Chapter One: Righteous Indignation
Chapter One
Righteous Indignation
“It’s a foregone conclusion but there ain’t no harm in trying.”
Lawbringer Record of Confession: Slaver C.F. Day 001
The landscape was basked in warm sunlight. A mostly sunny day in the Equestrian wasteland, though a dark storm lingered on the mountains that surrounded the valley. At the valley’s center was a small ruined town, surrounding a singular intact structure. An old Equestrian courthouse. Marble and granite in construction, it stood battered by age. Great pillars stood peppered with impacts from decades of hard weather and gunfights. A canvas banner billowed gently on the old bent flagpole out front. A simple grey background with a faded yellow three pointed shield sitting on its center. The walls were reinforced with steel and iron salvaged from wagons and carriages littering the nearby roads. Inside, several rooms were lit with oil lanterns and candles. The power having seemingly never been restored. In the largest of these rooms, a gathering of ponies settled into an old court. An aisle of old carpet split the room in two right up to the front. Seated on the right side of the aisle was a group of younger mares and stallions. They all wore dusty coats, some bore heavy barding while others preferred a lighter set, hats of all kinds were peppered through out them. The only real link between them being a small metal badge. A shield, cast of copper or silver, resting on hats, lapels, and on barding. On the left side of the aisle was a pack of older ponies. Most bore scars, some missing eyes or ear tips. While their outfits seemed to match the younger ponies, they all bore golden badges resting somewhere on their gear. Near the back of the room was a young mare, wearing a simple yellow sundress and some red ribbons to tie her mane. Though her head sat pointed toward a book in her hooves, her eyes were drifting around the room. She was a beige and brown earth pony. Though the other ponies in the room sat in quiet conversation with one another, she remained silent.
At the front of the room sat a pair of tables. Each seated before the large bench that once a judge may have sat upon. At one of the tables sat a round unicorn, well dressed in a vest and collared shirt, but clearly a bit uncomfortable at the table. Beside him sat another unicorn. Short, with a mottled brown coat wearing a plain robe. She held a quill in her telekinetic magic and quietly organized a small stack of looseleaf paper. At the other table sat a stern white coated earth pony mare, her longcoat having old military markings painted on it. Her wide brim hat, off and resting on the table. On it sat a silver shield. Her pale pink mane braided back behind her head. Cold eyes locked on a stern figure sitting ahead of her. Seated at the bench, dressed in a simple leather duster marred with years of bullet holes and grime was a steel eyed stallion. He was an earth pony, dusty brown coat speckled with the occasional patch of grey. His blue mane had thinned and greyed considerably with the years and his face clean shaven. He sat, impassive. His eyes scanning the room, scrutinizing all present.
The room sat in a hushed, oppressive quiet. The small conversations careful not to breach an unspoken limit until finally, the steel eyed stallion at the bench raised a hoof. Silence, utter and complete, fell upon the room. A pony stepped into the room through the double doors at the back. A yellow coated mare, her mane cut short. She wore a simple duster with a golden badge on it. The stallion at the bench looked to her. She simply nodded, then turned to face the room.
“All rise for the fair Justiciar Righteous Creed.” Her voice carried a tone of practiced authority and pride. At her command, everyone in the room rose to their hooves. The young mare in the ribbons looked concerned, having awkwardly tried to keep up with the others who had snapped to attention the moment the yellow mare spoke.
“Lawbringers,” The stallion at the bench, Righteous Creed, spoke slowly and evenly. His voice was firm, commanding. It held an air of authority, without pride or arrogance. “Today we sit for a confessional. It has been a great many years since our last confessional. A right extended to any Lawbringer who suspects an innocent pony has been wrongfully accused or charged. Though we strive to be just, we must also be fair. Though few ponies these days surrender to justice or are willing to go peacefully, today we are met with a unique challenge brought to us by extreme circumstances. Our order has fallen far from the graces it once held but even still we stand as a bastion of justice in the cruelty of the wasteland. May all but the Lawbringer who invoked this right, please sit.” With that, Everyone sat back down with a singular exception. The white mare at the front of the room, her hat still on the table as she remained tall.
“Charity, Marshal of the Order.” Her voice was soft, but in the utter silence brought by Righteous Creed her words carried easily.
“Why did you invoke this sacred right, Marshal?” Creed asked, his tone remaining ever straightforward.
“I believe, due to the nature of the culprit’s capture and the...” She glanced at the young mare in the ribbons, near the back of the room. “Dedicated defense he received, that there is more to the situation than mere titles and accusations. I believe we should hear the culprit out, if only to assuage any guilt that might be felt through execution.”
Creed nodded to her, “Then it shall be. Though he is a known slaver and is accused of a great deal more than that, let it be known for the record that Marshal Charity has called this in hopes of understanding the events surrounding his capture. You may take your seat Marshal.”
Charity, nodded and did so. She folded her hooves beside her hat, gently running one over the badge on it.
Creed turned to face the yellow mare who had commanded the room to stand. “Sheriff, have him brought in.”
She nodded curtly, turning back to the doors before opening one to speak with someone through it. After a hushed conversation, the Sheriff turned and strode to the front of the room. Once there, she addressed the assembled ponies of the courtroom. “Presenting under the watchful eyes of Marshal Bronze Star, the captured slaver.”
The doors at the back of the room both opened. A proud and righteous orange coated unicorn buck stood, nodding his head slightly to the room. His hoofsteps were heavy and precise. He wore a finely stitched waistcoat with several pistols holstered about him. He scanned the room, eyes a sharp green, before nodding to Righteous Creed. His heavy steps echoed through the room as he made his way through the doors with a chain wrapped around one foreleg. As he trotted in, a tall and lanky soft pink stallion was dragged along behind him by the chain. His long mane was matted over his face, the dull amethyst streaked with lavender. His eyes never rose to scan the room. His right eye was a rich magenta, with heavy bags under it. His left however had been replaced. A light scar ran around the socket, where a metal ring met flesh. Inside a soft pink glow emanated out, a cybernetic eye. He was thin and malnourished. Much of his body was covered in a tattered brown sackcloth and bandages, but his cutie mark was left on display. Three stylized hearts, a large one with two smaller ones, all connected by a black ribbon sliding around them. His hooves were clad in shackles, all chained together and connected to a heavy metal collar around his neck. He tried to keep his head pointed down toward the floor as he was dragged into the room. A pair of ponies bearing silver badges came up on either side, firmly pushing him along down the center of the room.
The young mare with the ribbons in her mane turned, wide eyed at his appearance. Her face fell as she took in the sight of him, following his dragging trot to the front of the room. Several voices spoke low and hushed about obvious mistreatment, while several more chuckled or jeered at the sight of him.
The proud buck leading the pink stallion slowed his pace, dragging out the display a little longer. He looked around with a genuine smile, some of his apparent comrades in the crowd giving him approving looks. He yanked the chain a bit, causing the pink stallion to stumble and trip. He hit the ground hard, before being dragged back up by the ponies at his sides. His hooves shook, weak and weary. He had trouble finding purchase to stand but eventually managed. The proud buck came to a stop between the two tables, the pink stallion stood behind him. The buck took the chain and looped it around a small wrung on the floor, before a lock wreathed in his magic snapped shut on it. He turned, looking at the pink stallion who finally rose to meet the gaze. For a moment they simply stared at one another. Pain clear on the pink pony’s face.
The buck frowned, “Slaver, you don’t do anything without my say, understood?”
“Ye-” The pink stallion was cut off again with hard smack across the face. He fell to one side. His hooves shaking uncontrollably. Looking up through clear fear in his remaining eye, he didn’t plead. Didn’t beg. Just... waited for the command. At the back of the room, the mare with the ribbons shot up. A look of fury on her face, before she was forced back into her seat by the steely gaze of Righteous Creed.
“Stand.” The buck commanded and so the pink pony did, his shaking hooves struggling to bring him to his full height. He closed his eyes, breathing hard through his nose before looking back to the floor.
“Good. You’re learning. You’d think being a slaver for so long, you might have an idea how one should treat his betters.” He gave a satisfied smile. “Now, state your full name.”
“F-Favor.” The pink stallion managed to speak, before getting struck down again. The pain was evident in his voice, even before the hoof landed.
“I said your name! Your full name, Slaver!” The buck growled, glaring down at the pink pony on the ground.
Without standing, the pink stallion dropped his head further before saying loudly, “C-Cherish. Cherish Favor.” He was hefted back to his hooves again by the two ponies beside him.
The buck turned back to Righteous Creed. The old stallion in the chair finally spoke. “State your rank, for the record, Cherish Favor. Please speak clearly and loudly for Stenographer Knit Pick.” Creed spoke calmly. The unicorn in the robe at the front of the room nodded to both Creed and Cherish, dipping her quill vigorously.
Cherish raised his head, breathing softly. “Formly Overseer of the Fillydelphia Train Yards. Currently, Chief Cooperative Organizer and General Personnel Manager.” He stiffened as he said the words, though his hooves still shook lightly.
The proud buck looked at him, glaring with indignation. “Your rank was ‘personnel’ management!? They were slaves, you scumbag.” There were several similar comments from the crowd of ponies, though none as loud or stern as the buck.
“Bronze Star, as the highest ranking member and sitting Justiciar I must ask you to take your seat, so we might begin.” He looked down at the proud buck, eyes showing no trace of emotional charge. Simply gesturing to the table with Charity before him. The buck, Bronze Star, nodded and looked back to the chained slaver before sitting down beside Charity at the table. She frowned at him and the display but didn’t speak.
Without another word Creed simply nodded to the two ponies beside Cherish, who each gave a hoof to their chests in salute before sitting down.
“Cherish Favor, you stand before the Lawbringer Order accused of slavery, wonton cruelty, and outright murder. You are suspected of rape, conspiracy to corrupt innocents, and robbery.” His voice was even. No condemnation or hate. Simply speaking the fact of the matter. “Do you understand the charges held against you?”
“I-I do.” Favor said softly, shaking his head.
“Then, as First Judicator, Justiciar, and First Captain of the Lawbringers I bid this confessional to begin.” The ponies in the audience, all save the mare in the ribbons, gave a small stomping of approval. After a few moments Creed raised a hoof, bringing another silence with it. He looked back down to the pink pony below him. “How would you like to begin, Cherish Favor?”
The pink pony looked around the room, eyes drifting from pony to pony around him. Lingering a moment on the mare wearing the ribbons in her mane, and Marshall Charity. “What’s the purpose of this... ah, confessional?”
“The point for you is to clear your conscience and explain how you got to this point, Cherish Favor.” Righteous Creed spoke impassively.
“To understand how I got here? Well it’s a very long story. There’s a lot to it. I ah... I think I know where best to begin. Just... bear with me, please. There’s a lot to go through.”
Creed nodded softly, “You have as many days as it takes to hear it all, Cherish Favor. This is a confessional, and as is tradition, you will be heard from start to finish. I shall only interrupt for clarifications and to end the session for the day.”
Cherish sighed softly trying to collect his thoughts before finally, with a sad look up to Righteous Creed, he begun. “It began with the whip.”
It was sharp. Loud. Like a gunshot without the fury. The crack of a whip. I was standing in the middle of the reclamation processing area under the unceasing crimson haze of Fillydelphia. Which, really, was the scrap yard where slaves dug through irradiated trash and junk for anything remotely useful and separated them into boxes, to be sent to the various work yards and factories we had gotten running again. It was a crucial part of the overall industrial center that was Fillydelphia. I had been sent down here to assess the local overseer, Whisper, and get her to stop missing deadlines. Overseer Glass, the mare in charge of general distribution in the train yard had requested it personally. Mostly since she was the one that had to deal with the delays from Whisper’s scrap gatherers.
She had drawn her whip back to strike again. It was a cruel and wicked thing, long and thin with a flayed tip but with a bit of stripped copper wire running it’s length. The wire would cause far more damage and burn on impact, compared to a regular whip. Whisper was a unicorn, her magic allowing her to draw this out without much extra effort. Her coat and mane were both ruddy and dark, ugly colours. She wore a tattered coat that left her cutie mark, a kitchen knife, exposed. The slave she had just struck had fallen upon impact. She stumbled and struggled to get back up only to have the whip crack back again, throwing her back down into the dirt with an agonized scream. I didn’t even blink until I heard the third crack. The whip cutting across the slave’s back, forcing out an even more tortured scream. Her bare back was torn up, three agonizingly bloody red lines ripped down through the flesh.
She had been pleading when that last strike hit. I trotted over to her, an imposing sight in my black combat barding and heavy gasmask. I reached down and dragged her to her hooves. “Get on back to work now, slave.” I commanded, giving her a push back towards the refuse pile she’d been sorting. A few of her fellow slaves caught her and helped keep her from falling again. I turned back to Whisper. “Darlin, I’m not quite sure that’s the best way to motivate them.”
I stood out horribly from the usual goons sent to deal with her. My gear was well above the scrapped together gear most slavers carried for I bore the honor mark of Red Eye, master of all Fillydelphia, upon on my plating. A singular dominating red eye. My mask had a speaker system integrated into it, to provide a clear and unmuffled voice. It helped add to my air of sarcasm and disdain as I chided her.
“You fuckin gettin up on my back now, princess? Didn’t think you could prance all the way from those fancy digs without getting winded.” She barked back at me, “These fucking useless sacks of shit are so far behind on meeting our quota, I’m having to run triple fucking shifts. You seen what that kinda stress does to a lady’s complexion?”
I laughed a bit, trotting up close to her. She was rank, I could smell her through the filters in the mask. “Listen, I just got sent down here to help you sort that shit out and the first thing you do is whip a well behaved slave raw. She wasn’t even behind.”
Whisper gave me a sharp look. “Don’t tell me how to do my job, tail raiser.” She and I had met a few times prior. Mostly with the same pretense, to chide her about her failed quotas. “I’ve been doing this for a hell of a lot longer than you’ve been sucking up to the big boss.”
“Sorry Whisper, but that’s the thing. I’ve been sent down here to get your little shit show back on the road, darlin.” I inclined my head towards her slaves. All of whom were run ragged. “Now, my assessment of this shitty situation you’ve dug yourself in, is pretty simple.” I said cooly, bringing a hoof up to brush back my long mane. “You’ve beat your stock into submission, but they hadn’t been doing anything wrong. And unlike those psychos, Ballast or Shackles, you don’t get results from it.”
She glared at me, “You sayin it’s my fucking fault these useless sacks of shit can’t get the damn job done? You callin me weak, prancer?”
I rolled my eyes, the red lenses of my mask clear enough for her to see. “First off, call me prancer again and I’ll show you why I’m the one down here and not Glass.” I ensured the line held a blithe tone. A cheery grin crossing my muzzle under the mask. “Second of all, no. I’m not calling you weak, I’m calling you stupid.” Her eyes went wide and then narrowed dangerously. I wanted her to try something. I had been antagonizing her since I got down here. Glass sent me down because of my titles as Chief Cooperative Organizer and Red Eye’s ‘Personnel Manager.’ What that actually translated to was: I had been one of the most efficient overseers in all of Fillydelphia, with the lowest casualty rate and I knew how to fix other ponies fuck ups. That also meant I had authority to reprimand slavers who failed to fix their back logs or who were failing to meet quotas. That was to a degree, my job. Making sure slavers were in the right roles for their skills, running things efficiently and could meet their damn quotas.
“And just what would you do to fix this fucking mess then, princess?” Always with the damn names. Being a pink stallion wasn’t easy. Being the symbol of authority, while being a pink stallion in the middle of the hell that was Fillydelphia? Sometimes you had to make a point.
I simply reached up, grabbed her by the mane and as she drew that whip I struck her hard across the face with my other hoof. She fell, the blow shattering her concentration and hold on her whip. I put my hoof on her head, pushing it into the dirt. It was extremely satisfying. “Shut up and listen, Whisper, because I’ll not say this so politely next time. You’re failing to meet your fucking quotas and you’re fucking damaging the stock to do so. Stop the needless whipping. You’re an overseer, not a bloody raider.” She squirmed under my hoof, but the click of my battle saddle and the rifle attached to it switching off the safety stopped her. That mask I wore also had an integrated firing mechanism that linked to my saddle. It wasn’t ideal, but it did allow me to catch ponies off guard with how quick I could utilize it. “Now. I normally avoid public displays like this because it makes it hard to ensure that you can get them to do their fucking jobs but I’ve half a mind to put you down for incompetence and inform Glass that you expired under my care.” I growled.
She didn’t respond, eyes wild and leering up at me, tears building on her face either from the shame or the pain, I didn’t care which. I slowly lifted my hoof and she gathered herself up. I could see the hate burn on her face before she screamed in rage and pounced at me.
Thawp-thawp-thawp. Three shots, a short burst of fire from the rifle attached to my saddle. The flare of the shots and sound barely noticeable thanks to that lovely little suppressor. The blossoms of blood spraying from her chest and shoulder as I stepped aside, her body crashing into the dirt. This would be the last time that I’d have to 'correct' her. I was tired of the derision. The slaves stared in confusion, before I turned to them. “Get the fuck back to work, unless you want to end up like her.”
They did so. Some quickly rushing back to their work. Others lingering and looking back at their now dead overseer. One of the guards, a cream coloured mare with a short cropped and slicked back black mane only had eyes for me. I ignored her, barking orders at those who strayed too close to Whisper’s body or her whip.
It was a few hours before a successor was chosen. I sent a runner to Overseer Glass, to let her know I’d shot Whisper. She wasn’t happy but the judgement of Fillydelphia was final. This was her fourth warning and clearly she wasn’t intent on listening. The new overseer of the yard was a younger mare named Jester. I spent an hour or so going over the roster of slaves with her. Jester, fairly new to the role, had been one of Glass’ enforcers and aides. She was eager to learn and listened to the short bits of advice I could give. Slaves, for what it was worth, were still ponies. And ponies work best when they’ve at least got a friend nearby. Not close enough to encourage trouble, but enough to reassure them. A careful balance but after Whisper? A fucking foal could’ve commanded those slaves and they’d have been more efficient. After a bit of reorganizing, I left her the roster and she set about making the changes I recommended.
This sort of thing wasn’t uncommon but was never welcomed. Fillydelphia was a delicate powderkeg of intricacies and politics but that never stopped me from fixing things. It’s what cost me my position as an overseer, meddling in other ponies business. That’s the strange thing about the Red Eye’s slavers. They were not his. They simply worked for him. They weren’t exactly loyal like his core guards and staff were. We were loyal to him and his ideals. In a way, they were no different than the slaves. Bent to Red Eye’s designs, through his sheer will and firepower. They were fiercely independent but none dared speak openly against him, and only a few dared speak behind closed doors. In truth? I believe Red Eye knew all too well the dangers he courted with them but progress demands sacrifice, as he so often said. Yet, there’s a key difference in serving as an overseer and to serving Stern or Red Eye directly, as I did now. As an overseer, I was required to be independent. Couldn’t show favoritism or anything like that. Had to let my quotas and efficiency speak for themselves. In exchange, I’d have my own stock of slaves and personal servants. I also held voting power in rankings for slavers and could help shape the political future. Serving Red Eye as his Personnel manager? I held none of that power. I was but a tool for Stern and Red Eye to shape the failing overseers.
I returned to Glass’ office after helping Jester get her hooves on the ground. Overseer Glass, was the general overseer for the Train Yard and held power over several other lesser factories. She and I didn't see eye to eye. She was, as ever, a true slaver. Control and power. Didn’t care so much about grand ambitions of our Master, Red Eye. That was fine by my accounts, she was efficient and didn’t beat her stock too much. I wasn’t there to ensure loyalty.
Her office sat in an old rail house. Boxcars sat on the rails, being filled with crates and boxes. Some were ramshackle constructs, others more traditional railway fair. I had once run the yards. Though the boxcars had changed a bit, and there were more ponies, it still ran close to my original schedules. The slaves milled about with the boxes and crates, some stopping to quickly chat but never for too long. Above it all, gantries ran and connected to stairwells and hanging guard posts. She had slavers armed with rifles up top, while a pair on the ground had shotgun saddles. The pair on the ground made slow and cautious patrols. A bit more security than I ever needed, but considering her workload and the pressure on her from the other overseers for their ‘projects’, I couldn’t blame Glass for getting cagey about problems. Her office and residence, my old office, sat at the back of the rail house, up a flight of stairs. It gave her a commanding view of the floor below, and access to the gantry. More so, though, it gave her a bit of control over the main entrance. The control box sat in that office. With a simple switch she could shut the main doors on either side of the building.
I pushed her door open, stepping inside. Glass was another unicorn, thin and wiry. A simple brown coat with a short black mane, styled to one side. She wore an old collared shirt with old equestrian police barding over it. On the table was a revolver, and holstered on her barding were two auto pistols. She was sitting back in my old chair, hind hooves folded over one another on the desk. She closed her eyes before looking up at me. She had a pair of gleaming emerald eyes. “You shot another overseer.” Her tone was blunt, disapproving.
“Mmhm.” I smiled, having taken off my gas mask along the way. “She was failing to get results, damaging the stock, and just would not stop with the insults. I don’t mind a bit of cheeky banter, darlin, but I draw the line at prancer and princess.”
She tilted her head before sliding her hooves off the desk to sit properly. “That’s three overseers in as many months. Red Eye cannot be happy with that kind of attrition.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Sweetheart, considering the caps he pours into these slaves, I’m pretty sure I’m still in the black as far as costs are concerned.” I stamped a hoof for emphasis. “You keep promoting shitty ponies to a fucking easy job. This yard is not that damn hard to run.”
Glass sighed, “I’m aware. Look, Whisper was only gettin-”
“Whisper had three previous warnings. This was her fourth. I’ve shot ponies for much, much less.” I cut her off sharply. “I don’t care about the politics of the situation Glass, I don’t care about this being my old stomping ground. I care about two fucking things. Results, and making sure these fucking ponies last long enough to get those results.” I gestured a hoof out the window. I’d been angry for a while, Glass was running my old post into the ground. “Your turnover is way too high outside the Rail House. The overseers under you are all terrible. Your personal work force? Great though. Which is why I’m here. I like you Glass, as much as I can at least. You’ve kept this rail house going well but your taste in underlings is suspect at best. If you have more like Jester you might do okay but your other posts are a mess.”
I noticed the glow on her horn, taking note of her holstered pistols and the revolver. No telekinetic grabs yet. She folded her forehooves on the desk. “I will not step down, Favor. I earned this place. You fucking chose me. I will not bow because you’re missing this place”
Admittedly, I did miss the Rail Yard. It was my home for a long time. “I don’t want you to resign or step down.” I sighed softly as I rubbed my temple with a hoof. “I just want you to do better, Glass. I don’t like coming in here, threatening you. You’re a good overseer, you’re just a shit leader.”
“Gee Pinks, thanks.” She hadn’t called me that in a while. “I’m trying, alright? I don’t get to pick my staff like you did. I’ve got to steal em from where I can get them. Not many want to be on the chopping block you’ve created either.” A small stack of envelopes levitating up before dropping onto the table. “So many ponies are turning away from my offers because of your wanton punishments.”
That was fair. I didn’t like it but it was fair. I bit my lip, before sighing. “Look, if you can bring the general production across the board up by two or three percent I’ll lay off. Stern’s up my ass about you.” Stern was Red Eye’s most loyal supporter and a griffin mercenary. She and her Talons, were a massive boone to him. For me, she was just my next superior. I didn’t mind her really, she was utterly loyal to Red Eye. Beyond caps, beyond typical griffin loyalty. She was a believer. She was in charge of Filly, more so than Red Eye in practicality but she was little more than an extension of his will. I couldn’t help but respect that part of her, even if she could be a bit, ah, stern about everything.
