of his body though, hiding his cutie mark, a demonic winged sword with two guns crossed in front.

His profession had gained esteem lately as the big militaries ran out of pony power and needed more bodies to throw at each other. It paid well enough for the risk to Devil, but now that General Limestone was in charge of the city, she'd probably pay them in rocks.

So it was time to go. He slipped his pistols into his bags where they'd be easy to access. As he had a fondness for blades, he also took his favorite sword and knife. The sword, named Rebellion, had a wide blade at the base which tapered smaller at the tip. The hilt was silver with a skull impression. The knife, Yamato, was a red and blue butterfly knife with an unusually large blade.

“One problem,” sighed Shadow. “They aren't letting pegasi in, not even if they're Canterlot citizens. That wall-eyed blond pony carrying the ammo cart told me she saw them chasing pegasi away even if they'd registered.”

Shadow Beast, 28-year-old male genetic hybrid, member of Devil Hunters mercenaries

Not that anyone would mistake Shadow for a pegasus after the work done on him. It surprised Devil he even remembered being one after everything the Ministry of Magitech did to him, but maybe he didn’t and only assumed because of his pegasus daughter. He should have thought twice before volunteering for one of Starlight's experiments, though the result was good for his career at least.

Black metallic scales covered Shadow’s body, wings replaced with razor-edged steal. Even his front hooves had been replaced with draconic claws, which worked better than traditional sticky hooves in combat. Devil wasn't sure why they gave him red snake eyes, since they didn't seem to have that much of an advantage, but at least they were intimidating.

It wasn't himself that was the problem though. His daughter Smokey Quartz was the issue here. She very much looked like a pegasus.

Smokey Quartz, 16-year-old male female pegasus, mercenary in training

Her color scheme might be close to what Shadow's once was, if he even remembered. She had a gray body with a plain white mane and tail with rose eyes. She wore a black hooded shirt that came to her hips and her front ankles, similar in design to Devil's, but he doubted she'd make it through training.

Her heart cutie mark said all that needed to be said about her chances as a mercenary. Devil wondered if she only hung around the mercenary group in hopes she'd end up relieving a lot of their tension.

Now they stood in what was left of their headquarters in Canterlot. All the others had fled, and half of the building had been annihilated by an explosion. They didn't even know what had done it; it was like this when they got back just now. They stood in the workshop that remained where they often refitted their guns and tools.

“If you go in without me,” said Smokey. “I'll understand, I really will. Honestly I'm kinda digging the world out here in a weird way.”

“No,” said Shadow. “I am not leaving family behind. You are coming in with me.”

“Dude, I respect your determination,” said Devil. “But I don't think there's anyway to hide her wings in a way that won't make them check her.”

“She won't be hiding them,” said Shadow. “Not on her back at least.”

Shadow walked to the wall, reaching a claw and grabbing a hack saw. He opened a medical kit meant for injuries in the workshop, retrieving two CAT tourniquets and bandages.

“You're kidding,” Devil arched an eyebrow.

“What's that for?” Smokey asked.

“Hold her down, Devil,” said Shadow. “We're not going in without my only living family member.”

Devil didn't take orders from Shadow in any normal condition, but he supposed he owed him. As much as he hated to hold down a cute mare, Devil moved up behind Smokey and pushed her down to the floor. He pinned her belly-down, mounting her in the process but trying not to be TOO personal about it. He grasped her front legs and pulled them back to hold them still. She whimpered a little but otherwise didn't struggle as much as he expected.

“Sorry, filly,” Devil commented. “Really, I am. But unless you got a better idea, this is what's happening.”

“No, it's fine,” Smokey shivered as she stretched out her right wing as if to offer it first.

He hadn't met Smokey more than a few times and didn't know a lot about her, but Devil swore her shivering felt less like fear and more like arousal. It was confirmed when Smokey rolled her hips back to grind her plot against Devil's groin. That would definitely give him a problem.

“She won't struggle as much as you think,” Shadow rolled his eyes. “I'm more worried she'll annoy me by enjoying it too much. I sure wish I remembered what I did wrong for her to turn out that way.”

Shadow tied the first tourniquet around the base of the right wing, pulling it tight to cut off the blood flow there. He laid the blade against her joint, then dragged across it. The blade sliced through flesh easily, but grinded against the bone itself. Less blood came than one might expect thanks to the tourniquet, but there was no way it was less than agonizing.