She looked displeased with the news but nodded with a sigh. “I know this isn’t fun for you, Pinks. I’ll... try to boost production. If ah... If you need to come down here again, please come directly to me first. I just want to know if I’m going to need to prep another new overseer.”
I lifted my head, giving her a warm smile. “Glass, you were my choice when things hit the fan. I know you can do this, I’m just frustrated. I’ve got more power than ever but I’m not allowed to fix my old yard. Seeing idiots ruin such an orderly structure... it's just maddening. Not to mention the attrition rate among the stock. These used to be my ponies, Glass.” I turned to look down and gaze upon the floor where the slaves worked. “Written Script is still here, limping as ever.” I said, pointing to an elderly earth pony. “Kept him on light duty, good. Most would’ve just worked him to death. His talent with writing is surprisingly useful.” I moved my gaze to a pair of unicorns. One orange, the other yellow. “Lemon and Hazard are still here as well. Kept them together too, good. They’re docile but work wonderfully together.” I moved my gaze to one of the slavers. A purple earth pony with a shotgun saddle down below. “Lockstock is getting older, surprised he’s still got that damn quad shotgun. Can he even fire it without falling over?”
She chuckled, standing up and coming over to stand by me. “Pinks, he had to get it tweaked to fire each barrel individually. Kept getting blown off his hooves from the recoil of all four. Do you really still remember them all?” I wasn’t sure if that last comment was derisive or not.
I chose to take it as a compliment. I turned my head to look at her. “Glass, I don’t forget ponies I get to know. Pretty sure only pony who could out compete me there is Red Eye himself, but in all fairness, that eye of his can display all the info he needs without you being aware.” I was easing off her, she had a point about killing too many of the new overseers. She was always good at disarming me when I was bothered. “Every single pony I once owned, and any pony I care for. They’re all up here.” I said with a tap of a hoof to the side of my head, before brushing my mane back. In truth, that’s what bothered me so much about the sorry state of my old yard. So many good ponies wasted by incompetence. I didn’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of them, there were faces without names and some ponies I only ever knew through their work reports but having gone through the reports and walked the yard... there were few left from my original stock. I brought a hoof to pat her on the back. “Thank you for at least keeping some of them going.” An understanding, if not an outright truce on this whole matter.
“Yeah, sure.” She shrugged and brushed a hoof through her own mane. “I try to keep em around for you. We’ll get our numbers up. I’ll talk to the others and see what I can do. Can’t promise lower turnover, the quality of slaves has gone down a great deal in recent months but... well, I’ll see what we can do. If nothing else, to keep Stern from sending you down here to clean house.” That last line was quieter, spoken with a grave concern. I didn’t like invoking the griffin leader but she wasn’t giving me much in the way of a choice.
“Then I’d best get going, don’t want to be late for my next appointment.” I chuckled, taking to the door. “Keep me posted, Glass.”
“Always, Pinks. Keep that tail up on the way out you tease. Need something pleasant to think about now that I’ve gotta worry about Stern.” I did.
My next destination was on the other side of the city. The Parasprite pits. Before the megaspells destroyed Equestria in the war, Fillydelphia had an infestation of parasprites. They’d survived the balefire and years of exposure, largely intact too. Unfortunately however years of isolation and mutation turned them carnivorous. They were largely kept in check by burning their infestations out and incinerating their hives. However, all it takes is one to escape and then you’re at risk of another infestation. Without the right gear, the little monstrous beasts could strip a pony to the bone in a matter of moments.
A recent breach in the parasprite pits allowed some to escape the flamethrowers and guards. They’d swarmed into a prewar Ministry building and infested it. The old Ministry of Image, the propaganda machine of old equestria that had once been responsible for controlling Equestria’s news. This meant the hub had printing presses. Red Eye dearly wished to get those printing presses working again. So, I was to ensure it was being taken care of. I made my way through the yards, passing rows of slaves being ushered around by their masters. I could hear the slavers talking about Red Eye’s announcement. Every now and then, Red Eye would give a speech in person. His oratory was always amazing and it pained me to miss the speech but I was running late.
I rounded a corner, bumping into a group of slaves being escorted through the roads. I didn’t fall, but the slave I bumped into did. Irritated I glared down at the slave before me, while the other slaves around us stopped. Some gasped, some were worried, the slaver escorting them all let out a small gasp himself before rushing up to me. He was a young beige stallion, dressed in typical low grade mismatched leather armor.
“S-sir! Sorry, I-” He began before I brought a hoof up to his muzzle to shush him. I was about to tear into him about watching where he ran his slaves when it struck me. I knew this slaver.
“... Chalkboard?” I asked tilting my head a bit. “They’ve got you running slaves now?”
He nodded vigorously. “Sorry Favor, I’m still getting used to keeping them in line.” Chalkboard had been one of my guards as an overseer. He wasn’t built for the slaver life. Honestly, he’d be better off serving Red Eye as a teaching assistant or a researcher. Filly however, runs without sanity or sense. Ponies with specialist talents are thrown into mines or pits to waste away and languish. Idiots and those willing to play politics are promoted. Chalkboard was just a perfect example of how that lunacy stretched beyond castes of slave and slaver. Affecting every facet of the city.
“It’s okay.” I smiled a bit, turning back to the slave that had fallen. “You’ll get used to controlling them properly.” The slave looked up to me. A pathetic and sad look, hurt and afraid. A look I was all too used to, but beyond the look was something more. Something familiar. Three bloody red lines across her back. Whisper’s victim. Without a word, I reached down and pulled the mare back to her hooves for the second time that day. The slaves around her looked concerned, but I simply pushed her back into line with the others. “But ah, in future Chalk? Try to avoid letting them get close to corners. They might be shackled together, but they can still try to slip those and book it.” I said before giving the younger stallion a smile.
He nodded respectfully. “Yes sir!”
I raised another hoof to silence him. “Don’t call me Sir, Chalk. I might bear the honors, but I’m still the pony you knew. Favor will do, as it always has.” I smiled warmly at him. He was a bit young for me, but he was still pretty cute. Shame to see him here of all places. “Oh and you might want to get going. I know Red Eye’s speech will be happening soon.”
The younger stallion nodded vigorously, then began to shout orders at the slaves to get moving and to shift towards the center of the street. As Chalk and the slaves with him left, I looked back towards them. My eyes following that wounded mare. The part of me I had long learned to bury, ached at the sight. She was limping from the pain. Needless damned pain. She hadn’t even run behind in her quota.
My teeth clenched. For a brief moment I remembered the terrified look in her eyes. Staring up at me after she’d been struck down. It was so... achingly familiar but I couldn’t place it. I could feel my jaw grind as I thought about the other slaves Whisper had beaten pointlessly. Ponies that had been mine. That I’d been responsible for. That’s when I noticed the shakes creeping back into my hooves. I cursed loudly.
It always started this way. A creeping shake slowly unbalancing me, then came the pin pricks of pain working up my sore joints. Then brutal aches. I had some time before everything screamed in agony again. I looked around for somewhere quiet and out of sight. Of course it had to happen now. With a sigh of relief I spotted the small ruined bus shelter. With shaky hooves, I made my way over to it before putting myself right against the back of it. Out of sight of everyone except the occasional griffin flying over head. It was the best I could do. With as much care as I could summon with my shaky hooves, I sat back and opened the small metal cylinder that sat on my belt. Inside sat two syringes. I pulled one out carefully by my teeth before latching it closed with my hooves. Holding the thing in my mouth, I rolled up the sleeve on the body glove I wore under my armor. Exposing the right spot, I carefully drew out a loop of tubing from the small medical kit on my belt. I tied it tightly around my upper foreleg. In a short moment I had the vein located. With care I lined up the point of the syringe and held my leg still with the other. In a singular fluid motion, I drove it into my leg and slid my tongue to the plunger pushing it down fully. I slumped back against the bus shelter, eyes going to the sky to ensure no curious griffin had seen.
It took the painkiller a few moments to fully kick in. A wave of relief crashed through my body, stifling the aches and pains and bringing order back to my hooves. Within a few minutes I was good as new. CareChem, Med X, Ministry of Peace Military Grade Pain Suppressant. It had a bunch of different names, depending on the branding or container. In reality, it was a high grade painkiller designed for combat surgeries that many soldiers often stole to keep them going when the pain got too much. Still saw lots of use today. Red Eye even had a few chemists who could produce it for medical use in the slave hospital and the better grade care a lot of Slavers received. For me, it was a way of ensuring I could keep going steady. A way to push through the aches and pains that Filly gave everyone. A way for me to get out from under it for a bit. Unfortunately prolonged use had high risk of addiction, and in rare cases, one could develop a deeper psychological dependency. It made for an expensive habit. Doses would last less and less, and you’d need more and more to just get the basic effects. Furthermore, Red Eye was firm about not using chems recreationally. It made my expensive habit also a dangerous one.
With my hooves stable, I drew up the gas mask and threw it on. Early under the effect of the drug, my pupils would be overly dilated and would bring unwelcome questions. With the thick red lenses in the way, I’d be less likely spotted. Additionally the parasprite pits were hell for the lungs. I trotted out from the bus shelter, rolling my uniform sleeve down as I returned the tubing to my medical kit. Swallowing hard, I looked down the road before cantering towards the Ministry of Image.
As I made my way closer, the air became choked with thick black smoke. It billowed up from the large caged over pit. Three great chimneys pouring out smoke from them. Along with the smoke came the unbearable heat of incinerators and flamethrowers. All around the heavy grated top of the parasprite pits sat ponies armed with flamethrowers. Underneath I could see the small colorful sprites. They were round and smaller than a foals toy, with a pair of buzzing wings on the back. They whipped around at high speeds. Occasionally the ponies up top would spray gouts of flame into the pit when a swarm of sprites moved too close. At the top of the chimneys a few guards stood on gantries, armed with a few rifles and at least two more flamethrowers, occasionally spewing fire up into the smoke from the chimneys. They all paid me no mind as I made my way past the ramp towards the incinerators. Outside the parasprite pits were the ruins of a small office building, where I met the pony in charge of pest removal.
His name was Mister Shiny. He sat at a desk, with another slaver in combat armor by the door acting as his guard. He smiled pleasantly at my approach, but to say it was warm would be a lie. Shiny and I shared a few similarities, he’d grown numb to the terrors Filly produced. Likewise, he’d also tried at one point to do well with his stocks. Unfortunately, Shiny’s line of work was a lot harder than most. Pest control hadn’t been his primary job, but it was what most of the slaves sent to him would end up doing so most of us came to see it that way. It was often brutal work, and just as often lethal. Parasprites weren’t the only pests. Feral Ghouls, rogue robots, and occasionally a few escapees. Shiny had become a pony who just had a job to do.
“What brings you here, Mister Favor?” He asked, hooves folding on the table.
“Not much, Mister Shiny, just checking in for Stern. How’s the Ministry of Image doing? She’s eager to report to Red Eye that those presses are secured.” I shrugged, the voice box on my mask distorting my voice.
He scanned me over before giving a more genuine smile. “Done. I had a little mare with a pipbuck clear the place out earlier today. She did a bang up job. Hope I can get her again for this place. Might even keep the mad doc from cutting her pipbuck off. She’s pretty useful.”
This was good news for me, but wasn’t the only reason I was here. “Very well, Mister Shiny. That’s good news. I’m sure Stern will be very pleased with this. Red Eye has been keen to get those presses running.” I said, placing a hoof on his desk. “But of course you know I’m here for more than just the presses.”
He raised his eyebrow, before ordering the guard out. Once the guard stepped out, he turned to me with another phony smile. “More painkillers?”
I nodded, drawing a small pouch and tossing it onto the desk. “I’m running low. I know you’ve got some and I know you’re not going to try and screw me for them.” I hated this so much. I didn’t trust half the dealers and traders in the city. Most were quick to sell out anypony they could for a quick deal. Most of the time traders worked with both slaves and slavers. Certain things were outlawed, even for us Slavers and that made room for a black market. Shiny was, for the most part, trustworthy. He didn’t backstab ponies, and tried to be fair. That was the most I could hope for in this city.
He raised a hoof up to the pouch, and opened it. Inside sat just above under two hundred caps. He tipped the pouch and emptied it, counting caps as he went.
“There’s about two hundred Shiny. How many syringes are you gonna offer for that?”
He kept counting. “Assuming it’s all here Favor? I can do at most three syringes. It’s hard to get them in large numbers.” He said, still moving caps around. Three was a bit of a rip off, were I out in the wastes I could probably get five for that amount but, in Filly that’s the best offer I’d get.
“Deal.”
Mister Shiny spent a few more minutes counting before hoofing over three syringes of military grade painkiller. I was careful, opening the small cylinder container on my belt before sliding them inside. “Red Eye should be giving his speech now.” I said casually.
“Yes, I’d heard what the plan was. Two full events in the pit and a day of rest?” His voice betrayed a disinterest, or maybe a disdain. The pit was a hellish creation of maddened slavers and sadists. One of the few ways for a slave to earn their freedom, the Pit was where slaves fought to the death for the entertainment of their masters, and the other slaves. It was a joke, a false hope. You’d have to witness at least thirty-six fights in order to actually win. Each fight consists of two teams of six, fighting until one side has no more combatants. I didn’t blame him for disliking it. I personally didn’t like watching innocent ponies who just fucked up on their duties dying brutally for sport. Yet, I couldn’t deny that there were some good fights occasionally.
“And the Roamer will be open to everypony, slave or slaver alike.” I nodded, “All during a day of rest. A generous gift from our master, don’t you think?”
He looked me over before nodding. “I suppose. Though it’s more of a nightmare for the poor bastards stuck in the Pit.”
“And for those working the Roamer too, I’d think.” I chuckled lightly.
He gave an empty chuckle before shrugging. “I’ll be avoiding the Pit myself. Might enjoy a drink or two, but I plan to spend most of the day enjoying some peace and quiet.”
I nodded a bit, unsure if I’d be avoiding it or not. The rosters would be up tonight, and the fighters numbered. If it was a bunch of raiders and some volunteers, I could probably deal with that. If it was all punishment detail? I’d probably pass.
I parted ways from him after that. I couldn’t help but smile a bit as I made my way down the road away from the horrid pits, taking the gas mask off. Night was falling. I had finished all my duties and could fuck off for the night. I didn’t quite want to kick my hooves up just yet. I made my way up one of the nearby intact structures. It was an old office building. Mostly intact but an absolute mess. Scavengers had ruined much of the interior and salvage teams had stripped much of the furniture away. That didn’t matter for my needs though. I made my way up the empty stairwells, all the way to the rooftop.
The old rusty door swung off its hinges from the buck I gave it and I trotted out onto the rooftop. It was a comfortable spot, one I’d used often. It would be nightfall soon, the air was crisper up here. Still thicker than it would be elsewhere from the industry of Filly, but it was still easier to breathe. I found a spot and settled in, looking out over the city. From my little vantage point I could just see over the walls that surrounded Fillydelphia. I loved it. I’d been enjoying the sunsets in Filly for years now. Though the cloud cover never broke, the colours you could see on the horizon were absolutely gorgeous. A glorious orange haze overtaking the gray clouds as the sun started to set behind them. The sky on the horizon becoming a mix of purples and pinks streaming off the orange center. It brought a unique peace to me that nowhere else really could. I ran a hoof through my mane and watched the world come rest. All throughout Filly, shifts were ending and ponies were finally getting to rest. Many of the slaves would have worked all day. The night shift for Slavers would begin soon, well rested and ready for the boring evening ahead of them.
I started my way back towards the other side of Filly. The Roamer bar was actually outside the walls. Stern’s ban on chems extended to a hatred of alcohol. Unlike general chems, she couldn’t ban alcohol. So she just made sure it was very hard to get trashed while on duty. It was a good thing really. Keeping the bar outside the gate also meant all the fun there could escape the looming dread of the ever present walls. I was trotting slowly past the heart of post war Fillydelphia, the FunFarm. It had once been a lavish amusement park with rides and exhibits to bring smiles to all the little ponies of Fillydelphia. Though, in truth it hid a darker past. It was home to the Fillydelphia branch of the Ministry of Morale. The nightmarish big sister that was always watching you and was known for stealing the memories of suspect ponies and using those to lay judgement down upon them. Of course, Red Eye had chosen this for the additional functions the Ministry of Morale had, and the large amusement park offered a number of intact structures that made excellent housing for slaves and slavers alike.
It was here as I was rounding the FunBarn, the largest structure left that had been turned into an administration building for the slavers, that I heard the crack of a sniper rifle from over head. I shot my head up in alarm, catching the view of one of the many hot air balloons that sat floating over the city. Garishly pink and shaped like the grinning head of the Minister of Morale herself, they had been converted into floating gun platforms. The sniper inside had fired downward towards something in the FunFarm. I watched curiously, figuring it was probably an escape attempt. Those balloons provided extra fire support for the griffins that often patrolled the air. The idea being that no pony should be able to escape a literal birds eye view.
Then I heard a staccato of gunfire. A submachine gun? Machine pistol? Hard to tell. I stood watching the balloon sniper overhead. I saw the muzzle flash before the crack ripped through the air again. A second shot? Something was clearly up. I moved my gaze towards where the sniper had shot. I then heard the follow up of shots from a low powered rifle. Couldn’t see who was shooting who though. I started to canter towards the source, mostly curious. Just to be safe I kicked back with a hind hoof, forcing the bit for my battle saddle to pop out and snap into place. This was how I normally used it when not wearing my gas mask.
Out from the Funfarm came a young mare, small with a device on her foreleg. A pipbuck maybe? She was in slave rags. Alongside her floated a rifle while behind her came a griffin. “Shit.” I said, watching slowly. I wasn’t keen to get involved, I was off shift and this would eat into my free time tonight. Another crack from the sniper kicked up dust from where the little mare had been moments ago. I stood silently watching her flee, until I realized where she was headed. She charged rapidly towards the only intact building in the area. The Alpha and Omega Hotel.
The Alpha and Omega had been spared the devastation of the megaspells for the most part and had become an important part of the city. Red Eye had chosen to give the lowest levels to those slaves slated to fight in the Pit. They’d have better beds, better food, access to a bar. The only other place in Filly to get alcohol. Above that though, was the future of Red Eye’s vision. The foals of Fillydelphia. A series of housing units and play units for them, a target range, one level even had an old ballroom that had been converted into a sort of gymnasium and even an entire floor of classrooms. They had the protection of Red Eye’s personal guards. His most devoted followers and loyal acolytes. That included myself.
I turned and bolted into an outright gallop. She fired from the rifle ahead of me. Her shots felling both guards at the entrance to the hotel. I caught a glimpse of her magic, sweeping up their weapons before slamming through inside. I rushed ahead before coming to stop just over the two guards. I brought a hoof up to roll one onto his side. A stallion I’d gotten to know named Loose Leaf. He was a friendly and amicable sort. The other was a mare I hadn’t met. Both were very dead. I took the bit of my saddle into my mouth, clicking the safety off with my tongue. Then, with a deep breath through my nose, I crashed through the doors of the hotel.
There was a veritable throng of ponies inside. Many were drinking merrily, some singing. As I came through they fell silent however. Many just pointed a hoof towards the back while the crowd cleared way. I trotted through them quickly. She was inside the hotel, headed up the stairs apparently. This was certainly not good. While the bottom levels were open to slaves and slavers, the upper levels were completely off limits to all but the most trusted ponies. Most slavers wouldn’t even dare step a hoof up there. I however, bore the honor mark of Red Eye. This was exactly what ponies in my position were made for.
I made my way for the elevators. It was late, but they’d be in their last class of the day. The evening lectures and group sharing. Somepony had to ensure the foals were warned and protected. The old brass doors slid open as I stepped in, pressing the button for the top floor. It was a short elevator ride compared to running up the stairs like a mad fiend. I was met by the beautiful interior of the hotel’s uppermost level. The school. Here foals who had been brought to Fillydelphia had been given a better chance at life than any other generation since the megaspells destroyed all Equestria. Here the young were taught and educated by the best of Red Eye’s elite. Not in combat, not in slavery, no. They were taught maths, sciences, history, philosophy... Art! They were being given the best life anypony could possibly wish for in all the wasteland.
A guard stood outside the elevator on this level. He turned at my arrival, a baton in his magic already before he saw me. “Cherish, what are you doing here?” I knew him. One of Red Eye’s most loyal, like myself. He bore the same armor I did, along with the same honor mark. His name was Redbrick.
I simply raised a hoof. “Raise the alarm, some crazed mare is on a rampage, she shot Loose Leaf and the other door guard. She’s inside and making her way up here.”
With a shout to arms, Redbrick rushed down the hall. There was an emergency stop button on the elevator’s call panel. Cruder than the call buttons, it was clearly added postwar. I gave it a push, preventing anypony else from making their way up here. There were two stairwells. One on the left side of the building, and one on the right. I’d have to cover them. There was another guard on this level, aside from Redbrick. And with the alarm, the children would be given weapons they had trained with to protect themselves.
I rushed down the hallway, past rooms that now held different classrooms. In each one, I heard an older pony instructing the trained ponies to collect an armament from the cupboards and for those who were not trained to get under their desks. Redbrick came back out from a doorway at the end of the hall. “Cherish, go cover the left side stairwell. I’ll cover the right, and Torchwood will cover the hallway in case something happens.
I nodded to him, turning into the furthest classroom on the left side of the building. A group of colts and fillies, some not even old enough to have their cutie marks stood with a few weapons. Mostly low grade soft impact firearms. Nothing overly lethal or heavy. Just enough for them to protect themselves if things fell apart. The teacher, a unicorn mare in a lovely yellow sundress smiled at me as she drew a revolver in her magic.
“Ah! Cherish Favor! What pleasant timing. Are you here to help?” She smiled, as several of the students turned to smile and wave at me with her. They kept their barrels pointed upward, or saddles disengaged. They’d been taught never to point them at anypony they weren’t ready to hurt.
I gave them all a warm smile, “Sorry folks, just got a troublemaker coming up where they shouldn’t be.” I was lying, she’d killed at least two loyal guards without stopping, what the hell would stop her from killing a foal to escape? I swallowed hard at the thought until I noticed the door at the back of the classroom, the emergency exit to the stairwell was open. Then from inside came a voice.
“Hey! She’s up here!” My blood ran cold. I knew that voice, a colt named Cloudy Crest. Not only had I taught these kids about the importance of friendship and working together not but a few days ago but Cloudy was... something of a special case. He was important to me, not just for the future of Filly but he was my responsibility. I had been tasked to protect him and I would let nothing happen to him.
I rushed towards the door. I heard the scuffle of hooves and the sound of a body hitting the floor as I burst through. There I found Cloudy, holding a single-shot shotgun in his telekinetic magic, jumping up and down excitedly. He was a unicorn, small for his age and lacking a cutie mark. His coat was a shale grey, his wavy mane a pale blue. Standing on the stairwell was a midnight blue Alicorn, one of Red Eye’s personal agents from the Goddess herself. A forehoof stepping on the unconscious body of the little mare I’d been chasing. Her weapons having clattered to the ground. A glass glowing orb sat beside her. I let out a sigh of relief and released the bit of my saddle.
The little colt leapt up excitedly, “Hi Cherish! Wow! I didn’t know you were coming today! Look! We caught her! We caught the bad mare!”
I gave him the biggest smile I could, my heart finally able to slow down. “You sure did, Cloudy! Well done, big guy!” I brought a hoof up to pat the foal on his head. As he gleefully welcomed my praise, I turned to face the alicorn as her magic wrapped around the body of the mare and levitated her to her back. She simply nodded, an unspoken order to leave this to her. I wouldn’t dare question it, both because she would be acting on Red Eye’s direct orders, but also because I was a bit terrified of the Alicorns. I’d seen what they could to ponies and how utterly ruthless they could be. That mare surviving was by direct order, for certain.
“C’mon Cloudy, lets go tell the others about how well you did!” I smiled at the colt, turning him with a hoof back toward the classroom. As we passed back into the classroom, I looked back and saw the alicorn start down the stairs. I pulled the door shut and let out a long sigh of relief.
After getting the foals all settled back in from the excitement and basking in Cloudy’s triumph, I received word directly from Red Eye. He wanted an eye he could trust to inspect the damage the Mare’s little escape attempt had wrought. She had managed to steal more of my down time, the wretch. So with an impatient pace I made my way back through the hotel and out the front door. Slavers had come and wrapped the bodies, some were chatting amongst themselves. I looked down as I came out to see the white cloth draped over Loose Leaf. I put a hoof gently on him before passing back towards the FunFarm. According to some of the slavers standing around the hotel, the mare had come through the mirror maze near the bumper car pits in the FunFarm.
I trotted back towards the FunFarm entrance. She’d only managed to kill two guards outside, Loose Leaf and the mare at the hotel but according to some of the slavers, it looked like there might be a lot more. The “Fillydelphia FunFarm Mirror Maze and House of Wacky Reflections” sat largely unused. The interior had been filled with shattered mirrors and was just deemed too much of a bother to deal with. It’s exterior was faded and damaged, large sections had lost their garish paint. The entrance had a large chaingun set in front of it on a tripod. There was a body lying beside it, covered with another cloth. Two slavers were picking up the heavy gun and moving it aside as I approached.
“Oi, prancer. I wouldn’t go in there. It’s a right bloody mess.” One of them said. He was older, dressed in a heavy coat. “Not sure what happened but they got cut up pretty bad.”
I shook my head, “Red Eye ordered I tally the devastation, regardless of my feelings on the matter.” I stepped past them as they moved the gun. The inside had been shredded by a hail of fire. What was the gunner thinking? A chaingun in close quarters? I pushed inward further. First was the grizzly scent. Strong and metallic, I gagged slightly at it. The scent of blood and from how strong it was, a lot of blood. Then the sight I came across left me falling short of words. ‘Cut up pretty bad’ didn’t really cover what I was seeing.
Five bodies, all of them cut to bloody ribbons. Blood was splattered across the walls and mirrors. Shards lay about and embedded into the very dead ponies. Their flesh had been rended, tendons torn and muscles split. What was worse was how far from instantly lethal this had been. It had been slow. They’d have been immobilized from shock and bled to death.
I wretched. What little I had eaten earlier before my shift came back up as I stumbled back. I’d seen ponies shot, I’d shot ponies. I’d seen slavers hurt ponies cruelly. This... was horrific. It was like the room had been turned into some nightmarish blender for ponies.
I pushed further in, trying to escape the scent and sight. Red Eye had ordered me to inspect the damage. What she did here... I had to lean against the wall as it hit. The foals had been a heartbeat away from this kind of massacre. Cloudy had been right in front of her. Could I have stopped her with that kind of power? How could such a little mare be so fucking lethal... I felt a shiver run through me. This mare was fucking evil. This kind of murder was unprecedented short of the work of raiders.
It was a little bit before I continued along. Two more bodies. Two mares I knew quite well. Rivet and Splatter. We’d occasionally play cards together. They had a bit of a thing going with a pair of stallions I knew. Both were dead now. Rivet took a shot directly to her eye. Splatter had bled out from a bad shot to the neck. I grimaced. That brought her kill count up to a staggering nine ponies. I felt my hooves shake, rage or fear I wasn’t sure at the time. I cleared my way into another room, no more gore or signs of violence.
Inside this room was the only unbroken mirror I’d seen here, the ground across from it was largely clear. I took a moment to admire myself in it. I still looked pretty good all things considered. My long mane was a bit messy from all the running and my eyes were both a bit bloodshot. At that point I still had both eyes. I was fortunate though, I wouldn’t have to go back to my apartment before fucking off to the Roamer. I needed a drink badly. I settled down across from the mirror, with my back against a spot clear of glass. For all my vanity, I still needed a breather. Loose Leaf was dead. He’d been a good pony, not quite a friend but a good pony. Rivet and Splatter might not have been great ponies but they had been closer to me than Loose Leaf. Just a bit more selfish than I’d have liked. They had ponies they cared about. They had stallions they loved. Who loved them. They didn’t deserve any of this.
I felt my hooves shaking again. It wasn’t rage or fear. My painkillers had worn off and I could feel the aches creeping back into my body. I repeated my process from before. Slowly drawing out the tubing and a syringe. I rolled my sleeve up and drew the tubing tight. With a vein lined up, I took the syringe in my mouth and slammed it home. The effect was pleasant. Slowly bringing stability back to my hooves. With that handled I leaned back and sighed. Letting the drug catch up to my body. I took one more look at myself in the still intact mirror and sighed at the sight looking back at me. I could see the wear, the ruin. The dirt and damage. I still looked great, for a slaver but I couldn’t ignore the... unpleasant feeling I got as I stared at myself. Laying against the wall with a syringe nearby. What would my family think of me now? What did I think of myself?
I shook it off, as lovely as the painkillers were, they had a nasty habit of letting my mind wander. As soon as they took effect, I pushed my way back to my hooves and started out of the room. I wanted to finish up and get a damn drink. I trotted out of the Mirror Maze and sent a runner off to Red Eye to deliver my report. Nine ponies dead, five brutally so. I stressed to the runner that my recommendation was public execution. Shoot the little mare and be done with it. With the report done, I cantered off to the Roamer. I badly needed a drink and some pleasant company. Anything to get my head clear. I needed a distraction.
The Roamer was a pleasant little bar set outside the walls of Fillydelphia. It was a quaint little building that had been turned into a bustling little saloon, with tacky Hearth's Warming lights strung up outside. The sign flickered lightly, most of the letters for it belonging to different fonts and colours. Inside was a warm atmosphere of dim lights and good music. It was a busy night, tables were packed and ponies sung and drank. A little island of mirth and merriment free from the shackles of work.
It was later in the evening than I’d have wanted it to be by the time I cantered through the door. I had stopped by the armory on the way, having unloaded my saddle and rifle for the night. I made my way to the bar, putting twenty five caps on the counter. If there was one benefit to my job, it was the descent pay. A moment later I had a mug filled with the locally brewed booze the Roamer served. The owner had several stills to produce enough booze to keep the Slavers content and suitably wasted. It wasn’t the strongest stuff, but if you drank enough of it, it did the job.
I looked around and saw lots of familiar faces but none I particularly cared for. I couldn’t see a table or booth that wasn’t occupied and didn’t particularly like the odds of approaching a random table. I was about to settle for drinking alone when I heard a voice say, “Hey little lady!” and I felt a hard slap on my rump. I yelped and spun hard bringing my forehoof up for a firm slap. I had expected a leering slaver pony, poking fun at my well kept appearance. Getting enough water for a bath, that didn’t leave you highly irradiated or worse was a pain and a half. Doing so didn’t earn you respect, but contempt for such a waste. I didn’t care, I made damn sure I had a working water pump and small purifier. It allowed for showers at least.
Instead of the leering slaver however, my hoof missed the griffin standing behind me. He had leaned back sharply as I swung, to avoid it and fell over onto his back. He stared wide eyed at me, before bringing a talon up to his beak to cough. “Oh! You’re a... you’re not a... ah, sorry!”
It was a joke I’d occasionally get when some new slaver thought he’d try and show off. Most of the older Slavers or more experienced ones knew me. They knew there were certain things you didn’t say or do to me. This little reputation had only grown worse as I had come to be known as a short tempered executioner, who shot ponies for imagined slights. I didn’t mind that, helped with the job but it made making friends hard. It’d been a long time since somepony had tried this one and at first I advanced on the griffin. The tables around us fell silent, all eyes falling on us. I might not have had my rifle but I was still an earth pony and could still buck someone fierce.
He brought his talons up defensively, “Ah! No really! I’m sorry!” He was younger for a Talon, early twenties at most. “I uh, was just uh, you looked lost. Didn’t mean uh-”
The frustration and anger bubbled away as I slowly realized, he really had mistaken me for a mare. I brought a hoof up to slap across my own muzzle, before the tables around us erupted in laughter.
With a sigh, I leaned down and stuck my hoof back out. “It’s alright, let's get you up Birdy.” I was admittedly a bit embarrassed. I didn’t like having the spot light for things like that. Being the center of attention because I’m pink? Because some clumsy bird mistook me for a mare? It was a bit humiliating but at least it was an honest mistake on his part.
He took my hoof with his talons and stood up. “Aha, seriously. Sorry. Let me buy you a drink. Sort of an apology and an ice breaker, yeah?”
I looked up at him, a bit incredulous. “... Seriously?”
“Yeah! Seriously! I’m sorta... new to Filly. This place is a bit uh, imposing, and I figured I’d get to know some of the folks here at this lovely little tavern!” He smiled a bit as he said it. It was an earnest smile, warm and surprisingly friendly.
I took a few seconds to look around. I didn’t have anyone else here, and I’d really like to avoid being in the spotlight again. I took a sip of my drink, having never let it go. “Alright, big guy. Let's go get a table.”
We settled into a corner table near the old jukebox at the back of the room. He had me sit down, insisting he go get the drinks after all that. I was expecting him to come back with more of the same as in my mug. Instead, he came back with a bottle and two shot glasses, as well as a mug of beer for himself. “Alrighty, I got something a little harder and more expensive to make up for that ah, little mistake.” He chuckled lightly, a soft accent that I couldn’t quite place.
He was... handsome for a griffin. I wasn’t usually the type to eye them up. Beaks didn’t look fun to work with, and I imagined they got feathers everywhere. Yet there I was. His neck and head were both covered in elegant white feathers and down. He had a few long ones worn forward as if to style them into a mane. Off the back of his head was a ponytail of them. I appreciated the effort, it looked very good on him. His eyes were this piercing blue catching light, even in the dim corner. I was always a sucker for blue eyes. His claws and beak were both black. His wings and bottom half both soft earthy brown. He wore the standard talon armor. Black combat plating with the Talon logo painted on the breast and a bodysuit underneath similar to the one I wore. I shook my head after I caught his eyes meeting mine, “It’s all good, uh, my name is Favor.” I said, bringing a hoof.
He shook it in both talons, sitting down. He was larger than me by a bit, but hardly the imposing sight most of the talons struck. “Nice to meet you Favor, my name’s Royal.”
“Royal, huh?” He did look it. Less fearsome merc, more noble griffin. “Nice to meet you.” I smiled before I caught his eyes again meeting mine. It was a nice change, most ponies in Filly either stare you down as a power thing or try to avoid meeting eyes in case they offend you.
He smiled warmly, putting the two shot glasses down. Then poured us both a shot, sliding mine over to me. “Let’s have a drink, shall we? On three?”
I laughed, brought my hoof to the shot and lifted up in a singular motion before saying, “Three.” Pouring the burning liquid down my throat, with a slight shiver. Vodka. It was a good brand too. “Keep em coming, Royal. I’ve had a shit day.”
He quickly drank his own, giving a slight cough before pouring another pair. “Ah? Wanna tell me about it?”
I put my hoof to my chin and thought for a moment. I’d just met him but honestly, who else was I going to chat with? Because of the report, I’d missed catching the ponies I usually drank with and I couldn’t see them here. So I nodded, taking the next shot.
We both raised them up this time and almost in unison, we both said, “Three!” before downing them together. With that I started to tell him about my day. The mediocre morning and then dealing with Whisper. He seemed amused as I went on about her insults, for probably longer than it warranted. He asked about Jester, Whisper’s replacement. I had to shrug for the most part. She seemed smart but I had only just met her. I might wander down there to give her some pointers. I rambled at some length about Glass as we downed another pair of shots. How she was a good overseer, if not a good person. He asked about the ponies I used to own and I spent a great deal of time talking about them. He was probably the first person I’d met to actually show an interest in the ponies themselves, not just my dedication to learning who they were. That definitely earned him some bonus points with me. We drank some more as I moved onto Mr. Shiny. I avoided my mentioning the painkillers. He listened intently as I rambled about Shiny’s... apathy. Then I got to the chase and the foals. He followed along excitedly, adding some more details he’d heard from ponies drinking. Apparently Red Eye was going to put the little mare in the Pit. I wasn’t exactly pleased but I figured it might as well be a death sentence.
The rest of the night is a bit hazy. We both talked about our plans for the day of rest, which were pretty similar. We drank late into the evening, eventually joining into the merriment of the crowd. Royal had this... natural charm that just let him blend into a crowd. After a while we joined a larger table to polish off the last of large bottle before he surprised everyone, including myself by pulling out a second bottle. He helped disarm a lot of tension, and by the end of the night we’d been to every table in the Roamer, singing and drinking the whole way.
Eventually, the Roamer kicked us out after last call. We managed to stumble our way back into Filly. He wasn’t exactly in any condition to wander and he wasn’t sure which building he was supposed to go to, to be honest neither was I. So instead of trying to find some place to dump him off, we just traveled back to my small apartment. Singing and causing a general ruckus for the ponies on the night shift all the way.
The courtroom was quiet as Cherish Favor finished the first part of the confession. Righteous Creed nodded to him. “Is that all you’d like to say for today, Cherish Favor?”
The pink stallion looked around the courtroom, eyes meeting with the mare wearing the ribbons. “For today, yes.” She smiled a bit, holding his gaze before Creed spoke again.
“Very well. Marshals Charity and Bronze Star, you may escort him back to his cell.” He gestured to Cherish as he spoke.
Charity rose to her hooves, taking her hat and putting it on while Bronze Star stood up to trot over to the chain. Unlocking it carefully while eyeing Cherish the whole time. Both trotted to either side of him, Bronze wrapping the chain attached to Cherish’ collar around his foreleg. The two began to lead him out of the courtroom. Charity, turned to him as they went.
“Why start here? Why... that day? Seems like you just confessed to a lot of crimes, that’s going to impact your sentencing.” There was a note of concern in her voice.
Cherish simply met her eyes, a weary look on his face. “Because this is where it started Marshal. This was the last day I was truly a slaver in Fillydelphia.”
With that, he turned his head back forwards as the Marshals escorted him out of the room.
Karma Level: -700 "Train Yard Terror"
Faction Reputation:
Red Eye's Devoted: Idolized
Slavers of Filly: Smiling Troublemaker
Chapter Two: A Light in the Dark
Chapter Two
Light in the Dark
“Sometimes all it takes is showing someone there’s an alternative.”
Lawbringer Record of Confession: Slaver C.F. Day 002
The sun was shining bright overhead, nary a cloud in the sky. The dark storm on mountains had drifted closer but had yet to roll over and drench the valley. The courthouse at the center of it was filling as ponies trotted in from small camps set up in the ruins around it. The confessional would be in session again soon, the main courtroom slowly filling with the audience as Righteous Creed was readying himself for another day’s testimony. The sheriff was directing ponies to their seats in the courtroom and Stenographer Knit Pick was going through her notes from the previous day.
Below the courthouse in the basement were a series of small holding cells connected to a long hallway and an adjoining room to act as a buffer between the cells and the stairs up to the courthouse proper. It was a simple room with some lockers, a desk with an oil lantern on it and a seat behind the desk. In the room, the marshals Charity and Bronze Star stood opposite each other. Charity glared sharply at the buck, who shook his head as he wrapped a bandage around his foreleg.
“He’s a slaver Charity. Admitted it himself.”
“So what? You’re not going to do another little display like yesterday. He’s at our mercy, Bronze. We’re not supposed to-” Charity chided until being cut off by an explosion of frustration from Bronze.
“To what, exactly? Treat him like the trash he is? Do you know who he is Charity? Just why the Mayor threw him out of his town? Why none of those townsponies stood up for him?”
It was her turn to shake her head, sighing.
“He’s the fucking butcher of New Roano.” Bronze spat. “The fucker wiped out that little town. By all rights, he should be swinging from the fucking gallows.”
Charity shrank back a bit. “A-ah. Regardless of what he’s done, he’s our prisoner Bronze. Ours.” She spoke softly, gesturing a hoof between the two of them. “You and I apprehended him together, and I intend to see him through this whole thing. Intact.”
Bronze brought his sore hoof back down to the floor. “Why are you protecting him? Why are we even bothering with any of this?! He’s admitted to his guilt Charity. He worked directly for fucking Red Eye himself.”
Charity shook her head. “It doesn’t matter Bronze! We’re supposed to hear him out. If he’s as guilty as it sounds, then you’ll get to shoot him anyway! We swore oaths to uphold the honors of the order.”
The buck sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll keep my hooves off him, for now.” He grumbled, starting to make his way out of the small adjoining room. His trot slow and with a bit of a limp.
Charity watched him with concern but waited until he’d started up the stairwell before making her way into the dark hallway where the cells sat. There were no oil lanterns or candles there, the only light coming from through the now open doorway. She started down the hall until she saw the soft pink glow. A line of pink light shone clear in the dark and shadowy cells. As she got further into the cells she could make out which one the light was emanating from. Cautiously she approached the cell door and saw the large, lanky slaver slumped against the back of his cell. Blood was dripping from Cherish’s nose and down his muzzle. It was hard to make out in the dark but he smiled warmly. Waving a shaky hoof out in a welcoming gesture.
“Well hello darlin.” His voice was soft, gentle despite the obvious pain.
“Sweet Celestia, are you okay? Bronze really did a number on you.” She moved quickly to the cell door, hooves taking the small combination lock and beginning to rotate it.
“Bit less than it looks. He clipped my muzzle and nose, didn’t break anything. Think he hurt himself.” He coughed lowly, blood splattering from the movement.
She moved to open the lock but stopped, looking at the floor. The manacles and chains resting at his hooves. “He left you unshackled.”
“Didn’t give him much choice when I started fighting back.” He nodded. “Mind fetching something to clean me up? I’d hate for my friends to see me like this and it hardly seems decorum for such an... important... err... ritual? Ordeal? Gosh, I don’t know darlin. Thing. Seems a might bit tacky to be soaked in blood for such a proper thing.”
She stared at him in a mix of confusion and disbelief. “You fought back? And still want to go back upstairs and keep going through with this?”
With a great deal of effort, Cherish pushed off the ground and stood up on shaky hooves. His matted mane over his face as the light from his cybernetic eye peered through. “Slaves bow their heads and whimper. They learn not to fight back. Not to... do the wrong thing. Yet even the greenest slaver learns there’s a breaking point to what a slave will take.” He said gently taking the manacles in his hooves. “You usually beat it out of them, or starve it out of them. Break their spirit.” His tone was still remarkably gentle as he lifted a hoof and gestured all around. “No light, no interaction except beatings and the courtroom. Denying me the chance to see anypony that isn’t one of my captors. It’s a good way to break a pony’s spirit.”
She frowned, but he brought a hoof up to stop her.
“He crossed a line and pushed me too far. I stopped him.” He brought his eyes up to gaze at her. The pink light focusing entirely on her. “That’s all. I’m not trying to rebel, I’m not going to fight you. Probably couldn’t given my current state. Just wanna get this whole thing over with.”
“You’re going to come with me then?”
He sat back on his haunches, latching the manacles shut over his hindlegs with a sharp click, before locking his forelegs as well. “Yep. After you get something to clean me up a bit.”
She frowned again, watching the stallion lock himself back up. “... Why?”
“Only way I’m getting out of here right? At least without a whole heap of bloodshed and bodies. I made a promise to a... friend I cared dearly for and I intend to keep it.”
She pondered that before trotting back out of the room and to the lockers. She returned a moment later with an old towel in her teeth and a canteen around her neck. She passed both through the bars to the lanky stallion who carefully began to wet the towel with the canteen and clean himself up.
She watched him, unsure if she could trust him to do the simple task. He largely ignored her, focusing on the blood and wincing when he worked his muzzle clean.
“What I wouldn’t give for a double dose of Carechem right now. Or a split mix of care and med-x. Anything.” He grumbled, tossing the now bloody towel on the floor in front of Charity.
She just frowned.
“Alright, darlin. This is as good as I’m going to get down here.” He said, ignoring the frown and shifting slowly to the front of the cell in the manacles. “Lets get today over with. I imagine the other Marshal will be quite rough with me when we’re done.”
“No, he won’t. You’re not getting beaten any more.”
Cherish chuckled, coughing a bit before clumsily bringing a manacled hoof to rub his muzzle gently. “If that’s true I’ll appreciate it, Miss Charity right?
She nodded. “Oh, er... yes my name is Charity. And yes, it is true. I’ll be more... involved to be sure. I didn’t think he’d be so hostile.”
“Reminds me of a pony I knew. Lots of anger and frustration. Certainly doesn’t much like me though.” Cherish smirked before gesturing to the cell door. “Shall we?”
Together they trotted out of the basement and through the courthouse to the large courtroom. They stood outside the doors, waiting for the Sheriff to bring them both inside. A pair of guards flanked Cherish on either side, like the day before. After a while the yellow coated Sheriff opened the door and told Charity to lead him in.
The procession towards the front of the room remained the same. Cherish scanned the room the moment he entered. His eyes eventually came to rest on the earth pony with the ribbons in her mane. Though his legs shook and his body ached, he gave a wide smile at her. She was still wearing the lovely sundress from the day before, but had added a cowpony hat to accompany it. With her presence noted, he lifted his gaze towards the front of the room where he was led. Meeting Righteous Creed’s own gaze down at him, his smile faded.
Charity took care to walk slower, without dragging Cherish along. There were some approving nods from the aisles of ponies and some hushed whispers about being too soft. Together they made their way to the front, before Charity locked the chain to Cherish’s collar to the floor. Keeping him in place once again. With that she took her seat, setting her hat down on the table as she had done the day before. Bronze was waiting there, a displeased look on his face.
With all present, Righteous Creed lifted a hoof to silence the little whispers and quiet conversations that had filled the room at Cherish’s appearance. He looked Cherish over and then nodded to the slaver.
“Are you ready to continue, Cherish Favor?”
Cherish nodded, clearing his throat. “I am, sir.”
“Then you may have the floor.”
“Well, the next day was the day of rest. Though I didn’t quite know it at the time, it was also to be the most important day of my life. It’s funny, for such an auspicious day, it started out quietly.”
I awoke the next morning, my head splitting from a well earned and somewhat deserved hangover. My small apartment was dark. I’d had boarded up the windows when I moved in, filling the windowsill with old pillows and draping a heavy black curtain I’d found scavenging over them to block out as much sound and light from the hellish day to day of Fillydelphia. The only light seeping into my little home was that from under the door to the hallway. I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep but I had been doing that for the past few hours. The day of rest wasn’t quite a restful day for the Slavers. We had jobs to do, but our shifts were lighter since it was largely just watch work, guard duty, or running errands.