Yet Smokey moaned as her father sawed at the wing, even if convulsions of agony accompanied it. The wing shivered, the other outstretching in excitement, not to mention her hips more insistently pushing back against him. Devil's sheath thickened and soon was spilling out. Her tail, normally always tucked down between her thighs, raised and wrapped around his plot invitingly. As Shadow concentrated on the grotesque task at claw, Smokey looked back at Devil and mouthed the words 'Buck me'.

Well that was... unexpected. It wasn't a good idea, but Devil led the Devil Hunters, and Smokey wanted to get membership. Devil had never shied away from mounting mares on his team, and stallions on occasion. A warm wet hole might be just what he needed to relax given the situation.

The sound of the saw dragging across the bone was grating. Smokey's moans were muffled now because Shadow had placed a knee on her muzzle to hold it shut as he sawed. He was half way through the bone already, but it was tiring work even for a cyber-pony-dragon-thing.

Devil grinned, pushing his shaft beneath the tail and going for the gold only to find the gold not there. Or at least the gold he expected to find wasn't there. His tip nuzzled against the back of a ball sack, Smokey glancing back again and blushing as she stifled another moan. Devil would have never known since Smokey's shirt covered down to her belly and she hadn't untucked her tail until now. She had an feminine shape to her head so he didn’t even consider it.

It only took him a moment to recover though, and he wasn't turning down any hole-related stress relief at the moment. Devil glanced around, but there wasn't anything safe to use as a lubricant. He shrugged and leaned his head to his own crotch. Shadow was too distracted to even notice it when Devil went down on himself, slurping at his own stiffening shaft and slathering it in his saliva. It wouldn't be enough for a normal stallion, but he figured a pony slutty enough to want it up the ass during surgery could take it.

No doubt she didn't want gentle, so Devil didn't hold back. This time he aimed beneath her tail and pressed against her tight pucker though it'd seen plenty of use from how it flexed around his tip. Smokey moaned and arched her back as it sank in, and Devil didn't stop until his balls lay against Smokey's.

Shadow cracked the first wing off at the same time, so he thought that caused the sudden moan. He didn't notice Devil's hip motions as he pushed in and out of the damp hole. It felt more lubricated than it should, and Devil wondered if this little tramp kept herself lubed so she could get mounted at any time. Devil was starting to like Shadow's 'daughter'.

Devil released Smokey's front hooves since she obviously wouldn’t struggle. As Shadow finished bandaging the first stump and moved the saw to the other wing, Devil stopped hiding what he was doing. Shadow still concentrated too hard to notice as Devil grasped Smokey's flank and pounded her ass hard in time with the sawing motion grinding away at the second wing.

That hole was just too good though, clenching and squeezing, rippling over his shaft. Devil thrust as fast as he could, no longer moving in time with the saw blade. Shadow noticed the impacts and looked back at him.

“What the buck are you doing?” demanded Shadow as he realized that Devil was doing a lot more than holding Smokey.

“Bucking your daughter up her asshole,” grinned Devil. “Got a problem with that? Lighten up; it's not like I'm raping her."

“Oh for Break’s flaming orgasms,” groaned Shadow. “Why do you have to be such a slut, Smokey?”

Shadow didn't bother holding Smokey's muzzle shut anymore, putting all his strength into sawing off the second wing. Smokey's squeal echoed through the workshop, as did the loud slap of Devil's body against her plot.

“Yes!” Smokey moaned. “Daddy's right, I'm a slut. Fuck my cum trap as you chop me up! Oh I’ve never felt anything that hurt this much, and it’s amazing!”

“Damn it, she really is,” Devil grinned.

His body convulsed as he pumped a load of thick seed into Smokey's posterior, continuing to pack his cum as deep as he could. He slowed and pushed himself fully inside, enjoying the inner spasms as Smokey creamed herself. She spilled a load of her own cum on the floor beneath them, leaving a white swirl in the blood puddle. Devil had never seen somepony that could cum like that from anal without at least having their dick touched.

Shadow cracked off the second wing, tossing it to the side to twitch to a stop. There was no reason to dispose of it when they weren't coming back here. He bandaged the second stump.

“Yeees,” Smokey moaned, speaking more loudly than ever. “Now you buck me up the ass, Daddy, while Devil saws off my legs! I want to be your buck pillow to spit roast whenever you want!”

“Holy bucking shit,” Devil panted. Okay, this one was too intense even for him. This girl had some damage.

“She's kidding,” Shadow said as he finished. “She better be at least, because I'm not putting my dick in my daughter or letting her be a buck pillow. So get your cock out of her before I saw it off and let’s get to Stable 27.”