With an agonizing groan, I turned the small lamp that sat by my bed on. Bathed in the warm light of the lamp I closed my eyes and tried to roll over. I was startled to find myself bump into a warm body next to me. I sat up and stared down at the large form of Royal, dozing peacefully beside me. His feathers were all out of sorts, his carefully styled feather ponytail having been undone at some point. At first I was concerned, I don't normally forget the details of a wild night. It’s a blessing and a curse, being able to largely recall the stupid things you did. It helps you either fix them or hide them, but unfortunately that also meant you remembered all the stupid things you said or did and had to live with that knowledge.
I scanned the room quickly, trying to piece together the prior night after getting home. Our armor was scattered around the room. My body glove sat on the floor by the bed. Royal was thankfully still wearing his. Not that I’d have minded a roll in the hay as it were, but I’d have much preferred to remember it. I pulled the blanket down a bit and grabbed his shoulder.
“Hey, birdy.” My voice was hoarse from the night prior.
He grumbled something and reached up to drag the blanket back over his head.
I lifted a hoof to his shoulder, and pushed the blanket back down. “C’mon birdy, we really aught to get up.”
“Mmf, you ponies sure are friendly.” He grumbled, sitting up. “Though, morning after etiquette is to let the hungover griffin rest.”
I chuckled lightly, “Ah, well, I’m not quite sure I want to be responsible for you missing your first shift. You’re new right? We ought to get you set up in the Funbarn.”
“I’d really rather sleep in, but I’m guessing that’s not an option, huh?”
“Nope. Now get up, birdy.”
We got out of bed, in a perfect world I’d have had a shower and cleaned myself up so I wouldn’t feel so terrible. Unfortunately the limited amount my scrap purifier could do wasn’t enough for a shower a day. Instead, I made us some two-hundred year old instant coffee before wobbling my way to the bathroom. I was a bit thankful for the hangover, it disguised my shaky legs from withdrawal. I liked Royal, he seemed like a lot of fun but I didn’t quite trust him yet.
I stared at myself in the cracked bathroom mirror. My mane was a mess, matted to my face. My eyes were bloodshot and I could see the wear of the night’s drinking in the heavy bags under them. I looked like hell. I quickly rummaged through the small bathroom cabinet to fetch one of my spare doses of painkillers, taking it right away. With my hooves gaining some semblance of stability, I spent some time brushing and fixing my mane back into place. I was always meticulous when it came to self grooming. One of the only things I could really take pride in, was my appearance and I wasn’t going to ruin that with a bad mane day.
After taming my mane and letting my pupils shrink a bit, I got myself dressed. I threw on my spare body glove and then put a few pieces of my armor on. The torso plating specifically. I wasn’t going to have a hard day so I wanted to be comfortable. It might leave me somewhat lacking in protection, but I could live with it today. I slipped on one of my dark military jackets. Comfortable and stylish, really. When I finally finished, I found Royal sitting on the bed in his armor with his coffee cup in his talons.
“Well, you look much better, but ah, was all that necessary?” He smirked, sipping his coffee.
“Royal, darlin. If I’m going to go out I’m going to look good. I will not look like a discount bandit or raider. While most of the slavers here might be fine looking like a pile of two hundred year old trash, I have standards. And so do you apparently, fixed your feathers up.” I chided as I pointed to the top of his head, where he’d seen to ‘brush’ his feathers back into place and retie his ponytail.
He rolled those beautiful blue eyes, “Right, so you woke me up so you could spend an hour getting pretty for all the ponies out there?”
“First off, it was fifteen minutes.” I said, stomping a hoof. “And second, I do my best to look good for ME. Not them.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, though I did very much enjoy the feeling of being the best looking pony in the room.
He smiled wide and nodded his head. “Fifteen of the longest minutes of my life, but I’ll admit, you do capture the ‘handsome rogue’ feel pretty well.”
I give him a smug grin, “C’mon now, give me credit. ‘Handsome’ doesn’t cut it. Gorgeous? Brilliant? Stunning? Breathtaking? Think big birdy~”
He stood up and smirked back at me, “You are the prettiest pony I’ve met.”
I facehoofed but figured that was the best I was going to get from my feathered companion. We bantered back and forth as we left my apartment and we had to stop by the armory I used to retrieve my battle saddle. There were several armories throughout the city, each varying in size depending on who used them. The armory I relied on was a smaller one, situated near my apartment and conveniently on the way to the Funfarm. This also put it between the Funfarm and the Roamer outside the walls, which made the after shift trips to the bar so much easier. The building it was housed in was once a small corner shop. The faded sign above the entrance having been painted over with “Guns Guns Guns”, in bold black letters.
I pushed the rusty ramshackle door open, stepping inside. The interior had been repurposed with heavy metal fences and a small booth with a locked door beside it acting as the transfer window. Reading a book at the booth’s window was a younger mare. Her yellow mane was cut short on one side, hanging over half her face. She didn’t even look up as we entered.
“Have your tickets if you’re picking up, please unload all ammunition if you’re dropping off.” Her tone was simply bored.
“Gee hun, I figured you’d be happy to see me at least.” I smiled playfully, giving Royal a nudge to follow me as I trotted up to the booth.
“Morning Favor, surprised you’re up at all after last night.” She shrugged, flipping the page of her book without looking up to us.
I shrugged back and put a hoof on the counter. “Takes a lot more than a few drinks and a lot of singing to keep me down.”
She glanced up, a rather unhappy look on her face. “I wish it didn’t. I was enjoying sleeping soundly until you woke up the whole neighborhood.”
Royal chuckled loudly, before falling sheepishly quiet when the little mare shot him a glare that could strip paint off sheet metal.
“Look, Ratchet darlin, I-”
“Don’t you fucking ‘darlin’ me, Cherish fucking Favor.” She groaned, closing her book.
“Cherish?” Royal said quietly behind me, giving a bit of a quiet and confused laugh.
“I spend all bloody day getting these beauties into working order, and that leaves me burnt out. Then you and that fucking squawk box bird,” She shot her hoof out pointing harshly at Royal. “Come trotting along and fuck up my sleep singing Apple Roads, off key might I add, at the top of your lungs.”
I tried to look abashed. That part I could remember, we had been singing it poorly since leaving the Roamer. Got chided by some of the night shift, so out of spite we sang louder. “Ah-ha, I’m sorry Ratchet. We were just...”
“Very drunk.” She said flatly.
“Err... yeah. It was a hell of a time.” I chuckled, trying to ignore the glare I received for it. “Look, we definitely overstepped. I’d like to get my saddle back without having it fall apart on me so how can I make this right?”
She brought a hoof up to her chin, tapping it a few moments and giving it a genuine consideration. “Make it right? Heh, well you might have an appreciation for a good night's sleep if you take a shift for me.”
My ears flattened and I sighed. “I’d really rather not, but I’m guessing a few extra caps isn’t going to fix this, huh?”
“Nope. Caps are nice, but a day off? Even better.” She grinned at me.
“Alright darlin. You got a deal. Let me find out my schedule and we’ll set aside a day for it.” I sighed, defeated.
She clopped her hooves together, smiling. “Good. Now, let me fetch that saddle for you.” With that she hopped off the stool she sat on and disappeared into the rows of weapon racks behind her.
I liked Ratchet. She was a smart and hard working mare, and at times could be genuinely playful and fun. However she was also very... irritable and vindictive. Her job was to ensure weapons and gear were stored but she did some maintenance as a time killer. Usually she’ll keep your gear in tip top shape, unless you pissed her off. Then you were... well, fucked basically. She knew every weapon in her armory and wasn’t above fucking with them if you irritated her. Tinkering with them until they’re just temperamental enough to cause you no end of grief while still being mostly serviceable. If anyone complained, she just washed her hooves of it and claimed she hadn’t done any adjustments. I had no plans on letting her stay mad at me. If I could find any, I’d probably bring her some sugary treats just to smooth things over for sure.
“Which armory did you drop your guns off in, Royal?” I asked, turning to look at the smiling griffin.
“Your first name is Cherish?”
Oh boy, here we go. “Yes... it is.” I said through gritted teeth.
“Not a slavers name there.” He snickered. “Maybe a dancers name....”
I trotted to him, a scowl on my face. With a threatening hoof raised I growled, “Look, there’s a reason I don’t like sharing it Royal. I’m gonna only ask you once, don’t fucking-”
He brought a talon down to my muzzle, shushing me. “I’m not going to make more fun.” He smiled down at me. “I actually quite like it. Suits you better, at least from how you were last night, but I’m guessing you don’t like it from the look on your face.”
I took a short step back, “I’m supposed to be an intimidating executioner, exacting the judgement of Filly on slavers who fail. Kinda hard to do that with a name like ‘Cherish’, understand?”
He shook his head, “Not really. Pony names are... all like that aren’t they?”
“Sort of but most slavers here pick new names to fit their roles. Most wouldn’t admit it, but few ponies actually get names like Whiplash or Shackles. Unless you’re born into the role, you usually have to change your name to fit it.” I shrugged, “For me, I didn’t want to drop my name. Just... not use the full thing, you know?”
He pondered that a moment, before nodding softly. “Well Favor, I like it but I won’t use it if you don’t want me to.”
I sighed and nodded, “Good. Thanks for understanding. Now which armory is your stuff in?”
“Err oh. None. It should all be with the rest of my belongings.” He said, shrugging.
“Oh. And you couldn’t remember where you were staying...”
“Yeah.”
I facehoofed. “Alright let’s get checked in with the bosses and find out where you’re supposed to be.”
I got my saddle back from Ratchet, my rifle loaded and ready. We left shortly after, making our way through the now bustling paths of the city. Fillydelphia during a regular day was a constantly moving beast. With the day of rest today, the night shifts were just coming to an end. Slaves were being ushered along from their workshifts back to their pens, carts and wagons of everything from supplies to fresh slaves were being pulled along the streets. Slavers marching their stocks along, shouting orders, and directing the masses. It was the hectic last minute rushes before everypony was sent off to rest. If you weren’t used to the daily bustle, this rush could be overwhelming and Royal had a hard time keeping up. Most griffins flew overhead or watched from towers and rooftops. Royal didn’t. He stayed along side me the whole way to the Funfarm. He kept getting distracted by the scenes around us. The casual violence and terrible conditions of the slaves really seemed to stick with him. This was his first real view of Fillydelphia from the ground apparently.
As we neared the fences around the Funfarm, he took a moment to stop and asked me, “Is it always like this?”
He had no idea what he’d gotten himself into. I could sympathize. The first real exposure is always the hardest. Kind hearted souls numbed quickly or withered in Fillydelphia. As I turned to answer I could see by the look on his face that the blatant harshness and cruelty of his new home struck him hard.
“You get used to it.” I said flatly. It wasn’t a lie, not entirely.
“Sweet merciful skies... this is the day to day then? How can you ponies be so... cruel to one another? I can fight, I’m a Talon! B-but this is... entirely different.” His tone was disgusted.
“I mentioned the slaves last night, that’s the point of this place, Royal, how can this be a surprise to you?”
“I-I thought... I mean I’ve seen slaves, but this is...” He trailed off, looking around at the sheer number and level of brutality of it all.
“Bloody work. Lots of ponies die every day.” I’d seen the casualty numbers many times myself. “But it’s necessary. It’s a cruel world out there and the only way we’re going to rebuild is with a strong foundation. Only way we’re going to get a strong foundation for future generations is through this kind of sacrifice.”
He looked incredulous. “Sacrifice? You can’t honestly believe that Cher-err Favor?”
I frowned a bit. “I do. I’ve been here since Red Eye first took over. I’ve been with him for longer than that. This is... the groundwork for a proper nation. It takes sweat, blood, and bodies to build up something so grand but we keep fighting each other and letting... parasites like raiders and bandits run amok and destroy every little village! This becomes the only real solution Royal. If ponies won’t work together to rebuild, we have to force them. Ponies don’t do better on their own. They won’t. We’re too selfish to.” I stomped a hoof down to emphasize my point. “If we weren’t we’d have rebuilt Equestria a long time ago.”
He was quiet for a moment, before nodding softly. “I see... I wasn’t... really prepared for this. I’m here to learn under my aunt, to learn to be a proper Talon leader. I was told that this place was the center of industry and slavery for Equestria. Back home though slaves aren’t... treated like this... I just wasn’t expecting...”
“Tartarus?” I said, still frowning. “There’s a lot of... bad things that have to be done to run a place like this. I don’t like the cruelty or the violence needed to do so, but it is needed. Some of us try to do better as overseers. Some of us try to treat slaves like the ponies they are but there’s only so many ponies who can do that job and not let the situation eat at them. Most slavers are...” I gestured around at the scenes of slavers forcing their slaves onward, beating the fallen ones, berating the slow and sick. “Slavers.”
He nodded again, “Ah... I... understand. I think. I’ll try to keep all that in mind.”
“You’re a Talon, Royal. Your jobs are a lot cleaner, easier to swallow. Contracts and all. Talons are not usually put in charge of slaves, they serve as guards and specialists.” I spoke carefully, trying to ease his mind a bit. I could see those beautiful blue eyes scanning over the slaves all around us. It was a painful reminder of how... abnormal all this really was. Abnormal or not however, we still had jobs to do. So with Royal following quietly along side, I made my way through the gates of the Funfarm and we started towards the Funbarn.
The slaves in the Funfarm were either resting or idling about and chatting with one another. It was a bit of a change from the last minute rushes outside the gates. These ponies were enjoying the brief respite Red Eye had generously granted them. The slaves were given free reign until their next shifts, which for almost all of them would be tomorrow. This meant that the usual rules were all suspended. Almost all the slavers on duty now were simply doing guard work and most of them were disinterested, to say the least. Royal didn’t say anything but I could tell he was appreciating the easier atmosphere here.
The Funbarn had a similar relaxed atmosphere. The slavers inside were either off duty or had relatively simple tasks for the day. We passed through the large entry way and the areas that had been converted into offices and workspaces towards the upper levels. We were headed for Stern’s office, both to get my shift for the day and we needed to get Royal where he was supposed to be. Stern’s office was situated on the uppermost level of building, along with Red Eye’s own personal housing and office. This area of the barn had been the most extensively repaired and redecorated. I led Royal down a newly carpeted hallway to the door to Stern’s office, knocking lightly on the door.
“Come in.” Stern’s voice was distinct and authoritative, even with just a simple command. We entered and she looked up from the terminal she sat behind. She was a middle aged griffin, white feathered head and black coat. She had a pair of exceptionally sharp green eyes, each ringed with a black pattern in her feathers that only made them stand out even more. Her armor was the same as the other Talon’s wore, just in much better condition and with a few rank markings on it.
I gave her respectful nod, and I felt awkwardly strange as she blinked those sharp green eyes and a huge smile crossed her face. I’d never seen her smile like that. It was genuinely uncomfortable to see the usually stoic and harsh griffin grin like that.
“Little Royal! You’ve grown up!” She proclaimed, shooting up out of her chair.
“Auntie Stern.” Royal smiled, his tone warm and familiar. It was a nice change from our earlier conversation until my brain caught up with what he’d just said.
Stern walked over to him and put her talons on his shoulders, looking him up and down appraisingly. “Look at you, kid! You’ve really gotten big.” She tilted his beak side to side, as if inspecting him for any flaw. “You look so much like your father.”
I stood, jaw hanging open as I watched in stunned silence.
“Mom says the same thing.” He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
The... joy she had on her face faded to a smile as she took a step back and straightened up. “So! You’ve been sent to my city to learn how to be a proper leader.”
As she took the more professional stance, I watched Royal stiffen into a salute. “Yes, Ma’am.” It was not natural to the warm and friendly nature I’d seen of him so far.
“Then care to explain why you missed your check in last night?”
My heart stopped. Last night. Oh no.
“Ma’am, I arrived late due to the storms and got separated upon landing. I wasn’t sure where to go, and followed some ponies looking for directions. Instead we wound up in the Roamer and-”
I watched her smile fade as she slapped her own face with a talon and let out an exasperated sigh. Royal winced as she did.
“And why didn’t you come here last night?”
“Err, sorry Ma’am. I got... caught up in the Roamer’s festivities, but Favor here found me and gave me a place to stay until I could remember to come check in.”
She rubbed her beak in frustration. “This is why your mother sent you to me Royal. How are you supposed to be an effective leader when you can’t even follow a simple direction? Rule one of my Talons. No Alcohol. None. Period. You get caught drinking again, you get disciplined. Understand?”
He swallowed hard, nodding. “Yes Ma’am.”
“Good. I’ll make a proper commander of you if it kills us both, Royal.”
I wasn’t sure if it was a joke, a turn of phrase, or the honest truth. From her tone, I could believe she’d go that far.
“Now, go retrieve your gear from your quarters on the floor below. Your stuff managed to make it here, even if you didn’t.” She ordered as she drew and tossed a key to him. “Come back here after you’re ready. And don’t get lost.”
He caught it deftly and nodded again, “Yes Ma’am.”
As Royal left us, she turned and looked down at me. “Close the door Favor.”
I did so, moving to take a seat across from her as she sat back down at her desk. I swallowed hard as she looked at me.
“Thank you for making sure he didn’t get into too much trouble last night. My nephew’s a good fighter but a poor soldier.” She said, shaking her head.
I was both relieved she wasn’t yelling at me for drinking with and then dragging her nephew home with me, and utterly baffled at what just happened. “Ah... he seems like a good kid? Very friendly.”
She nodded, “Yes he is. Which is part of the problem. My sister is at her wits end with him, and so she’s asked me to shape him into a proper Talon commander.”
“I’d... gathered that much, Stern.” I said, folding my hooves on the table. She wasn’t normally this open about Talon business, so I assumed she was going to ask something of me.
“He’s too green, too... weak.” She sighed, bringing a talon up to pinch the bridge of her beak. “Weak isn’t the right word. He’s... gentle. Soft hearted?”
“Kind?” I offered.
“Yeah. He’s got to harden up.” She nodded, “So I’m stuck with him. He’s a brilliant fighter, and I’m glad to have his skills but I’ve got to... mold him into a proper commander. Which is where you come in, Favor.”
I tilted my head, a bit confused as to why she’d choose me of all ponies to ‘harden him up’. Though after the previous night, I was sure I could just not likely in the way she meant.
“I’m going to stick him in your squad. Red Eye has wanted to give your squad a Talon for a while now and I think you’re probably best suited to show him Red Eye’s vision and how to adapt and harden up. After all, you did it yourself.”
“I can do my best with him Stern, gave him a bit of a talking to already on the way here. What’s he done most of his life? He seems... very out of touch with how things go on here.”
“For as much as I love my sister, she’s a bit too soft on him. Shelters him. They operate well outside of Equestria, have done so for all his life. So he’s only had a little experience with ponies. Add to the fact that my sister has preferred to use him as combat support rather than the front line fighter he was born to be? He’s had an easy life. I’m giving him to you, to learn how the world works here. You and him already get along, so maybe he’ll actually follow your orders.”
I nodded, giving her a smile. “Alright, I can do that. I’ll have him come with me on my daily tasks, show him the hard reality of progress, and help him see the necessity.”
She nodded her head, sighing a bit with relief. “When he’s made some progress and can show some backbone, I’ll take him under my wing and show him the finer details of running a Talon company. Until then, he’s at your beck and call. Be hard on him Favor, don’t give him any room to slack off and keep him away from the damned Roamer.”
I gave a salute from my chair. “Is that my task for the day then? Get him settled in and show him the ropes?”
“Yes, but Red Eye has requested your presence for the Pit Fight today. He has something for you afterward. Feel free to bring Royal along with you. He could do with the display.”
“The Pit Fight? I suppose I’ll have to be there then. The slave that tried to escape yesterday is slated to fight right?”
She grinned, “Red Eye has a treat lined up for her yes. There’s a few punishment details in the lists but we’ve also made sure the lists are set up to ensure she gets a spectacular fight.”
I gave a firm nod. Red Eye had wanted her alive, and was giving her a chance to fight in the Pit. He clearly saw something in her to give her the chance to survive.
The door to the room opened again, and in walked Royal. He’d added an old military cap to his outfit, along with a pair of armored gloves and his weapons. What looked to be a magical energy rifle slung over his back and a... sword on his hip? A proper, hilt and guard, long sword. I raised my eyebrow taking him in.
“A sword?” I’d seen raiders use some scrap metal machetes, one time I had even seen an old sign hammered into a piece of wood and sharpened into an axe. But I’d never seen a proper blade like that outside old comic books and the occasional old movie poster.
“Yep. Great for when your opponent gets too close for a rifle or when you’ve got to challenge some arrogant bastard to a duel.” Royal responded, with a grin.
Stern just shook her head, clearly she’d expected this. “Royal, you’ll be working with Favor. You’re to serve as his bodyguard and protector, as well as learn from him and his squad for the next few weeks. Once he thinks you’re ready, you’ll start shadowing me and I’ll show you how to hammer out contractual details. Understand?”
He saluted her proudly. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Now Favor, if you’ll excuse me I’ve got some last minute prep to do before getting the Pit ready.”
I stood up and saluted as well, “Not a problem.” With that, I trotted out the door with Royal in tow. He followed behind until we were outside the Funbarn, where he stopped.
“So she’s sticking us together? Why? Not that I have a problem with it, mind. I quite enjoyed last night, just... I thought she wanted me to be a proper Talon.”
I considered lying to him, but there’d be no real benefit. He had to learn to be a stronger, sterner. Sugar coating it would just delay it. “She thinks you’re too soft. Too gentle.”
He looked upset. “But... wouldn’t a Talon make more sense?”
“Sort of, but she figured I’d be a better choice since I had to learn that same lesson a long time ago.” I shrugged, trotting over to stand beside him. “She’s putting you with me because I know what it’s like to struggle here, and how to get past that struggle.”
He looked unsure, but nodded. “If that’s... what I need. I’ll do what I have to.”
Together we set off for a short tour of the city. Fortunately for Royal, the last shifts had cleared out while we had been in the Funbarn, so the streets were far less crowded. Slaves wandered and talked with one another, slavers slacked off playing cards or idly chatting about the coming Pit fights. Days of rest were largely peaceful, and you could almost mistake Fillydelphia for a normal city if you ignored the collars and sickly state of all the slaves. Even under the ever present red haze of Filly’s toxic skyline, days of rest really did wonders to help ease the atmosphere.
I showed him the various work yards and factories that made up the heart of Filly’s industry. Followed up with the train yard and its connections outside the wall. Now was a perfect time. With the shifts having ended for the day of rest and most of the slaves cleared out, it allowed us to move through at a comfortable pace.
The last stop was the Alpha and Omega. I couldn’t bring him up to see the foals, not yet at least but I explained a bit more about the necessity of the slaves and how the work they were doing would help the next generation escape the need for slavery. I could tell he was still on the fence about it, but he nodded along anyway.
He and I eventually set back to the Funbarn to hit the mess hall that had been set up on the lower level. Settling into a table with the mediocre meal provided. It was a stew, it was always a blasted stew. Red Eye had the scavenger teams set aside all the real food, preserved or fresh, for the Foals. He ate the same stuff we all did, for even he wasn’t above his own rationing. It was simultaneously inspiring, and frustrating. Our food was still miles above the slop that the slaves had to suffer through, but it was still well below even the most mediocre home cooked meal. If you had the aptitude, caps, and the time, you could purchase small amounts of the food stocks that were in abundance from the commissary. Letting you cook your own meal. I used to cook a lot when I was an overseer. I didn’t really have much of a drive or reason to now though. So while I complained, I still managed to stomach it. Royal however seemed to quite like the meal. No accounting for taste I suppose. As we ate, the group of ponies I was supposed to drink with the night prior approached our table. My squadmates.
See, Chief Cooperative Organizer wasn’t just a fancy title. I was responsible for the military cooperation along side the general slaver administration. It’s a bit overly complicated to get into specifics but essentially there were three branches of Red Eye’s operations. You had the Devotees, We were the main administration branch of the whole thing. Most of our special operations were tied to Red Eye’s personal projects and broader vision. Teaching the Foals for example, or running excavation, or Red Eye’s technological or spell research. We were the ponies who came willingly and sought out a place of service and believed in his vision.
Next was the Fillydelphia Administration, or the Slavers. Though most of the Devotees were also slavers to some degree, almost all of us were prevented from playing politics in Fillydelphia. The slavers who ran Filly’s work yards and industrial factories were responsible for their day to day leadership as well as handling disputes. To be honest, I’d hoped Red Eye would’ve forced them into submission to serve as the Devotees did, but he’d often told me to do so would be the end of his vision here. The Filly Administration kept the city running and had their own little liberties for it.
Lastly, you had Red Eye’s Army. Which really, was a bit of a misnomer. There were technically about nine or ten different groups that made up the Army. Mercenaries who had been bought up, devoted followers who led small companies of trained soldiers, and of course those who had served Red Eye as slaves and were offered their freedom through military service. This also included Pit Fighter victors, but I don’t believe anyone ever actually succeeded at that. Most of them were slaves or slavers who had been offered a way out for some great triumph or deed that Red Eye, or one of his core followers, found worthy enough.
All three branches answered through some means to Stern, who answered directly to Red Eye. As the Chief Cooperative Organizer it was my job to ensure these branches all played nice and didn’t start fights with one another. To do that I had a squad of ponies I could trust to handle the day to day errands and when Red Eye called upon me to do special jobs, they were my back up.
“Alright folks. Listen up. This is Royal. He’ll be joining the squad for a while. Sterns orders.” I said as the five ponies approached and started to take their seats. The largest of them was a turquoise coated earth pony mare with a long silvery mane.
“Royal, this is Barricade. Just call her Cade” I nodded to her as I gestured in her direction. She sat down beside Royal, draping a heavy hoof around his neck.
“Nice. He’s pretty cute. Shame feathers ain’t my thing.” She chimed in. He played it off well, chuckling with her when she laughed.
She was as close to a friend as I could have in Filly. She’d joined up to follow Red Eye way back before we ever took over Filly. She wasn’t my second in command, just the one I trusted the most. Our defensive expert and amateur geologist.
Next to her sat a wiry and short cream coated unicorn buck. His mane was a vibrant mix of bright pink and rich purple, all poofy and messy. He had a cigarette in one side of his mouth and a lollipop in the other.
“Hey! No stealing my bit, Cade! I love me some feather dusters.” He grinned wickedly at the pair, missing a few teeth and he just couldn’t help the jittery look to his eyes.
Royal looked at me confused, so I gestured to the unicorn. “That is Triple Berry Cocktail, Berry for short.”
“You callin’ me short now boss?” He shot me a harsh look before bursting into laughter. “Nah, I’m just shittin you birdy. Boss already knows I’m short.”
I chuckled as Royal tried to keep up with Cade who laughed with Berry. Berry was our explosives expert. He was also surprisingly talented at playing the guitar but he rarely did it for any of us. He and Cade were very close. Not lovers, but I chose to keep Berry on because of the bond he and Cade had, despite his... checkered history as a raider. They were the ones who took care of Army details.
The third member of my little group to take a seat was a green coated earth pony with an earthy brown mane and tail. He sat across from Royal and stuck out a hoof. Royal took it with a shake and the earth pony smiled wide.
“Well hey there big guy!” He said, before I could introduce him. “I’m Nocs, welcome to the group. Don’t let ol’ Cade fool you. She’s had her fair share of griffins.” He beamed at the confused griffin, who was... reassessing the mare draped around him.
Nocs, because Binoculars is too long to say in a panic, was the groups stealth specialist and markspony. Very few ponies could out shoot him, and those who could had long since left Filly. Nocs was also the most chatty of the group. He was quite friendly for a pony who shot other ponies in the face for a living.
Beside him sat a dusty grey earth pony mare, her yellow mane braided behind her. She looked Royal over before giving him a polite smile.
“And this is Keyword.” I nodded to her, my hoof moving to gesture at her.
“Well hello there, Keyword. Nice to meet you!” He said, sticking out a talon to greet her as Nocs had done for him. To her credit, she didn’t blanche. Just taking it politely and giving it a light shake.
“Ah... Key is fine. Nice to ah... meet you too?” Her tone was... awkward at best. Key was our technical expert. She could crack a terminal blindfolded with a hoof tied behind her back but by the Sisters she wasn’t very sociable.
Royal turned back as Nocs began to barrage him with questions. Key sat watching Nocs intently, unable to take her eyes off him. I could practically feel the desire in that stare. Poor girl was hopelessly in love with Nocs. He... hadn’t quite noticed, yet at least. I was determined to get them together. They were my eyes and ears among the other Devotees.
Last to join us and take a seat was a dusty yellow unicorn buck with a flowing dark blue mane. He chose the spot directly across from me, before gesturing a hoof at Royal. Not as a greeting though Royal took his hoof and shook anyway. He looked nonplussed at the griffin before turning to stare daggers at me.
“Are you fucking him?”
“What, no? I mean, would it matter if I was? You said I was single now, after all.”
I heard the others laugh and watched him grind his teeth. “Well maybe if you weren’t such a dick, you might not be.” He huffed.
“Royal, this is... Two-Trick. My second in command and-”
“And his ex. So are you doing the paperwork then?”
Royal blinked and looked at me. “Uh, am I?”
“What? No, he’s here to learn how the trade works and how-”
“Oh so we’re foalsitting. Well fuck us then, huh?” Two snidely cut in again.
“I mean if you’re offering, sure?” Royal smirked as the rest of the table burst into laughter. Two huffing and giving me a glare.
Two was the squads magic specialist. Besides being a talented magician and a very smart pony, Two was an... on again off again partner of mine. He wasn’t like me in many ways. He was harsh and blunt when it came to slaves, and had little care for Red Eye’s grand vision. Instead focusing more on his magical prowess. That said, Two was one of the most competent administrators I’d ever had the pleasure to work with. He was efficient, quick, and he certainly made some fun noises if you pushed the right buttons. As I said, he and I had a bit of a strained history but like a bad habit I couldn’t quite give him up. Plus, he had these bright green-blue eyes. Not as nice as Royals, but certainly a plus for me. He and I were the ones in charge of keeping up with the Slavers.
I waved a hoof at Two. “It’ll be okay Two... and even if it doesn’t work out we’re kinda stuck with him.”
Royal nodded. “Yeah don’t really get much of a choice myself.”
“Oh goodie.” Two groaned before Cade gave him a hoof clap across the back.
“Aww c’mon big guy. Look at that cute birdy’s face, he’s a total sweetheart. He’ll fit right in with you two.”
Royal gave him a warm smile, “Promise not to get in the way if I can help it.”
Two frowned, looked to me as I shrugged, and then back to Royal. “Fine, I guess we’re saddled together.”
I gave Two a gentle smile, “If nothing else it’ll get Stern off your back.”
That got him to stop frowning. We ate with the squad, Royal introducing himself a bit more to them. It was nice catching up a bit. Two explained why they’d missed me at the Roamer, having been thrown out for the night due to a confrontation with another table. Cade was proud to note that it may have had to do with the other table’s preference for insulting me. I explained to them that Red Eye had a task for me after the Pit Fight and that we might have a job to do. This was met with a resounding cheer from the group. The tasks Red Eye gave me to perform were always different from the usual work. Usually exciting and somewhere outside Fillydelphia. Which for the squad was basically a vacation, even if there was work to do on it.
For specialty jobs, Red Eye preferred loyalists in small numbers. Slaves could be expended in large numbers for large scale projects such as Stable reclamation or salvage missions. For things that required subtly and avoiding the attention of the various groups of the wasteland (as well as the very ponies working under him) a small specialist team was far better. And there was no better specialist team in his entire operation. I know, I checked the duty reports and salvage logs.
Our last job had seen us supporting the salvage teams from the Mall, a housing area for more specialist slaves. They had found a Stable and we’d been sent along to ensure the acquisition of a specific piece of medical equipment he had deemed of the highest priority. We’d been... unhappy with the quality of work done by most of the salvage teams. There were a great deal of raiders stuck in with the regular slaves. Made the survival rates of the Stable dwellers, who often had specialty skills themselves that Red Eye would value highly, very low. And it meant working with certain undesirables like Shackles. We’d managed to capture several dwellers ourselves. I made sure to escort them back myself, to prevent them from falling into the wrong hooves.
I hoped for something less unpleasant than Stable duty, most of the squad hoped for someplace cozy and far away so we could spend a long time travelling. Royal just seemed interested in the stories the others were starting to tell him and Two simply wished for a better assignment than last time. Something more worth his talents.
After we finished our meal, I gathered a radio headset for myself and Two. I’d radio him once the fights were over and I knew what our next task was. We then parted ways and I took Royal towards the Pit. The crowds were gathering and the event would be starting soon. We would have special seating, or at least I would, in Red Eye’s personal box. I wasn’t going to leave Royal in the stands alone though, so he would join me even if there wasn’t a seat for him.
The Pit had once been an ice skating rink, now drained of water and ice. A semi indoor outdoor structure. It had a massive hole in the roof. The rink had been ringed with large bleachers and benches for seating. Some consisting of makeshift repairs or salvage. A crude cage had been constructed all along the walls and barriers that surrounded the rink. Several special seating areas were once part of the buildings original layout. All but one had been cleared for more seating. The remaining one had been reinforced and had the best view. Red Eye’s personal seating.
Inside the cage, barrels hung suspended by chains and the ground was covered with pressure plates. Those were nasty little things made to spice up the fights. Inside each one was some kind of weapon or trap and sometimes, it would be both. You could get a bat or a hammer, or maybe an energy spear. Very rarely you might get a poorly maintained pistol with limited ammunition. All that was to spice up the fights while still making sure escape was impossible. The two teams would be arrayed behind large wooden reinforced gates on either side that would be opened and closed as the fighters entered. There was one painted red and another painted black. There was a third door but it was always closed. The exit, or emergency entrance should an escape attempt be planned. A squad of slavers could come barreling in and put down any would be escapee. Between that and Stern, it was unlikely any pony could escape. Stern always played announcer to the fights, which most folks just thought was an eccentricity on her part and to be fair that wasn’t entirely wrong. It’s just that being the announcer also gave her a perfect vantage point over the cage and into the Pit. She could easily put a round from her anti-machine rifle through anything down there.
Royal and I passed the large crowds and made our way up through the bleachers to Red Eye’s private box. The guard standing outside gave us a salute, before stepping aside and allowing us entry. This wasn't the first Pit Fight I was going to watch from this vantage point. Red Eye often asked for my presence here, either as support or simply to show his appreciation for my hard work. I didn’t mind it, even if I didn’t enjoy the fights I enjoyed his company and it was much harder to get these days.
The box itself was a large covered seating area. It may have once had fine seats, but they’d been replaced with humble but very comfortable floor pillows. The box overlooked the entirety of the pit below. A perfect vantage point for all the action with enough cover to prevent any slave from getting a good shot at anypony inside the box. It was empty at the moment though so Royal and I took up a spot right near where Red Eye would always sit. Royal tilted his head and finally spoke up.
“This is so weird.”
“What? What’s weird about it?” I asked a bit confused.
“Why have slaves fight each other? Seems like a waste of resources and I doubt any of them really volunteer for this.”
“Well, it’s sort of complicated. See some do volunteer but they’re really outliers. This is a good way to punish unruly slaves and still allows a few of them to be of use.” I parroted with practiced ease. It’s what Red Eye had always told me and while I didn’t like the fights I could understand the need for punishments like this. “Besides, it helps redirect some of the anger and frustration of the slaves towards a recreational event. Gives them some release and an escape from the day to day.”
He frowned at me. “Okay, I can understand that but this... looks brutally cruel. Like unnecessarily so?”
“I suppose it is, the slavers have ‘spiced’ it up to be more interesting.”
“That’s fucked.”
I nodded in agreement. “Yeah just a bit. Gotta keep them happy though, otherwise things start to fall apart.”
“Can’t have that.” His tone wasn’t overly sarcastic, but I doubted the sincerity of the statement. That was fine, it didn’t matter if he liked Fillydelphia or Red Eye’s goals, just that he did his job.
I brought a hoof up to brush through my mane and felt it shaking just lightly. In all the excitement I’d forgotten my second dose after lunch. “Err... I’ve gotta step out for a second. Lunch isn’t quite agreeing with me.”
He nodded, “Uh, should I just tell them I’m here with you if anyone asks?”
I got to my hooves and made for the door. “Yeah, yeah. Stern will probably come in with Red Eye too.”
“Err okay.”
With that I trotted out.
I’d hidden away in a small ruined building. It wasn’t far and sat empty and unused. I took the hit quickly, relaxing against the back wall of an old storage room. Having had to do this for so long, I knew plenty of easy hiding spots all over the city. With steadier hooves and a blissful relaxation overcoming me I cantered out of the building and made my way back towards the Pit. The guard gave me a salute as I trotted up the stairs to the private box and I pushed the door open with a smile on face. My smile only widened at seeing him there.
Sitting on the same floor pillow he always had before was the Lord of Fillydelphia himself. He was a strong, handsome red coated earth pony. His flowing mane a silky and rich black. He wore a cloak made from black cloth with a detailed one-oh-one patch sewn into it. The only remains of his old security barding. On his right foreleg was a battered Pipbuck. He was talking to Royal pleasantly and for a moment I could simply admire him. His beautiful blue eye was uncovered, his mane falling over his right side as it had often done when he wasn’t paying attention. My spot sat between him and Royal, as I’d planned it and so with that broad smile on my face I trotted over to take my seat.
I had been so caught up at the sight of him I hadn’t even noticed there were other ponies here now. Stern had taken up on her platform, a microphone set up for her. Several military officers, all wearing some form of the newly manufactured uniforms, sat arrayed behind us. Representatives of the various forces that made up the Army. Several high ranking slavers sat with us well, or at least the ones Red Eye considered high ranking enough to grace with such an honor. They were dressed in the best leather and plating they could afford. Some wore robes, others wore what was borderline raider apparel. Not exactly fit for Red Eye’s company but such was often the case with the slavers. Lastly were a pair of ponies I knew very well.
Sitting amongst the officers was a speckled beige earth pony stallion, his mane a deep brown with a few white streaks in it. He sat dressed in the same uniform I wore, except with a series of stars where his rank should be. Captain Whitetail of the Whitetail Rogues, one of my oldest and dearest friends. On the other side of the box, was a maudlin looking unicorn mare in a long white lab coat. It had a patch with the dominating red eye sewn over each shoulder. Her coat was a warm orange and her long mane was a rich and vibrant red. She wore a pair of glasses, though one of the lenses was cracked just slightly. Radiant Blaze, chief scientist of Red Eye’s magical research department. Another friend from the good old days. Like Red Eye, I unfortunately didn’t get to see her or Whitetail much at all these days.
As I approached both Royal and Red Eye turned to face me, Red Eye’s cybernetic eye now just visible from behind his mane and glowing in my direction now. I avoided looking at it, preferring to focus on his blue eye.
“Ah, Cherish. There you are.” His voice was... wonderful, no heavy accent but no false eccentricity to it either. Just charming and smooth like rich chocolate.
Even with the chems it was hard to keep my knees from going weak as he said my name. I’d been following him for so many years and still just the way he said it when he greeted me, it always sent flutters through me. I bowed my head and then smiled brightly back at him. “It’s nice to see you again, Red Eye.”
Royal looked at me and a huge smile crossed his face. I sincerely hoped he hadn’t put two and two together yet. “Welcome back, Favor.” He wasn’t snickering but wouldn’t stop with the grin and that had me just a bit worried. Yet it didn’t matter, for the moment I had Red Eye’s attention and I wouldn’t let anything ruin it.
I took my seat between them, looking over to Red Eye who gave me a satisfied smile that sent my heart racing. I swear he knew every one of the little buttons to fluster me. He wasn’t even doing anything untoward just smiling, but it was the way he smiled. Tilting his head slightly, that glowing red eye falling out of view behind his mane and muzzle. That beautiful deep blue meeting my own. I was putty in his hooves.
“I was talking to your new friend here and I’m quite pleased. He’s got quite the head on his shoulders.” Red Eye said smoothly, gesturing back towards the griffin.
“I’m excited to work with him, Stern’s assigned him to... learn the ropes with me.” I nodded.
“He’s an interesting pony to work with, Sir.” Royal smiled, “Very hard working and dedicated.” I could feel his talons land on my back and gently scoot me closer to Red Eye.
There were few times in my life where I was truly happy my coat colour is pink. It hid the fluster and blush of the love struck colt I was on the inside oh so very well. It didn’t help that Red Eye could probably read me like... well, like a book he’d read cover to cover several times now and probably knew exactly what I was thinking as I was scooted closer to him.
I lost the ability to speak as the Lord of Fillydelphia draped a hoof lightly over my shoulder and gestured towards the Pit. It wasn’t the jitters of a new love, it was an old dwindled flame that had long since burnt to an ember. One I’d pushed to the back of my mind ages ago. Yet every time we got close, every time he was like this, it burst into the forefront and roared back to life. In but a heartbeat I was the naive colt on the road with his first love all over again.
“Cherish, I am in very high spirits today. That little mare you chased may play a pivotal role in my plans. Thank you for the care in your report and your efforts to apprehend her.” His hoof rested on my shoulder and while all I wanted to do was sink into him and stay that way, this wasn’t that kind of an embrace. He was directing me to look, and so despite the very eager little colt inside me, I followed his hoof down to the Pit where he was pointing to the black painted gate. “She’s got quite the day ahead of her.”
I struggled to find my voice, coughing slightly. “Stern said as much. Seems she’s got a few fights ahead of her.” I paused before asking, “If she’s vital to your plans should she be fighting down there?” Despite the giddy colt inside, the terrors she had inflicted in the hall of mirrors were fresh and reality was quickly overwhelming my inner happiness. I was worried she’d just butcher the entirety of the Red team and get away with it. Then there was the concept of her being vital to his plans. It worried me more. I’d been down this road before and it always led to working with the enemy. The thought of having to work alongside her was unpleasant to say the least.
He laughed. Sisters above I missed that laugh. It wasn’t harsh or mocking, not particularly long. A confident and hearty chuckle. “After everything she’s done, she cannot simply go free. Stern would never allow it and such disobedience is not to be rewarded. However, I’d like to test her...” He paused, searching for the right word. “...Resolve. If she is to play the role I desire, she has got to show her commitment.”
“She’s up against some veteran fighters, and the current Pit Champion according to the roster Stern gave me.” Royal added, his talon tapping my shoulder.
“Oh?” I looked back at him as Red Eye slid his hoof from my shoulder while nodding. I wanted to curse, that hoof would likely not be draping back over me today. I missed him more than I’d liked to admit but life had... given us different roles and nothing could change that.
“Yep. There’s the Zebra champion, a rock breaker, and a raider. Two punishment detail ponies apparently, and lastly supposedly a steel ranger.” Royal read off as he lifted a small printed sheet I assumed Stern had given him.
“Furthermore,” Red Eye added, “I have a special project for her. One I suspect she might already be attempting, I simply would... like it to happen on my timescale.”
I was frowning but I nodded. “I hope she lives up to your expectations.” I said softly, looking back to find him looking at me curiously. I’d not said it but rarely did Red Eye speak about another pony like this. And clearly it was showing on my face that I was... uncomfortable with it.
He didn’t say anything else after that, simply turning with everypony else as Stern raised her talon up in the air, beginning the event.
The first fight was a... disappointment for the crowd, to say the least. It was quick, a mare and a stallion, and though the mare seemed to be a raider or a bandit from her appearance and name, ugly and Blood respectively, she went down quickly. The next contender from the Black gate was a hideous yellow buck named Daffodil. The crowd guffawed at his name, including a fair few in the box but he bludgeoned the stallion who had killed Blood and dragged it out. The crowd liked that part.
Inside the box, I watched Royal and Red Eye curiously. Royal was... disgusted at the display. I heard him complain under his breath that this was a mockery of dueling and that this was little more than a brutal bloodshed. No honor in it, no skill. Just desperation and a willingness to kill. Red Eye was... to a novice observer, focused. Watching with intent and following each move. I wasn’t a novice observer though. I knew Red Eye arguably better than anypony in all Equestria. He wasn’t watching intently. He was waiting. His blue eye was wandering while his cybernetic one was focused. Most ponies only payed attention to that harsh red beam but following his blue eye, he kept looking at the black gate. Waiting for the mare.
When the crowd had their pound of flesh from the Daffodil’s brutal display, the next contender was welcomed in. Xenith, the Zebra and current Champion. I’d heard the stories about her, and about what had been done to her. She didn’t speak, either a mute or she had been silenced with her tongue cut out, I wasn’t quite sure. When I questioned her about the events that happened to her, she simply shook her head. Not uncommon but... painful to see. Royal was gripped with a new interest, following her graceful and purposeful movements into the pit. He focused his gaze on her as she bowed her head to the yellow stallion.
“She’s one hell of a duelist! Could you imagine what she could do with a proper weapon?!” He cried eagerly.
Red Eye nodded to him, offering a slight shrug of a gesture. “She has shown her talents quite well in previous fights. I believe you’re in for quite the treat, Royal.” He was cordial with his tone, but I could tell this was not what he cared for. He wanted it over quickly to get to the mare. Below us, Xenith seemed want to oblige him.
She had sent the buck sprawling a second time, trotting cautiously towards the fallen buck. He looked like he was spent, it looked over. The crowd was cheering mercilessly for his blood when suddenly, he kicked up a patch of dirt and galloped away from the zebra. Xenith sunk into a low defensive posture. Royal practically cursing at the top of his lungs. He was quite loud when he wanted to be. No wonder Ratchet had complained about our singing last night.
Daffodil had run past an undetonated mine from earlier in the fights. Kicking it back up towards the zebra where it exploded in a roar of fire and shrapnel. Xenith had dodged skillfully but it’d taken the wind from her and left her sprawling. Royal grabbed the railing that ran along the lip of the private box and began hurling his curses down at the buck. I... laughed. I didn’t care for the violent murder below but Royal’s reaction, compared to the almost non-reaction of Red Eye. It was like night and day.
The fight escalated, Daffodil moving to trigger one of the barrels suspended above the arena. This particular barrel dumped a huge pool of glowing irradiated waste into the arena. Additionally an auto-axe dropped down and sat covered in the waste. Auto-axes were industrial saws designed for cutting through even the densest metals. They were lethal in close range, able to saw a pony apart with disgusting ease. It was useless to either combatants though. Covered in that waste, it was likely more lethal to the pony who tried to take it in their mouth to wield it.
The barrel having been a fruitless endeavor, Xenith moved back towards Daffodil. Royal was gripping the railing, watching with intent. The barbarism of it seemingly lost to grace of the zebra warrior mare. The crowd began to stomp and chant.
“Fight! Fight! Fight!”
Daffodil made his move, circling around to put the waste between himself and the zebra... and the corpse of his first opponent between himself and the pool of waste. He gave the dead pony a hard buck, kicking him into the waste and causing a splash of the goo to spray towards his opponent. A clever, if exceptionally underhoofed move.