Devil smirked. Shadow was embarrassed as all Tartarus, but he still called her 'daughter' as she wanted, so he must not have minded her antics too much. Who knew he was a decent dad?

“Sure thing,” Devil stood, sliding out of her. “But expect me to borrow her our first night in the stable for a proper bucking. And a lot of other nights. And days.”

They replaced Smokey's shirt with one that didn't have wing holes in the back, then covered her back enough that the stumps wouldn't show. They made sure not to pile it so high they'd check for wings. Since only Shadow registered, she wouldn't be listed, so he’d say she was his daughter and take her in as immediate family. That assumed Shadow's profile didn't say 'pegasus' on the front page. If it did, this would be a short attempt.

POV: Winter Quill

It was a less than an ideal idea to pick up his favorite book at the Canterlot archives on his way to Stable 27. It was even less wise to pack some of his favorite tech that he'd swiped during his tenure at the Ministry of Magitech, but he wanted to be useful enough on the inside to get good quarters.

Winter very much wished he'd headed their earlier as the shield flickered above him. He was supposed to be helping the others with the CME systems, but he was done with this. He didn't see how they could get the thing to fire, so it was only a matter of time before Cloudsdale melted their city into glass.

Winter Quill, 32-year-old male unicorn, Mega-spell Navigation System Technician, Ministry of Magitech.

Besides, being a technician while Daybreaker fired it was one thing, but Winter wasn't pulling the trigger on something like that himself no matter where it was aimed. So instead, he’d grabbed his personal computer gear in his saddlebags and ran for the shelter.

As he raced onward, he caught up with a small cart. He recognized it as a filly guide wagon-carts they pulled around to sell cookies, though a filly guide was pulling it rather than one of their teachers as usual. Given the current situation, the teacher was likely dead.

Winter was about to run up behind them and offer to pull it himself when gunfire split the air. It was much closer than the other blasts and Winter dove behind the nearest bench as cover as if that would stop what sounded like minigun fire.

But he wasn't the target. The filly guard cart was riddled with lead, high-pitched screams ringing out before several went silent and others turned into wet gagging or sobbing. Winter wanted to think they hit the cart on accident, but who knew with these assholes?

Hoping to find survivors, Winter ran up to the cart. One filly was trying to drag herself towards Stable 27, but there was no way she'd make it as both hind legs were missing. She’d bleed out and there was nothing Winter could do about it. Another filly lay next to her, eyes rolled back having a seizure after taking a bullet to the gut. One glance inside the cart and Winter's urge to vomit only increased.

There was one lucky filly though. A tiny little sobbing guide, which Winter yanked out of the cart and put on his back. She had a broken leg from a earlier injury but could be saved. Most of the others had bandages too, which was probably why they were pulled in a cart instead of running.

Ginger Snap, 8-year-old female earth pony, filly guide

The filly guide had light yellow coat and striped mane and tail of alternating dark and light orange. She wore her filly guide sash and collar, covered in her little badges, and even had her hat on, over-sized on her tiny head..

He reluctantly left the others and galloped onward. The one that lost her legs screamed at him to come back, and he felt even more sick as he forced himself to ignore her pleas.

They had formed five lines when Winter got to Stable 27, so the checking in process proceeded faster than it could have. There was a Stable-Tec representative, two griffons from the Talon Company, and one of the mercenary groups hired by Canterlot all running lines. The fifth line was run by... he didn't know what that was. A cyber-pony-dragon-thing? Whatever, as long as it helped and didn't eat him.

“Sweetie, what's your name?” Winter asked the sobbing filly guide on his back.

“We have to go get my friends!” she screamed.

“Sweetheart I am so sorry,” Winter said. “But there's no way to save them and I can only carry you. Now please I need to know your name! Are you registered at Stable 27?”

“Ginger Snap,” said the little one between choked sobs.

“Oh,” Winter blinked. He recognized the name; she was the voice of the filly guide commercials on the radio; he'd always thought she had such a cute voice.

No! Don't think about her that way! He was done with that!

“Name?” the young female griffon that was running his line asked. She wasn't bad looking herself, and clean given the situation. She seemed somehow familiar though.

“Um, Winter Quill,” Winter said. “This is Ginger Snap. We're both registered.”

At least he hoped Ginger was too.

“I don’t find a Ginger Snap,” Gale peered at him.

“S-she’s my daughter,” Winter claimed. “That’s allowed, right?” When she looked incredulous, he shook his head. “Please, she’s only a filly.”