It made no real difference however. Xenith deftly wheeled on a single hoof, dodging the splash and moving to the side before charging directly at the buck. Daffodil seemed to anticipate this, dropping down into a defensive stance. He bucked hard and fast with both hind hooves towards her only for the zebra to leap clear over him. A single dizzingly fast hoofstrike to the back of his neck and it was over.
She landed gracefully on the other side of him and he stood, stiff as a board. He wobbled and fell over onto his side, body still unmoving as I watched Royal’s jaw drop. She’d paralyzed him with a single hoofstrike. The crowd began to chant for his death, punctuated by Stern calling for her to “finish it.” Royal simply stared at the zebra.
“Never seen a zebra martial artist, Royal?” Red Eye mused, tapping his hoof on the railing.
“No! That was... Amazing! Still... horrific and cruel but...” He trailed off, watching as the zebra approached. She took her foe with a hoof on his neck and, after only a moment's hesitation, took his mane in her teeth and jerked her head back. Snapping his neck cleanly.
The crowd roared, Royal cheered, and Red Eye clopped his hooves slowly together. A practiced and unenthusiastic approval. His face lit up as the zebra took to the center of the arena and the next combatant was called.
“Next up from the Black gate! That stable dweller that’s been causing no end of trouble, Littlepip!” Sterns voice rang out as the black gate below was lifted out. I swallowed hard as the little mare from the night before stepped out into arena.
“That’s the mare that caused all the trouble?” Royal asked, tilting his head as he looked her over.
It was my turn to be entranced by the fight. I put my hooves on the railing and pulled myself closer. “Yep. That little mare is...”
“Quite the interesting subject.” Red Eye smiled, a curious and interested tone in his voice.
We all fell silent as the mare below began to scream at the crowd.
“I’m trying to save you all! Why?!”
“What?” I asked, looking confused towards Red Eye.
“This is the stable dweller who destroyed our operations in Appleloosa. She thought she could slip into the city and... well, I suspect she had a better plan than slip inside and then break everypony out.” He laughed again, the warmth I felt from it was somewhat soured by the topic though.
I turned back towards the little mare. Things were slowly clicking together in my mind. She had killed slavers, but hadn’t harmed the foals. Or the other slaves. And now, for her trouble she was going to face the pit champion. A part of me felt horrible for her, even with all she’d done. She’d come here to save ponies, which explained why Red Eye would want her to work for him. I was snapped out of my thoughts as I watched Xenith lash out at the little mare. Catching her off guard and striking her with her forehooves. She fell without much fanfare.
Red Eye’s blue eye narrowed, focusing on the little mare. I’m sure mine did as well as I watched Xenith rear up to bring a quick and merciless end to the fight. Yet she missed. I’m sure there was surprise in my voice as I cried out. The mare was a unicorn afterall and had wrapped herself in telekinetic magic and kicked off the ground to float into the air. I looked to Red Eye in surprise, but he only had eyes for her in the moment. A wide grin on his face betraying his glee at her deft move.
It seemed short lived, the zebra striking her out of the air and throwing her to the ground. She advanced on the fallen mare quickly, but started to slow and struggle. It took a moment for me to realize, but the little mare had wrapped Xenith’s throat in a telekinetic sheath and was choking the life from her. She was remarkably resourceful. Though the zebra swung and struck at the mare on the ground, Littlepip, had learned to move and stay well out of her reach. She held that grip on Xenith’s throat until finally she passed out and she dropped like a sack of apples.
Red Eye sat back, his grin fading to an approving smile. He folded his hooves over one another for a moment on the railing as I tried to pick my jaw up from the floor.
Stern’s voice cut through the crowd’s chants. “What an upset!”
I turned back to the mare, watching her carefully. She trotted over to her fallen foe. She had come here to save these ponies, and now? Now she was going to have to kill a few to get out. That little mare looked up and at first I thought she was staring at me. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but her eyes moved around the cage above her. There was no way out. She, as so many of his followers had been, was cornered by Red Eye. She would play her part and earn her freedom to serve. He was very good at forcing you to face the honest truth of a situation. I didn’t envy her down there.
“Finish it!” Stern’s voice shot down, as she drew her rifle.
I watched the little mare’s horn glow. There it was. She’d kill Xenith and- she wrapped every single one of the barrels hanging above in her telekinetic magic.
“Finish it now!” Stern ordered, drawing a bead on the little mare. Red Eye sat back up, his hooves coming to the railing as a look of surprise overtook his handsome features. A grin crossed Royal’s face as he pointed at the barrels. As if to add emphasis to his gesture, Littlepip opened every single one of those barrels. All at once.
The thick glowing waste made up a large number of those barrels, along with oh so many different weapons. I’d not seen Red Eye’s jaw hang open like that in a great many years. The waste was wrapped in her magic sheath as well, spinning and creating a thin barrier between the pit and everyone outside it. I heard the retort of Stern’s rifle cracking but the magic held.
Immediately there were calls to arms. Ponies began to run and I could hear Stern calling to bring her down. The various ponies in the private box began to clear out quickly. Some galloping for safety, others looking to establish order. I was struggling with what I’d just seen and for a moment I wanted simply watch. I was yanked out of my thoughts as Red Eye put a hoof on my shoulder. I snapped to attention, looking at him. He was smiling brightly.
“Stay with me a moment Cherish. Stern will handle the general apprehension of...” He trailed off, the bright glow from within the cocoon of waste casting an impressive shadow over our faces.
We both turned to watch the glow emanating from within the Pit. Royal had drawn his rifle but had remained by my side, watching Red Eye and myself. There was a crash from within the pit and for a split second I thought it might all be about to end. Instead that shield of waste dropped to the ground and we were gifted with a view of the little mare levitating herself and the zebra through the top of the cage. She landed on top of it and began to gallop. Shots rang out from Stern’s rifle and the various griffins above.
Royal lifted his rifle and braced himself against the edge of the box. I quickly fumbled and kicked out the bit of my battle saddle, going to bite down on it and take aim only for Red Eye to shout, “Stand down!”
I did so instantly, standing at attention looking at him. Royal looked down at him, wings flared from the sudden shout before nodding and lowering his weapon a bit confused.
We stopped in time to watch the little mare leap off the edge of the cage with the zebra magically in tow. The crack of Stern’s rifle and a yelp from the mare causing Red Eye to bristle.
He shook his head and brought a hoof up to gesture when the door to the box burst open. A slaver stallion stumbled in and slammed the door shut behind him, his muzzle dripping blood.
“Red Eye, sir! That little show caused a stampede! We’re looking at riots breaking out!”
Red Eye had called a small meeting, just those he and I could rally nearby. It was a poor showing really. Captain Whitetail had been moving to gather some of his soldiers from the crowd, we’d caught him and pulled him in. A slaver by the name of Graves was also nearby. He was a middle ranking overseer, not particularly special but he was able to muster a small force as he galloped with us. Radiant Blaze had simply been held back by the guard assigned to protect her so she was close by as well. Lastly was the large blue and grey earth pony, the slaver named Ballast. He was about the same size as myself. Tall, but where as I had always been a bit lean and lanky, Ballast was largely muscle. He had gathered a small gang of his own slavers.
We had rallied to the private box for simplicity. Red Eye stood silently as the slavers gathered around. Royal stood beside me, carefully watching the others in the room. I watched as Red Eye scanned the small group of ponies before he turned to face Whitetail.
“Captain, your rogues are to get my orders out to every area of Fillydelphia. I want to ensure casualties are minimal. Once my orders are distributed, I want you to take up the cordon effort for our wayward pair of pit fighters. I’d very much like to see them taken alive. As such, please follow me back to the Funbarn when this over. Winter will join your efforts.” He spoke with more care to his cadence now. The relaxed and friendly Red Eye was gone here. The Lord of Filly was playing the role again. I’d watched him do this so many times. Carefully adjusting his personality and tone for the ponies around him. Playing them like finely tuned instruments.
Whitetail nodded and gave a salute. “Yes, sir!” A proper soldier, he wouldn’t ask questions of his orders from Red Eye.
He turned to Radiant next. “Magister Blaze,” Her ears perked, and I watched her smile at him brightly. “I’d like you to take your guard and secure your research. I don’t believe that little mare will be simply attempting to leave empty hooved. I know you’ve got some of it copied but the prototype simply cannot be risked.” He spoke with a slightly more gentle tone. The kind he used to placate a pony he had hurt. “Your research simply is too important.” There was a strong emphasis on ‘your’, implying only you could have done that research.
The approving smile on her face was wide as she nodded and gave a soft, “Yes, my lord.” In response. She wouldn’t notice, I doubt anyone else did, but I could see him bristle just lightly at that.
He turned to the slavers next. “Graves, you are to gather your available slavers and guards and cordon off the Pit. Try to establish some order to this situation and keep anypony else from getting into this mess.” It was a curt and simple order, no pretense of care or respect as had been to the other two. Simply authoritative control.
To his credit, Graves just bowed his head low and said, “As you say, sir.”
“Ballast, you are to move your force outward and secure the work yards. By the time your teams reach them, the riot should be quelled by then. Your teams should largely be searching for runaways to return them back to their pens.” He stared the large pony down. “And I’d prefer it that the workers you do find, are returned in relatively good measure. Not in pieces or overly damaged. Am I clear?”
Ballast stared back but as that harsh red eye focused on him, he flinched and looked down. “Crystal clear, sir. My boys will bring ‘em back post haste.”
“Good.”
Ballast had a history of... disobedience that had always hindered his political standing. Some ponies could manipulate the whole system. And with how... busy Red Eye was these days, it was easy for some to slip by largely unnoticed. Ballast however was about as subtle as a megaspell and had been defying some of the more minor rules a bit too blatantly. He didn’t bribe the right ponies, or pressure those too good to bribe. As it was, he was a skilled overseer but his constant overstepping had him and I clashing constantly. He hated me as I constantly had to reprimand him and I hated him because he was a wasteful and cruel taskmaster who made a mockery of all Red Eye had built.
Finally Red Eye turned his head to me. “Favor, I would like you to gather your team and make your way to the Train yard. Ensure it’s still locked and sealed, and then do a patrol of the city. If the Stable Dweller gets out of Whitetail’s cordon, I’ll need a rapid response team I can contact easily to cut her off.”
I nodded eagerly, smiling at him proudly. “Yes, sir!” Largely it would be an easy job, just a sweep of the train yards and then making our way around the city looking for stragglers. Yet it also allowed me to ensure my old yard was safe.
As the group got up to leave, Stern came flying in through the open wall that looked down into the pit. She landed hard and turned to Red Eye with a perfect salute. “Sir, she’s made her way to the Funbarn. What’s more, one of my Talons reported a sighting of a strike team making for the Broadcasting Tower outside the walls.”
“Ah! I see she’s brought company. Stern, I’d like you to personally greet them. Bring a squad of your best. Give them the best welcome party Fillydelphia can muster.” There was a bit of levity in his tone, as he gestured with a hoof to the griffin leader.
She beamed at him a wicked grin. “As you say. I’ll make sure they get a nice warm welcome.” I knew Stern was eager for revenge, and with a no-kill order for the stable Dweller, Stern would be denied the ability to deliver the killing blow. But against the Dweller’s friends? There was no need to keep them all alive.
We all departed on our separate tasks. Red Eye was enroute with Whitetail to secure the Funbarn, Radiant followed in tow. The slavers went to work corralling and cajoling the slaves. Royal and I set off toward the Train yard. Mobs of ponies were running rampant. Slaves overpowering the few poorly armed slavers. There would be a lot of blood by the end of this if we didn’t get things under control. I brought out my radio set and rang up Two.
“Two, do you read me?”
“About damn time, Favor!” He cried through the headset. He was breathing hard, and it sounded like he was moving fast.
“We’re to make for the Train Yard, Two. We’ve gotta secure it and-”
“Fuck, yeah we know already. There’s a break out already in progress. Get your pink ass over here and give us a hoof!” His breathing got worse, clearly galloping at full pace.
“Well, fuck. On it Two.”
A riot already in progress in the train yards. The rest of the city was only just starting to boil into riots and there was already a break out attempt. I turned to Royal, kicking the bit out of my saddle again. “We gotta move. There’s a riot already started in the Train Yard. Not sure how but that’s not really the important bit.”
He nodded, before smiling wide at me. “When were you gonna tell me you had a crush on Red Eye?!” Clearly he had been waiting to talk after everything.
“Really? You’re gonna do this now?” I groaned as I started to gallop. He easily kept up with me thanks to those powerful wings.
“I mean, yeah? You expect me to just... wait?” He said as he casually flew beside me. Almost leisurely.
“Look, it’s a long story. We were... close for a very long time, but the wasteland isn’t going to fix itself, so some sacrifices had to be made. He... means a lot to me.”
“And you’re still head over hooves for him.” He pointed out, smirking.
“Yes! I still care deeply about him, alright? Does it really matter?”
“Well, that sort of depends big guy, how’d it fall apart?”
I’d have facehoofed if I weren’t galloping through the streets. “Not the damn time, Royal!” I shouted as we rounded the corner. A group pack of slaves were throwing things and bucking each other. A fight had broken out it seemed. With just Royal there was no hope of us breaking it up. The two sides were common ones in squabbles like this. Scummy looking ponies with wicked cutie marks and bad taste in mane styles, trying to kill some hardened wasteland types. Sometimes it was bandits and caravaners. Sometimes it was raiders and do gooders. And sometimes it was just two groups of slaves who hated each other for some stupid reason. Regardless, we had to go around them. As we did I noticed a lone slave rush into a building away from the group. He was less worn than the others. Familiar to me a bit. A new comer to the city. He’d rushed straight into an old ruined office building that had been boarded up. Bucking his way through the boards covering one of the windows. I knew the building well, it had an underground accessway. This was one of many that had been cleaned out upstairs and boarded up to prevent access to the Fillydelphia underground. There were all sorts of different underground tunnels and sewers that ran under Filly, and though many were separated and sealed off, there was always the risk of feral ghouls or much much worse down there.
Without warning Royal, I veered hard towards the building. I couldn’t recall his name but I was sure knew him. A pony from the stable raid we’d accompanied. He wouldn’t know about the dangers below and could unleash all sorts of trouble as well as get himself killed. Royal flapped his wings hard coming to stop before starting after me.
“What’re you doing?!” He cried, clearly not noticing what I had.
“Runaway, and in a risky area.” I called back before leaping through the gap in the window he’d made. I wasn’t quite as small as him, getting caught round the waist and causing the old boards to crack with my weight. Between my heavy saddle and the momentum, I crashed inside and rolled to a stop.
“Hey! Slave, wait!” I coughed, clambering to my hooves as Royal climbed through the window and stood beside me, laughing a bit.
“Bit bigger than that little guy, huh?” He chuckled, helping adjust my saddle as I made it to my hooves.
“Shit, we’ve gotta check around. Is there anything in here to block that window? Gotta keep others out.” I groaned, rubbing my now aching side and shaking my head.
The room I’d landed in was the large foyer of the old building. Now largely just bare concrete and brickwork. It was pitch black in here, the only light coming in from the outside. Taking the bit of my saddle in my muzzle, I clicked the flashlight on.
Royal moved around, looking for anything. Settling on an old filing cabinet. It was a set of three bolted together, with all the drawers pulled out. Probably left behind because of the hassle it’d have caused to get it out. The griffin pushed the thing with ease. He was surprisingly strong, pushing the cabinet over the window we’d come through. It was obnoxiously loud as it scraped along the floor.
“Just ah... one question? How are we getting out?” He smirked at me in the dark.
“We find the slave, head to the roof, and get out of here. Hopefully without a scuffle.” I said, scanning along the room looking for obvious exits or hiding spots.
I trotted towards the back of the largely empty foyer, where a doorway marked with a picture of a stairwell sat. I could see the layers of dust and grime with my flashlight, and the dust around the handle had been wiped clean. Royal came up along behind me with his rifle drawn as I pushed the door open. There was a clattering of hooves and the sound of a door slamming shut above us. I thanked the sisters he hadn’t gone downwards.
We made our way up the stairwell, checking doors as we went to see which one he had used. We eventually made it to the roof access above the third floor and found the door had recently been disturbed. He’d put himself on the roof. Pretty foalish if he was trying to escape. Without much of a thought to it I pulled the door open and with Royal following after, I trotted out onto the roof.
There standing near the building edge, as if he was trying to judge if he could make the distance and keep going, was a unicorn stallion. A bit younger than myself but not by much. He was a ruddy grey, though he would have been white under all the grime. His long black mane was a mess, tangled and clearly not used to the Fillydelphia weather. He looked at us, wide emerald green eyes taking both of us in. I was right, I knew this pony. I’d been the one to drag him back from the stable we helped raid. Tender Care.
“F-Favor! Oh thank the sisters.” He cried, rushing over to me and throwing himself at my hooves. “P-Please, they were trying to kill me.”
I tilted my head, looking down at him. “Err, who was? Those ponies brawling?”
“Yes! They were fighting over who would get to have me.” He was a stable pony. Lots of the more... cruel types enjoyed breaking them.
I looked at the poor stallion at my hooves and nodded. “Get up Tender. You’re going to come with Royal and I. We’re going to put your skills to use.”
Tender had been one of the stable’s doctors. We’d found him trying to patch up a dying pony and we couldn’t leave him for the raiders or the salvage teams. Or at least, I couldn’t. He didn’t take the enslaving very well, but it was either be enslaved by us or be enslaved by the psychopaths running around decapitating his friends. He spent the trip patching up the others we’d grabbed. Since coming to Filly he’d been assigned work shifts both in the slave hospital and in the general population. Because once again, Fillydelphia excelled at wasting potential. He was a skilled doctor with an actual education, why he was pulling split shifts and not just assigned permanently to the hospital was a question whose answer was so esoteric it bordered on insanity.
I gave him a hoof, helping him to stand. He was a bit shaky with everything going on. I could only imagine the kind of shock he was going through.
“Ah... thank you sir. I’m sorry for running, I didn’t want to escape, honest! Just get away.” He mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
He’d adapted very well to Fillydelphia. I felt a twinge of rage that he’d been stuck hauling carts and working in the factories. I needed to talk to Red Eye about the waste of resources, this was stupid. Frustratingly so.
“Don’t worry Tender, you’re safe with us. You’re not going to be punished. In fact, I’m going to see if I can work things around to have you somewhere better.” I tried to reassure him. “You’re going to need to help us first though.”
He swallowed, looking at Royal nervously. “Yes sir.” I suspected he’d suffered at the hands of some of the more zealous overseers or perhaps had said the wrong thing to a griffin.
With him in tow, we made for the side of the building where the ruins of a fire escape clung desperately to the building. I put a hoof on it and it held. “Royal, fly down there. The thing drops off at the second floor, so we’re going to need someone to catch us.”
“Oh, fun!” He chuckled and winked at me, “I get to handle two stallions instead of just one.” Then took off before I could respond with my facehoof. He had not handled me yet. Although I suppose this counted for him.
“Ah... is... are you sure it’s safe?” Tender said nervously, watching me as I started down the escape.
“If it’s not we’ve a big strong bird to catch us.” I waved my hoof over my shoulder to signal him to follow. “Don’t worry, he’s not actually going to handle you. Just catch you.” I hoped I was telling the truth. I made it down the rickety railing and stairs to the second floor where the stairs that descended further had been torn away, leaving a sizable gap.
I felt the railing shake a bit as Tender made his way down but the old thing held. “You first, Tender.” I gestured down the stairs towards the drop off where below waited Royal, arms open.
I watched the stallion take a deep breath and close his eyes as he trotted off the edge. To his credit he didn’t scream. Loudly. Royal caught him with ease, causing him to stop screaming and cover his muzzle with his hooves, looking embarrassed as the large griffin set him down.
“Told ya, Tender. Don’t worry, I’m not going to let you get hurt. Promise.” I smiled down, before taking my own walk off a short stairwell. I made an effort to roll as I stepped off, landing comfortably in the bigger griffin's arms.
I looked at him and smirked wide, “Well, come here often darlin?” before snorting and laughing with him. He helped right me, putting me on my hooves.
Tender stood beside us as we finished our little laugh. It was good to laugh, helped me when I was working like this. He tilted his head, a bit confused. I don’t think he’d seen any of the more light hearted overseers or slavers. He’d been attached to the slaver hospital so he was working directly with that old ghoul, Weathervane and he was a bit... verbal at the best of times. I unfortunately didn’t get to work with Tender before this. Once he was back and processed... he wasn’t my pony. If he was he’d never have been in this kind of situation. I had to bite my lip a moment, shaking my head. This sort of waste kept happening. And would keep happening.
“Sorry Tender, just easier to work when I’m in a good mood.” I chuckled lightly, trying to keep up with the lighter mood and ignore the torrent of thoughts that kept trying to tear their way to the forefront of my mind.
He nodded, “Ah, err... okay sir. Should... I just follow you two then?”
“Keep beside me here, we’re going into a riot and I don’t want to lose track of you. We’re probably going to need a medic.”
He nodded again, feigning a smile despite the fear and exhaustion on his face. “As you say sir.”
I hated what Fillydelphia did to ponies.
We made our way across the city. Avoiding the brawls and crowds of slaves as best we could. When we arrived at the train yards, the whole place was in chaos. A crowd of slaves stood by the doors of the rail house, banging their hooves on it. Because of all the heavy and barbed fences around the train yards, in order to get to the gate one would have to go through the rail house. They were desperately trying to get in. Another two groups were fighting each other, a few individual brawls having split off from the main brawl. As I was scanning the area, I heard the heavy cracks of gunshots from inside the rail house. A few slaves backed off but it only seemed to embolden the rest of them.
“Two? Two come in, I’m hearing gunshots! Confirm!” I shouted into the headset.
“Oh did you finally make it here? Gee I’m so glad you’re such a punctual leader!” Two bit back over the headset. His usual tone of snark led me to be sure he was at least okay.
“Sorry darlin.” I smiled, and teasingly added, “Don’t worry, your big stallion is coming to give you a hoof. Oh wait. He’s single now. Not yours.”
“Ugh just... get in here, okay? We’ve got a situation gro-” He was cut off by several loud gunshots. Silence followed for a moment as I looked back to the rail house. Then his voice came back, “Fucking son of a bitch, can you PLEASE tell Cade that her rifle is fucking too goddess damned loud for close quarters!”
I chuckled, relieved somewhat before nodding. “Sure thing darlin. I’m going to go around, you’ve got a crowd at the main door.”
I didn’t wait for the response, leading both Royal and Tender away from the main entrance to the train yards. We followed along the fences until I reached a small side area, wedged between an old storage warehouse and an unloading area for trains. Both were fenced off. Between the two sets of fences was simple gate made of heavy sheet metal and boxcar doors. There was a small combination lock built into it, beside the handle. I looked it over, reset the numbers and then adjusted them to read out two-two-two-two-one. The lock clicked and I slid the door open. It was such a bad code but Glass had put an idiot in charge of rail maintenance.
Tender kept close, clearly uncomfortable as we slipped into the back of the train yard and made for the rail house. I could still hear the gunfight going on inside as well as the crowds. It was a rapture of gunshots, ringing out throughout the yard. Among the din of it all, I could hear a pony shouting.
Over the headset I called out, “Friendly coming in the back.” I then pushed open the large door on the back side of the rail house. Across the rail house, near the main door was most of my squad. Two was barking orders, Cade and Berry were unleashing a hail of fire up towards the gantry above my end of the rail house. I couldn’t see Nocs, likely trying to find a spot he could snipe out whomever Cade and Berry were suppressing. Key was missing as well, I assumed she was taking cover out of sight. The door behind them was barred with a heavy beam but still shook as the crowd outside bucked against it. I followed the gunfire up to a spot on the gantry where a pair of slaves had sequestered themselves. One was reloading some serious hardware. A heavy machine gun. One of the new ones Red Eye’s factories were producing for his army. How they got their hooves on that one I had no clue. The other slave was patching up a wound. They were well armed and had medical supplies. Something must’ve gone wrong for that to happen. There were a few bodies, all slaves from the looks of it. They had been gunned down on the lower floor. Clearly having been caught in the act or maybe it was an ambush? I had too many questions and had to focus.
I pushed Tender against the outside wall, “They haven’t spotted us, stay right here. Royal, time to show me what you can do. We’re going to pop back in, and you’re going to put down the gunner, I’m going to put down the wounded one. Got it?”
Tender nodded, clearly terrified now and pressed himself against the wall. Royal raised his rifle and gave me a grin. “Let's do it.”
I nodded and took my saddle bit into my mouth, bringing a hoof up and then signalling to go. We both lept out from cover and started firing before either of us hit the ground. Royal’s shot scorched through the air. The cruel red ray of magic striking the gunner in the back, causing them to scream and send the gun shooting wildly as it’s wielder expired. The wounded slave didn’t have a moment to react, as they were peppered with the thwap-thwap-thwap of a three round burst into their chest. We both wheeled around looking for other targets as Cade and Berry stopped firing. There was a cheer from the two of them before moving forward. Despite their joy at seeing me, they were clearly still worried about
attackers.
I trotted forward, waving Royal on as well before calling out, “Come in now Tender, quickly.”
Royal didn’t simply walk in with his rifle. He carefully scanned the room, never lowering it. He was checking every corner and along the gantries, quickly switching around to be sure. It was refreshing, it’d been so long since I had the chance to work with a Talon directly. I’d forgotten how absolutely one minded they could be when working.
Tender trotted meekly behind me while Two moved up to meet me, “About time you got here. Key and Nocs got cut off, they’re holding up in the overseers office.” He said, pointing up to the office I’d been in just yesterday. “Key got clipped, Nocs gave her a field dressing. He wanted permission to engage but I had him stay up there to ensure she was safe.”
“Ah, shit.” I sighed, shaking my head. “Nocs could have taken out the gunner but if he’d been sighted that thing would’ve torn through the office walls. Good call, Two.“
He smiled a bit, that was always nice to see. “Thanks. Good job with the flank. We got ambushed in here. We were moving in to sweep the yard and push the rioters out but things got crazy when a group of them started working together and moved to charge us. We didn’t engage because-”
“Cause I told him you’d be ever so pissed if we just gunned down a bunch of slaves.” Cade interjected with a smirk, as she sat changing the ammo box on her battle saddle. She had a larger saddle than my own. Designed for a much bulkier rifle than mine. It was less accurate and goddess awfully loud, but it suited her needs just fine.
“Thanks darlin.” I nodded to her, before turning back to an irritated looking Two. “What happened?”
“We got ambushed Favor. As soon as we pushed the mob away from the door, this group of slaves popped out and just tore into us. Where the hell did they get the machine gun from?!”
I turned and scanned the dead. They mostly had pipes and other crude melee weapons. The machine gun was definitely a surprise then. Not quite as well armed as I’d assumed. “Shit. Maybe they found a forgotten cache or something from the yards? You know those unloading guards are always so lazy.”
He nodded but brought up a hoof. “Another thing, they were in position before we’d even been exposed. It’s a damn miracle that only Key got hit and that it wasn’t lethal. Wasn’t expecting an armed rebellion.”
I looked him over. He was a bit shaken from the surprise but less so from the violence. He hadn’t used his magic though, which confused the hell out of me. He wasn’t arguing much now, so I thought it better not to bring it up. I figured he’d just been caught off guard by the machine gun.
“Hey cap’n!” Nocs shouted down from the office window. “You got that medkit you always carry?”
I nodded and smiled back at the sniper. “Yeah, and I’ve got one better.” I called back, turning to face Tender Care. He seemed a bit more than uncomfortable with all the violence around him. I didn’t enjoy bringing a slave into a combat zone, but I was glad to have the help now. “Tender could you please go up those stairs there,” I pointed to the stairwell nearest the doorway, “And help Nocs up there with my wounded friend? Take the medkit attached to my saddle.”
Admittedly, I spoke slowly and gently because I was concerned he might be having some flashbacks to his stable. He was scanning over the dead slaves and I could see the pain on his face. He wasn’t very good at hiding it, but honestly, he’d been ripped out of a stable in blood and violence. I don’t think he had much of a stomach for it.
Tender just nodded, before quietly adding, “Yes, sir.” With his head hung low, he trotted towards the stairwell slowly. His magic wrapping around the small medical box attached to my saddle. It unhooked and floated off gently, following him as he went.
Two just gave me a look of disapproval. He wasn’t fond of slaves, especially those who were being asked to help, rather than firmly instructed with a clear and harsh punishment for defiance. It was irritating, to say the least.
Royal came up beside me, finally lowering his weapon. “Pretty sure you’re clear, Favor.” He then leaned in and added very quietly, “Your squad is pretty ah... relaxed when it comes to field work huh?”
I could feel Two’s glare from the statement. His hearing was pretty good. Made teasing him fun. The twinge of jealousy from Royal’s presence must have been driving him mad. I turned to the unicorn and beamed at him. “We’re a... special bunch, Royal. I appreciate your extra precautions though.”
Two stamped a hoof and shook his head. “We knew how many were left. I’ve been counting. Those two up there were all that were left.” He said, narrowing his gaze at Royal. “And if Favor wanted your opinion, he’d have asked.”
I wouldn’t have. I tended to just let my subordinates speak, but I felt it better to just sigh and shake my head rather than argue. “Enough! We have a riot to disperse and I’m tired of wasting time. Cade, take position facing the main door. When it opens, fire at the ground. Deny them the ability to push forward.” I turned, shouting my order.
“Yessir!” She bellowed back, snapping to attention and bounding behind some boxes to set up. She was all for fun but she knew when I was getting irritated and when to do what I said.
“Berry, get yourself up on the gantry! I want you covering the entrance. Join your fire with Cades when the doors open.” I ordered without even looking at the grinning unicorn who took off at a full gallop as I spoke. He had a series of weapons, but his favorite was a submachine gun that he’d seen on a bunch of posters for a prewar gangster film. It was horribly inaccurate but excellent for area denial.
Two was already trotting towards the barrier they had taken cover behind before I spoke. A smile crossed my face. For all his bullshit, for all the attitude, there was a reason Two was my second in command and it wasn’t just that I enjoyed making him squirm. He knew his place, and even when he was irritated or frustrated, he’d be exactly where I needed him, ready to do exactly what I needed without question. I turned away from him towards the office and called out, “Nocs, if you’re able to leave Key I need you out here covering the entrance in case they push through.”
“Aye aye!” He called back, trotting out through the office onto the gantry above. His saddle had a long barreled low velocity rifle attached. It would put a hole in a pony but was unlikely to kill them unless it hit a vital point or the pony went into unattended shock. The perfect weapon for ensuring a slave could survive being shot if need be, while still being potent enough to put down an unarmored pony with a headshot. I could hear him humming a pleasant tune to himself as he trotted along to a spot near the back of the rail house, overlooking the whole room while providing a clear view of the front doors.
Lastly I turned to Royal, smiling. “Think you can watch our backs? Cover the entrance we came through just in case there’s more ambushers?”
He nodded, “Sure, you’ve all got such lovely backsides after all.”
I chuckled and gave him a wide smile. “You fit right in.” I said before turning back towards Two. I trotted over and climbed over the barricade he was behind. Everypony was in position so I moved up to stand in front of the doors. The crowd was still shouting outside and the doors were starting to give. Enough was enough.
“Two. Do it.”
At my command, Two wrapped the heavy beam in his magic and lifted it. The doors were bucked open as it came free, forcing the beam out of his magic and back to the floor. The slaves rushed in only to come crashing to a halt as a line of automatic rifle fire and submachine gun fire cut across the ground in front of them. A thin, deep blue magical shield appearing between the line of shots and myself. Most of the slaves stopped, stunned. The ones at the back of the crowds clearly didn’t understand what was happening and were trying to push inside. With a nod back to Two, a similar sheath of deep blue wrapped around my throat. I could feel the light tingle along my coat and skin.
I took a deep breath and in a booming, magically amplified voice I shouted, “Slaves of the Train Yard. You are misguided in your anger. Escape is not an option, even now the rogue pit fighters have been apprehended and subdued. You have one option, return to your pens and take solace in the fact that I am the one stopping you and not another master. For your transgressions would see you all shot or worse were it not for my staying hoof.”
I could see a few familiar faces, some ponies I had once owned. Many of Glass’ stock. This was the response to needless cruelty. Disobedience and rage. Slaves can be ameliorated, pacified through care and understanding, but when you beat them for nothing you create resentment and unless you take that cruelty to its absolute end and break them completely and utterly, they will rebel.
The slaves looked at me, all alone in front of my squad. The sole force standing against them in this moment. A pony to direct their rage and hate at, but a pony who had given them a choice. I waited, my stance calm and collected despite my racing heart. If they pushed inward, Two’s shield wouldn’t hold them back and then there would be a lot of dead slaves. I stared them down, meeting the gaze of each one. I hoped they would not find my bluff about the pit fighters wanting.
For a tense moment everypony stood still, until finally the ponies at the back began to run. With the rear routing, the rest broke into a panic and fled. I held my stare until they all had turned and ran for their pens. Two’s shield dropped as I sighed and sat back on my haunches.
Two climbed the barricade and helped me stand back up. I gave him a smile and nodded. “Exactly what I wanted.”
“Always.” He smiled back before turning back to look at Royal, sighing a bit. “Look, Cherish-”
“Not here, Two. We can talk it out tonight.” I said, bringing a hoof up to touch his shoulder. He wasn’t a bad pony, just got a bit full of himself and was quick to lash out. It made being his partner very frustrating. We’d split up because of an overreaction on his part about my attachment to Red Eye and honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to rekindle it again but looking at him smiling, it was hard not to remember all the good times.
Fortunately, Cade came over and bumped her way into the conversation. She gave me a big grin, draping a leg around my neck. This caused Two to frown a bit, but I couldn’t really focus with the large mare leaning on me.
“Good plan big guy. Nopony got hurt and those slaves took off pretty fast.” She smirked, turning back to face Royal. Her hoof about my neck forced me to follow her gaze. “Also, good work with the bird! Those fucks with the machine gun were a bit of trouble. That thing had armor piercers in it.”
I looked her absolutely dumbfounded. “Seriously? How’d you know?”
She laughed, bringing her large flank round to show me the hole punched through her combat barding. Similar to the stuff I wore but not quite as high quality. It was painted in a splash of red and black camouflage that I doubted would actually hide her, and the hole seemed to indicate I was very right.
“Fuck, you okay?” I said, bringing my forehooves up to check her flank.
She chuckled, bumping her hip into my hooves, forcing them away. “No touching, big guy. I know what you do with a good flank.” She teased, before nodding and looking me in the eyes. “Promise I’m good. It came in at an angle and punched out the back. Would have done some serious damage had it hit closer to home.”
I frowned, looking along the armor to find the exit point as she had said. It had punched right through cleanly and ruptured out the back. “Where the fuck did they get that gun and those rounds? Armor piercers are restricted without approval from an overseer. Let alone the fucking gun. If one of those fucking guards let a crate with armor piercing ammunition and a fucking machine gun get left unattended in an area with such high slave traffic, I’ll fucking gut them myself! Do you know how many fucking ponies could’ve gotten hurt from this shit? I’ll fucking-”
Cade cut me off with a hoof to my muzzle, softly nodding. “We’ll figure it out. We’re okay. Key’s okay. You’re okay.” She smiled reassuringly. “You need to focus for a bit, Favor.”
I focused on her, sighing and nodding. “Right, sorry. Today’s just been... There’s been a lot today.” I said, standing up and sliding her hoof off from around my neck. I was burning out quickly. So many thoughts were trying to push into the forefront of my mind but I couldn’t stop and sort them out yet.
“Gather up the weapons the slaves had, and then get Key and Tender down here. We’re holding position for a few minutes and then heading out on patrol as ordered.” I called out, Cade watching me carefully but dutifully moving back to gather up. “I’m just going to take a quick look around the main entrance to ensure no slaves stayed behind. Royal, watch the back entrance while the others work. We've had enough surprises today.” I ordered, trotting out the main entrance as I heard the others getting to work. I stepped over the beam and out through the doors the crowd of ponies had been gathered at. I looked around the yard and found it was empty, fortunately. With a heavy sigh, I made my way around to the side of the rail house. I took a quick breather leaning against it and slid out a dose of painkillers. I rolled up my sleeve. No time to really tie it right now, had to be quick. I took aim carefully, this would not be fun if I fucked it up, and drove it home. Pushing the plunger down I felt the slow relaxing feeling overtake me and I chucked the empty syringe over one of the fences. I wasn’t about to run out, I don’t think I was even close to it wearing off actually. I just needed the calm relaxing feeling. Sufficiently calmed down I started getting to my hooves when I heard Royal call out.
“Uh, Favor! We’ve got a single pony moving through the yard. They’re galloping pretty hard for the huge gate set in the wall.”
“Fuck.”
I couldn’t leave the weapons alone in the rail house. Especially with all the bodies. I didn’t need much help to bring in a lone slave. Especially with all the security locks in the train yard gatehouse, so I split the squad. I had to ensure I still had contact with the ponies I left behind, which meant Two was staying behind. Something he wasn’t happy about. I also left Key and Nocs. Berry, Cade, and Royal would come with me. Tender Care was also coming. Just in case.
The slave had made their way into the train yard gatehouse. It was a weak point in the wall, technically, since there had to be a way for trains to pass through the wall. It wasn’t like the main gate, which was huge, reinforced and electrified. This was a calculated weakness. The wall itself had been reinforced but the gatehouse for the trains was not particularly heavy duty. The approach however was mined, and the only open area without a deadly minefield was the small work yard and the railroad tracks that ran in. Additionally, several pillboxes had been built into the wall facing outward. Should any pony try to escape that way, they’d have a veritable gauntlet to run. Should any invader be seeking a weak point inside, they’d be faced with hostile grounds, no cover, and a series of heavy machine guns with reinforced cover. It was only a weak point in that, hypothetically, the gate would be easier to break than the main gate. Not that it was a viable spot to attack.
The gatehouse itself was massive. It towered well into the wall with room for two train tracks to run through it. The gates themselves sat on a pair of mechanical hinges, but were largely just sheets of metal welded together over a large framework. Nothing overly formidable on their own. Normally it would be staffed by a garrison of slavers and guards. With the day of rest though, most had been assigned on different tasks and it seemed the guards left behind had been called to reinforce another part of the wall that ran all around Fillydelphia. This was highly uncommon. A fact that had me very much on edge. With the security on the gatehouse, no slave should’ve been able to get through without a great deal of magical prowess or some serious lock picking talent. And yet, the rogue pony had made it inside. I would have to talk with Stern about ensuring the guards assigned here didn’t go running off and leave it so empty from now on. This was an absolute failure and some pony would have to be punished. Between the weapons and now an abandoned gate, I was looking at a serious breach in security and control. My calming dose of painkillers was failing me as we entered the structure with weapons drawn.
I had dispatched Berry and Cade to cover the left side of the gate. Royal and myself would take the right side, and Tender would just keep his head down. We pushed inside, coming into the dark entrance way lit by a single dim gem lamp. It was set into the wall just above the door. To the right of us were the stairs, and to the left was a short hallway to a small barracks.
“Royal, check the barracks. Tender, keep with me. We’re going upstairs. Remember no kill shots.” I spoke quietly but there was an edge to my tone I was unhappy with. I was losing my cool and that was no good for anypony. Or griffin. If he was bothered by it, Royal said nothing. He simply nodded and started slowly and cautiously down the hall to the barracks.
I cantered up the stairwell, clicking my flashlight on. Tender was a bit slower but followed behind. The gate house consisted of two levels. The ground floor, where the rest area sat, so the guards stationed here could rotate shifts easier. And of course the upper gun deck, where the machine gun nests sat as well as the mechanism for opening the gate.
As I stepped onto the gundeck, I took a quick look around. It was a long concrete room, that stretched well over the gate. Wide enough to fit the small gun nests into the outer wall, while still having ample ammo storage and supply safe against the inward wall. I scanned each of the gun nests, the machine guns still sat where they belonged. Their ammo boxes untouched from the looks of it. The lighting was dim on the gun deck, the cruel red light of Filly’s ‘daylight’ seeping in from the various firing slits and pane-less windows giving the whole room an eerie and unnatural feeling.
As I made my way along to the halfway point of the gundeck, I heard the muffled sound of a door closing softly. Intentionally softly. It was far too careful to be natural. I swiveled on my hooves, Tender stopping and stumbling back. He looked wide eyed at me as I turned around scanned the room. There off to the side near where I’d come in was a metal door, I’d forgotten about it. That was the access stairs to the observation platform. It was really just an empty platform above the gundeck that was exposed to the elements. It did however have one thing that had me gallop to the door and push it open. Starting my way up the stairs like mad. There was a zip-line attached to the observation deck that ran down hill, over the minefields to a building that was still largely intact.
I think poor Tender was overly confused because it took him a moment to follow after me. I slowed as I neared the top of the stairs, carefully approaching the door. If they were going to use the zip-line I had a few minutes as they readied the harness, and tightened the line. A pony couldn’t just hop on a zip line that’d been exposed to the elements for a while without making sure everything was actually tight. Otherwise there might be too much give and your trip over the minefields becomes a trip right into the heart of them. I clicked my saddle’s flashlight off and brought a hoof up to pull the door open slowly, ready to take a shot.
To say I was frustrated, would’ve been an understatement. I was angry with how fucked the day had been. How many little things had gone wrong and the absolutely shit show that was Fillydelphia’s waste of resources, idiotic slaver guards, and lazy incompetents. And now I was going to have to take a shot at a slave who was just tired of being beaten and whipped and didn’t understand the necessities of the whole thing. What I saw however, was not just any slave.
She was standing across the concrete platform from me. A mare, just a little larger than Tender Care was. She was sitting on her haunches with her back to me, tightening the zip line. It was rather slack, gently rippling in the wind. I couldn’t look away from her. On her back were three long, ragged and bloody cuts. Whiplashes. The blood had ran in places and the dust and grime mingled and matted her coat around it. My mouth hung open. She was the one Whisper had beaten so cruelly. The one I had bumped into earlier yesterday. Finally I took a deeper look at her. A mare that seemed tragically familiar beyond just our encounters the day before. I couldn’t place a name or even how long she’d been here.
She was a beige coated earth pony, her long brown mane was matted and messy. It would’ve looked quite cute if brushed and cared for properly. If she wasn’t a slave, stuck here in Filly. It hit me at that moment, she had nowhere to go. It would take a few minutes to get that heavy old crank to draw the zip-line taught. Any moment I would have to warn her, inform her she was caught. I would drag her back to Red Eye and Stern and she’d be punished. Put against a wall and shot, or dragged through the city in a perverse parade of her failure before being forced into the parasprite pits to die horribly. And I would put her through that hell, because I had nowhere to go either. I was, as I had ever been, Red Eye’s most loyal follower and friend. I stood in the upper echelons of Filly’s strained and esoteric power structure and I could do nothing but drag her back. My hooves shook softly. It wasn’t for a lack of painkillers.
I would do as I was bid, I raised my hoof. Opened my mouth and then I closed it as she turned around and saw me. We stared into each other's eyes for a moment. A look of terror and horrified recognition grew across her muzzle. Her sad amber eyes widened in shock, pupils shrinking as she recognized me. It was a look I’d seen so many times before. Yet, I felt a familiarity in that look I couldn’t place. She didn’t move, too scared or too smart to know not to try to outrun my shots.
I had been put into a corner, as we all had been at some point. I had a job to do, an oath to uphold, loyalty to her true master and owner. There was no way out. I was cornered by my faith to Red Eye. I would play my part and I would serve.
I focused back on the mare, I could see her trembling. She was so utterly terrified of me and the hell I would bring her back into. I lowered my head, before closing the door and turning around to trot right past Tender Care.
“... S-Sir?” He asked, simply looking at me with confusion as I passed him.
“We’ve got to meet up with the others Tender, no pony up there. Clearly they slipped past us. I’ve got to warn Stern that the guards here who had left, had allowed a break out to occur. Do you understand?”
He stood there, looking at me until a warm smile crossed his face. Those emerald eyes widening a bit. “Ah! Yessir!” Before trotting after me as I made my way down to meet up with the others.
The rest of the day would be spent restoring order to the streets of Fillydelphia. Red Eye would make several broadcasts throughout the day to restore order. For once, I couldn’t listen to them. I felt empty. My world was shaking around me. I brushed off Two at the end of the night, he was quite upset over it but I told him we could sort it out another day. It was unfair, but I needed space. Royal parted ways with us, and my squadmates went to get some rest. Instead of rest, I escorted Tender to the Funbarn. I found out that Stern had been captured during her raid and was being traded for at that moment. Things had gone to shit pretty hard around the Funbarn, and that little mare was getting away. Lastly, I found out that Red Eye had requested my presence in the morning.
Unable to have him transferred, and unwilling to let him go back to the general pens, I had Tender follow me back to my apartment after I dropped off my saddle at the armory. He could stay in the small spare room I had left empty so long ago. He was quiet, likely as exhausted as I was. I let him sleep, spending the next few hours sitting on the floor of my apartment's small bathroom. I had betrayed Red Eye, the pony I had trusted and followed for so long I could scarce remember life before him.
I was afraid of what he would ask of me when we met.
I was afraid of what I had done.
Yet through it all, I was most afraid of what would happen to that mare.
Cherish sat quietly, head hanging low as the crowd of gathered Lawbringers began to cry out in outrage.
“What a liar!”
“Oooh! Of course he totally did the right thing. What a crock.”
“Are you gonna let this bastard just outright lie, Creed?!”
At the table beside him, the mayor shook his head, loudly proclaiming, “Manipulation of course. I told you Justiciar, you should have just shot him.”
On the other side of him, sat Marshal Charity. She looked dumbstruck, unsure how to respond. Bronze Star simply rolled his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. “What a shitty lie.”
Through it all Cherish listened to their dismissal. A saddened look on his face, head still hung low.
Righteous Creed stared over the crowd, a look of fury crossing his face as he slammed his hoof loudly to his bench. The resounding crack sending a shock wave of silence through the room.
“Enough! I will not tolerate this disorder.” He barked. “Marshals! Take him back to his cell. Cherish Favor, you are dismissed for the session.” He turned to face the crowd with a scowl. “I will not have the sanctity of my courtroom ruined by a pack of baying hounds!”
With that, both marshals leapt to their hooves and quickly began to lead Cherish away. He glanced to the back of the room as he was being escorted away. His eyes meeting the pair of amber ones staring back at him. Tears were flowing down the cheeks of the mare at the back of the room. Her beige coat was crisp and clean, finally well brushed. Her mane, long and flowing with those ribbons tied playfully in it. She watched him, as she had that fateful day so long ago, slip through the door and out of sight.