“Fine, I’ll let you both in,” the griffon said. “The Overmare said to give females preference. Snatched up a filly guide though? Nice. Bet you’ll have fun with her tonight.”

“Snatched up?” Winter shook his head. “Well, I saved her on the way.”

“Don't you remember me?” the griffon smirked.

Winter blinked and did the instant she said it.

“Gale?” Winter blinked. “Um, hi?”

This was an awkward time to have one of his most shameful deeds come back to haunt him. While he carried a foal on his back no less.

“Yeah head on in,” Gale said, but her tail smacked his plot as he continued. “Don’t be any gentler with her than you were with me, or I’ll be jealous, pervert.”

POV: Cream Heart

Must get there in time. Must get there! Cream Heart had never galloped so hard in her life.

Cream Heart, 26-year-old female earth pony, foal caregiver

But she couldn't stop. There was no way. She had to get her little Button into Stable 27 before the mega-spell hit, and she had a sick feeling it was imminent. She carried nothing but Button's curled up, whimpering form, having dropped all their other supplies and belongings to get him there as soon as possible.

Button Mash, 10-year-old male earth pony, gamer

She didn't even stop when she passed the grotesque spectacle of a filly guide cart that had been shot to pieces. There was a filly guide in front which had dragged herself several hoof-steps despite her hind legs being gone. She tried not to look and ran past them.

“No Mom stop!” Button cried out. “That's my friend Amber Tea! We have to stop and help her!”

“She's too far gone, sweetheart,” Cream shook her head, not slowing.

“But Mom!” Button whimpered as Amber cried out his name and held out a remaining front hoof.

Button tried to scamper off her back to run to his friend, but Cream was ready. She grasped the back of his neck like a momma cat holding its kitten, holding him tightly as she galloped.

“No!” Button yelled as he struggled. “I hate you, Mom, you left her to die!”

He didn't mean that, she knew he didn't. Besides, it couldn't be helped; she had to put his protection above the lives of any other pony in this city or world. Every other family member she knew of was dead, she couldn't let anything befall Button.

“Name?” the frightening metal draconic creature would have made Cream nervous, but right now she was thankful for his service.

“Cream Heart,” said Cream as she let Button go of Button with her muzzle and held the crying colt with one foreleg instead. “This is Button Mash. We're on the list!”

“Adult mare... colt... gotcha,” said the creature. “Head in, quick as you can.”

Cream didn't delay, grabbing Button again in her teeth and running as fast as she could towards the stable door. The loudest boom she had ever heard rang out behind her, and the whole sky lit up so brightly that it was like the sun itself was falling towards them. Tears streamed down her face, legs burning in exhaustion, but she only ran faster.

“Into the stable NOW!” the older griffon yelled behind her. Everyone in the vicinity, registered or not, rushed towards the stable door.

Only when she was inside did Cream turn to see. She saw far to the other end of the cathedral and out the door as Cloudsdale lit up like a giant bonfire in the sky. So many dead in an instant. The Canterlot shield held against the blast wave, but it was doubtful it held out all the radiation.

Even if it did, they weren’t safe. The final pegasus suicide squadron had gotten through and the coronal mass ejection had blinded Canterlot's defenses. A burst of green shimmering rainbow exploded from the center of Canterlot as they hit the ground, ripping their bodies to ribbons and expanding outwards, shattering entire buildings in its wake.

“Close the door NOW!” a voice nearby shouted.

Stable 27's huge door ground closed even as frantic ponies rushed through it. The final one had a hind leg crushed as it closed, but still looked relieved to be mostly there. A series of muffled screams and impacts could be heard as the ponies outside beat their hooves into fragments against the door.

That stopped the instant the blast wave hit. The entire stable shook and the door creaked as if it barely held. As the thick door glowed red hot, the pony with her leg caught tore it off to avoid the heat, but at least it cauterized the poor pony's stump.

A few moments later, the rumbling died and the only sound were the weeping and panicking of the surrounding ponies. Cream hugged Buttons close and kissed his head as he curled up in fear. At least he was safe, and that’s how he would stay so long as she lived.

“Are the radiation detectors online outside?” asked a white unicorn with pink mane. She had a gold trim on her stable suit, so maybe she was the Overmare?

“Some near the edge,” said an orange unicorn with a goatee standing at the maneframe terminal nearby. “Can't get clear readings though. They're... they're maxed out.”

“Well then,” the Overmare said, sounding far too jovial. “At least we won't get any sales ponies knocking at our door. Now please tell me this place has hard cider.”