Karma Level: -650 "Train Yard Terror"
Faction Reputation:
Red Eye's Devoted: Idolized
Red Eye’s Army: Idolized
Slavers of Filly: Smiling Troublemaker
Slaves of Fillydelphia: Hated
Chapter Three: My Friend Red
Chapter Three
My Friend Red
“It was always about you, wasn’t it?”
Lawbringer Record of Confession: Slaver C.F. Day 003
The storm had finally rolled down from the mountains and engulfed the valley in a dark and heavy rain. It seemed even with the new found sunny days the skies above the wasteland would still pour. The courthouse weathered the rain and wind as it had always done. Reinforced walls and boarded up windows cut the chill from the wind as the ponies inside sought shelter within the largest courtroom.
The mare with ribbons in her mane had taken up the same spot she had held since the beginning of the confessional. She still wore that sundress, but with the heavy rainfall, she’d added a heavy black combat jacket to help keep her warm and dry. There were large white patches sewn over the shoulders and a pink heart sewn onto the patches. She was alone again, her cowpony hat drawn down over her face.
Marshal Charity had trotted over, taking a seat beside her. “Excuse me, miss?”
The mare lifted her head and looked at her. Her cheeks were puffy and damp. Her lip trembled as she looked at the marshal. Her eyes, though red and exhausted, managed an intense glare at Charity.
“What?” Her voice was hoarse and shaky, but there was an underlying tone of bitterness.
Charity looked down bashfully, shaking her head. “A-Ah. I wanted to ask you something. You were the one who stood up for him when we found him and-”
The mare turned sharply to her, behind the sadness and hurt was a fury. “And dragged him off in chains.” She snapped. “You brought him here to... what? Parade him around like a prized slave? Hurt him like... like he...” She trailed off, choking up as she tried to finish the sentence. She couldn’t however, bringing her hooves up to bury her face in them as she began to sob.
Charity was taken aback at first, but as the mare broke down she regained some composure. “I’m sorry, miss. You have to understand, he’s hurt a lot of ponies. If you’re who I think you are, I know he may have helped you but that doesn’t undo the damage he’s-”
She was cut off by the furious hoof slap across her face. The mare’s hat fell off from the speed of it. Charity was caught off guard and fell back off the seat she’d taken. There was a sudden and oppressive quiet as many eyes turned back to mare and the marshal. Several Lawbringers had drawn their guns, and the Sheriff had started moving towards Charity as the mare spoke through pain and fury.
“I know better than any pony what kind of damage he’s done.” A look of utter contempt and anger had overpowered her sadness.
Charity managed to get back to her hooves and look back at the Sheriff, waving a hoof to her and the other Lawbringers who all looked ready to fight. There was a brief and very tense moment as the Sheriff glowered at her before acquiescing to Charity’s waving hoof and stopping behind her. She then brought a hoof up to rub the hoofprint on her cheek.
“I’m sorry for striking a nerve miss but don’t ever strike a Lawbringer again, especially one just trying to ask a question.” Charity said through a pained grimace.
The mare looked around and shrank back as she realized just what she had done. “O-oh. I-I’m sorry, I didn’t... You...” She brought her hooves up to sob into as she broke down again. “Don’t blame Cherish for this, please!”
Charity was taken aback again, shaking her head as she took her seat again. The Sheriff looking displeased but returning to her duties as the others holstered their weapons. “I’m not going to blame him for that.” She said, rubbing her sore cheek again. “Didn’t mean to upset you, miss. Just... wanted to ask why you protected him when we appr-” She stopped, catching the sobbing mare’s sharp glare again. “I mean, when he surrendered to us.”
The mare sighed through her tears and sobbing. She looked up at Charity, tears still welling up in her eyes. “Because despite all he’s done...” She trailed off rubbing her eyes with the sleeve of that black jacket with the pink hearts on the shoulders. “He’s my best friend, marshal.”
Charity sat quietly, unsure how to respond. She slowly brought a hoof up, opening her mouth to speak before she closed it, shaking her head.
“Sorry. It’s almost time now, and I’d best go fetch him. I rather would not have Bronze bring him up alone. I know you probably feel the same way, huh?”
The mare simply nodded, sighing softly. With a heavy sigh of her own, Charity got up and started out of the courtroom leaving the sad mare alone in her spot.
A few minutes later the court room was quiet as Righteous Creed called the Confessional to order. He gave the signal to bring in the prisoner and the Sheriff opened the doors. Today both Bronze Star and Charity led Cherish Favor in chains. Their pace was careful, allowing him to keep up without dragging him along.
The mare could only watch him, dragged to the front of the room again. She took a deep breath and tried to put on the bravest face she could. Cherish looked back to her, and he smiled knowing she was still there as she had promised to be. She smiled back at him until he had to turn towards Creed and begin. As he did, the smile faded and she put her face in her hooves.
Righteous Creed looked down at the pink stallion. “Are you ready to continue, Cherish Favor?”
Cherish looked up at the older stallion above him on the bench and swallowed hard. “I... I am.”
Creed nodded and gestured. “Then begin.”
“I spent a lot of time thinking last night and before I continue with the events that led me here, I need to explain just what... No, who Red Eye was to me. I wasn’t some blind sycophant or eager lacky. We had a long history and to understand what would come and what I did next, I feel I need to explain that history. To give you folks some context and some... understanding of just why I was so utterly loyal to him and why what I’d done the day previous had shaken me up so much.” Cherish spoke clearly and loudly, but with a tone of sadness.
“See I met him a long time before he took Fillydelphia.”
I was just barely old enough to be able to call myself an adult, though I had none of the experience an adult growing up in the wasteland should have. I’d been a homebody, raised in a small village to the north called Hoofhollow near the crystal mountain ranges. I’d been largely sheltered from the wasteland by my father. He had his reasons for protecting me, for sure. Yet it was no real comfort to be honest. Though I was barely an adult, I still was an adult. Yet Dad kept me close to village. Never letting me stray beyond its borders.
Dad was the village doctor. He’d been a stable pony who was thrown out of his stable after some trouble between himself and the Overmare. My mother had saved him and they’d wandered for a long time before settling down in Hoofhollow. When mom passed away, he took to teaching me how to help. I knew the basics of first aid and a bit more about medicine than the average wastelander but I was no doctor. I just didn’t have the head for it. I was better with ponies than he was, though, so he appreciated having me help with taking care of the sick. When I got my cutie mark and he remarried, things got a bit easier for me. His new wife, a mare named Dusty, was the kind to encourage a bit of roaming. I liked her a lot, she really brought out the best in my dad. It took a lot of arguing but eventually with Dusty’s help, my father let me roam a bit further. Out into the hills around town to hunt for the few herbs and plants that grew. Dad would need them to make poultices and healing salves. He wasn’t a unicorn so he was far more reliant on equipment and chems to care for other ponies.
It was a cold autumn day. I’d been out scavenging for herbs and was getting ready to head back when I noticed smoke rising from over a nearby ridge. I had a much different kit back then. Didn’t have the armor to wear, nor did I know how to use a firearm. I had a small knife I used for trimming herbs, a small medical kit, and my simple outfit. Just some boots and an old button up shirt. Oh, and my glasses. I had trouble reading at a distance and Dad had sought out a travelling merchant who specialized in those things. Didn’t get to choose the style so I was stuck with these big round things. I hated them, I had a hard enough time meeting ponies my age as it was being trapped in a small village, but looking like a big dork was just icing on the cake.
I was curious, but I’d been warned so many times to be careful. Where there’s smoke, there’s ponies and most ponies were out for themselves. At least that’s what my father had always tried to drill into me. I should have gone home and let my father know what I saw. I should have blown the whistle and called for help. At least that’s what I was told later on. Instead I trotted towards the ridge where the smoke was coming from. It took a little bit but I made my way there and poked my head over the ledge of the ridge to take in the sight below.
There was a small cart that was tipped over and burnt on one side. A lone pony was laying on his side. He was wearing a stable suit, like the one Dad had but his had some black padded armor over it. Standing beside him was a dog, a cyberdog. I’d seen one before, on a poster one of the traders had been selling back in town but that was for an old pre war movie. I hadn’t thought they were real. I couldn’t make out too many details. Just that the cyberdog had a lot of metal along its back and it’s brain was in a glass dome on its head. It glowed yellow. Around the pair lay three other ponies, dressed in the crudest armor I could have ever imagined. I think one of them had made it out of pony parts. I gagged, completely taken aback. Dad didn’t talk much about the dangers out here, just that I should never trust anypony outside the village. Dusty had told me about ponies who only liked to be cruel and hurtful. Who couldn’t be reasoned with and to run away from them if I ever spotted one. Raiders.
They were all torn up, and riddled with bullet wounds. The stable pony was bleeding out from an impressively large wound in his side and the cyberdog was just sitting there, growling at nothing. I bit my lip and took a deep breath and tried to think. I opened my eyes and saw the wounded stable pony weakly raise a hoof and that sealed it. I galloped along the ridge until I found a way down. It was a steep gravel slope and I skidded over rocks and dirt before I hit the ground hard. I was lucky I didn’t break anything on the way down but I couldn’t stop myself. I scrambled to my hooves and galloped back along the base of the ridge until I neared the dog and what I presumed was his owner.
As I neared, the glass dome carrying the brain of the dog glowed a fierce red as it lowered its head and snarled at me. From up close, I could see the dog had had its lower jaw replaced with a metal one, its legs had mostly been replaced and it had taken quite a beating. Dents riddled its metal parts and it had a few bloody patches in its flesh. Up close the damage done to the ponies was much clearer. The raider ponies had been brutalized by the dog. At least I assumed it was the dog from the massive bite marks and torn parts.
I was awash with emotions as I took in the carnage but the one that overtook all of it was worry. The stable pony had been cut open with something. Looking around I assumed it was the machete laying near him but it could’ve been the sharpened rebar spear nearby as well. He didn’t have long and the dog was keeping me from helping.
I raised a foreleg and the dog snapped at the air and snarled with a mechanical whine. I winced back and held my hoof close.
“N-Nice dog. Please, your friend is hurt!” I took a step back but pointed at the pony behind the dog. “He’s gonna die, I want to help!” I said, trying to figure out how to get close. I dug into my saddle bags and pulled out the medical kit. It was a small metal container, with a faded yellow cross covering its surface and three pink butterflies at the center. The dog looked at the kit and the glass container holding its brain turned yellow. It tilted its head and then looked back to the pony behind it.
I kept the medical kit raised and carefully inched closer. The dog’s eyes narrowed but it relaxed its stance a bit. It wasn’t snarling now, just carefully watching me. As I got a bit closer I heard the pony speak.
“Is... okay... Winter.” Was all he seemed to manage. His hoof lifting lightly but only briefly. That seemed to calm the dog a bit, causing it to move to the side and sit by the pony’s head, whining over him.
I approached and sat down beside the wounded stallion. He was going to die, for sure, if I didn’t get the bleeding under control. “Hey there, big guy.” I said softly, getting a better look at the stallion. His body was completely covered with that suit, but his head and hooves were exposed. He was a handsome red coated earth pony. His rich black mane was matted down in the dirt. He looked just a tiny bit older than myself, and was strongly built. A part of me wanted to swoon, I’d not met many handsome bucks near enough my age. That part of me was overridden by the part of me that recognized how fast this handsome buck would die if I didn’t get my act together.
I placed the medical kit down and popped it open. Dad had always insisted it be kept well stocked in case anything happened to me while I was out. His overly cautious nature paid off in this instance at least, I had several charmed bandages I’d be able to use, and a single health potion. First and foremost, I took my trimming knife and cut away the cloth around his wound. Then with a careful hoof, I lifted his muzzle and helped feed him the health potion. It wasn’t nearly strong enough to close his whole wound, but it would close enough of it I could use the bandages to stop the bleeding. As I fed him the potion I realized he didn’t have a right eye. It was replaced a dark looking metal sheath. A red light flickered on and off inside the empty sheath but there was no eye there. Though interesting, I had no time or focus for it. I had to get him patched up as soon as I could. So I pulled out the bandages and set to work.
It took a little more work getting the bandages in place, but once I was finished I sat back a bit surveying the stallion. He was stable enough I could move him. I looked over to the tipped cart. It was damaged and partially burnt, but it could probably make the trip. I wasn’t quite as strong back then, so it took some effort to tip the thing back over. Once it was upright, I looked at the damage properly. It was a wooden cart and had suffered some light burning on the outside of it but the inside was still intact for the most part. It’d be big enough for the stallion to lay in and while I doubted I could carry him all that way, I knew I could drag that cart along easily enough.
I carefully lifted the stallion, helping him up into the cart. His dog growling the whole time before whining at his unconscious master. I did my best to convince that dog I wasn’t gonna hurt his master and that I was trying to save him but I didn’t have time to argue with a dog. So once he was in the cart, I quickly hitched myself to it and started to drag it. To my relief the dog didn’t climb up into the cart, instead it stayed along side the cart. I moved with as much hastes as I could muster. It took a while before I found a way back up, and required a lot more work than I was used to. I was exhausted by the time I got back to town. With the cold and how long it took I was terrified I’d failed and he might be dead. Some of the towns folk came out to meet me, and my Dad saw me trotting up the road into town with a cart attached to me. He broke into a gallop to me. Though I could tell he was furious with me, when he realized what had happened he put all his attention onto the wounded stallion in the cart.
I was burnt out from dragging him all that way. The cart had been heavier than I’d thought and admittedly I lived a pretty sedentary life at that point. I was scrawny by virtue of small appetite and high metabolism. Once I was unhitched from the cart I tried my damnedest to stay with Dad and help him take care of the stable dweller. The cyberdog refused to leave its master’s side as well, and eventually my father needed me out of the way. I remember dad being frustrated with me, but complimenting my quick thinking on the potion use. It hadn’t sealed the wound, and there was already some infection despite my best efforts, but I’d given him a chance and I got him to Dad in enough time to potentially save his life.
I passed out on the couch in our living room. It served as a waiting room for our patients. Dusty woke me up a few hours later with a cup of soup. I’d missed dinner. We sat and talked for a little bit, but all I kept coming back to was the buck I’d managed to save. Or well, helped to save. Dad did most of the heavy lifting. She cautioned me to get to know him, but was glad that I’d done the right thing, even if dad was a bit upset I’d broken his rules. I spent the rest of that night checking in on the wounded stallion and listening to my father’s lecture. He had saved the buck’s life and he was proud of me for doing the right thing, but I’d broken his rules and could’ve gotten seriously hurt. I swore I wouldn’t do it ever again, going out risking danger like that. At the time I thought I wouldn’t.
The buck woke the next day. His gear had been stashed away and he was in no shape to travel. He sat quietly in the room Dad had set him up in. It was a spare room that’d been set up for long term care with a bed and some simple furniture. I trotted into the room to find the stallion sitting up, looking at the pipbuck on his right leg. His cyberdog asleep at the foot of the bed. The metal sheath where his right eye should have been was glowing with a bright red light. I tilted my head, he hadn’t noticed me. Or he had and was ignoring me. I hoped it was the former. I’d gotten a different button up on. One of my few white ones, and I’d taken care to brush my mane. Even cleaned my glasses to make a good appearance. With a cough, I cleared my throat and he lifted his head to look my way. Though his right eye glowed, his left eye drew me in. It was a bright and shining blue. Welcoming and understanding despite the harsh red from his other eye. He raised the hoof with his pipbuck on it, smiling at me.
“I take it, you’re the pony who found me out there?” He said, his voice charming and friendly.
I swallowed, smiled to him and trotted over. I was balancing a small plate of prewar snack cakes on my back as I went. “Yep!” I said cheerily. Probably a bit too cheerily but gosh he was handsome and I couldn’t help myself.
“And now you’re bringing me snacks? Truly an angel after my own heart.” He chuckled. It wasn’t supposed to be flirty, I think, but I couldn’t help but take it that way. I’d never been called an angel before.
I tried to hide the blush as I helped the cakes off my back but the stallion sighed softly and took the tray.
“Seriously, thank you. I thought I was going to die down there, was trying to make peace with it all when I saw you.” He smiled at me as he set the tray aside and took my forehoof in his own two. “My name’s Red.”
I let him take my hoof, of course. I smiled wide at him. “Cherish. Nice to meet you Red!” I tried not to make it obvious but I couldn’t stop looking at him. All of him. He wasn’t as slight of build as I was, sturdier and much more well toned but a bit shorter. I always was a bit too tall.
He either didn’t noticed my wandering eyes or didn’t care. “Well Cherish, I’d like to get going soon. How long do you think I’ll be stuck here? And where exactly is ‘here’ anyway?”
I blinked, “Oh. Err. We’re in Hoofhollow.” I shook my head a moment, “And Dad says you’re going to be on bed rest for a few days. Fully healed in about a week.”
He let my hoof go, tapping his own to his chin. “Well, that’s not great news. Am I not free to leave now?” He said, moving to slide off the bed.
I went to stop him but he was quick and as he slid off the bed onto two hooves, he groaned in pain and clutched at his side. He fell forward but I was able to catch him in my hooves and brace him up.
“Hey, hey now.” I cooed, helping the poor stallion back onto the bed. “You have to rest. You got cut open pretty bad and pretty deep.” I said, watching his face contort with pain.
“Damn it.” He cursed, still clutching his side as I helped him lay back down. “I’m not a fan of bed rest. Being idle. It’s... there’s so much to do and laying here isn’t getting it done.”
I reached up to brush a hoof across his forehead, checking his temperature. He was warm but wasn’t running a fever fortunately.
“Laying here for a little bit means you can get it done without falling before it’s finished.” I smiled, looking down at him. “You’re in no state to get up and gallop around looking for trouble.”
“Trouble? No, no. I want to help the ponies up here. There’s so much... wrong with Equestria.” He groaned as I moved my hooves to his side, pushing his own hooves aside to check the wound.
“Helping ponies is good.” I smiled wider, looking over my shoulder a moment before turning back to him. “I’m glad that’s what you want to do. Dad says too many ponies are selfish and don’t try to help others.”
The stallion looked at me, nodding softly. “I was scouting a raider group. They were having a lot of infighting. I was trying to ascertain if killing the leader would destabilize them further or allow them to coalesce around another more competent leader. No point in killing him if it only makes them stronger.”
I blinked, utterly lost. “Why would you want to kill the leader? A bounty?”
“I’d rather kill them all, to be honest. Not for a bounty but because of the threat they pose. They’re parasites. The worst part of the wasteland I’ve found since coming out here. It’s bad enough most of the wild life wants to kill ponies, we don’t need selfish and cruel ponies adding to the danger.”
“Err... why didn’t you?”
He shook his head. “I’m just one pony. Wiping them out would be ideal. A good solution to the problems they pose, but I’m not sure alone I could do that.” His cyberdog lifted its head up to look at him, letting out a light bark. “Sorry Winter, I’m one pony and I’ve got a cyberdog.” He smirked, before sighing and laying back. “Every town I’ve found myself in usually has a similar problem. A group of raiders or bandits threatens their borders, prevents trade and threatens the smaller farms and settlements around. And every town has refused to help me get rid of them. They’re afraid, and so they selfishly cling to their ways without trying to fix anything. Sometimes a town will offer money to get rid of em, but they won’t offer bodies to help.” He sounded a bit defeated, bringing both hooves up to rub his face. “Maybe the Overmare was right.”
I shook my head. “Well, no. I mean I could help. I’m not... much in a fight. I’ve never... been in one but I know a bit of first aid and I’m good with talking to ponies. Maybe when you’re better I could talk to some of the ponies in town, maybe they could help. I know everypony here would be worried if they found out a group of raiders was nearby.”
He looked at me, his hooves coming down his muzzle to rest on his chest. “You want to help?”
“Of course!” I did. I really did want to help him. Not just because of the... obvious attraction but because he was right. “Dad’s always said we have to help ponies who come into town because it’s the right thing to do. If that’s what you’ve been doing, of course I want to help.” I smiled at him, brushing my hoof through my mane. “Well, I’d also like to travel outside the town. See the wasteland. So maybe it’s a little selfish on my part.”
He looked at me, sizing me up. “Maybe but I like your thought process. If you’re going to be selfish, try to help others with it.”
We talked like that for hours. Red told me the stories of his travels. He’d not been outside his stable for long when he got hurt. Few weeks. And in those weeks he’d told me of an endless frustration. Ponies were friendly enough but refused to do anything to really fix the problems they were facing. The way he put it, towns would apply bandages to gaping wounds and let them fester, if it meant they didn’t have to risk anything. It was more than just raiders, but they were the easiest for him to focus on. Parasites that fed on the work of others, destroyed everything in their wake, and contributed nothing to Equestria but suffering. It was strange to hear, no pony spoke about Equestria like that any more. It was a ruin, a wasteland not some greater ideal or place. To hear him speak so passionate about it, so firm in its existence that he’d condemn others for their lack of contribution... It was inspiring. He was passionate, caring, and trying to do the right thing. Of course this pushed my interest from piqued to head over hooves pretty fast.
I spent the week tending to him. Helping him recover, fetching his meals, and just generally playing nursemaid. Dusty thought it was cute, my Dad was... less happy I was taking such an interest in him. Especially when Red was well enough to go for short trots around town. He was a great orator. Talking about fixing Equestria, doing better, and generally trying to give hope. It didn’t catch on right away but as I helped him around and added my two bits to his, ponies started to listen. It was fulfilling. He encouraged me to speak my mind, stand with him and help while he tried to convince the ponies in town to come around to his ways.
When he was able to trot on his own and feeling well enough, he began talking about taking out the raiders. The folks in town were easy to convince of the dangers, most knew them better than I did, honestly. Yet no pony was willing to step up and put themselves at risk. Red was distraught and frustrated with the results. More of the same he kept saying in frustration. I stepped up and tried to help though. It started with Mister Well Worn. He was an older buck, acted as the town’s cheery greeter and did most of the trading when a caravan came into town. I spoke to him about the raiders again and he seemed pretty worried. For him it was more than the possibility of the town getting hit. He had friends in the trade caravans. Lots of em. The raiders were a more direct threat to them than our town. He was hesitant though because he wasn’t much of a fighter and taking on the raiders alone was suicide. I told him that Red and I would support him in protecting his friends. He was in if we could get a few more ponies to support it.
Knowing everypony in town helped me immensely. With Well Worn in, I moved onto the next most likely candidate. A mare named Shells. She was the closest thing to a sheriff we had. Mostly because she was the best shot in town. She and Well Worn were pretty close and I figured she might be interested in helping him protect his friends. She acknowledged that the raiders were a problem, for sure but she had her kids to take care of and wasn’t about to go throwing her life away on a whim. I argued that maybe the raiders would come and deal with us eventually anyway and that Well Worn wanted to put them down for the safety of his friends and town. Red and I could help too. I told her how much every pony in town respected her and how she was seen as a sort of leader. Maybe she could inspire some others. She agreed to talk to some others, folks in town who had helped defend the town before.
After Shells, things started to fall into place. I spoke with a few other ponies in town and the end of the week we had gathered a small militia. It didn’t go over well with my father, but Dusty was happy to lend a hoof. She was the most experienced pony in town when it came to fighting. Dad eventually came around, but only with the promise that I stay out of the fighting to help him with the wounded. I was eager to show Red I could fight, but relented when Red pointed out that having my Dad help was more important to ensure the others got medical help if they needed it.
It was a short fight. Half the town had volunteered and most of them had rifles. The raider group wasn’t all that big either, but could have been lethal if they had attacked the town while we were unaware. Though a few of ours got wounded by stay shots and one of the townsfolk got hit by a makeshift spear, no pony died. It was a success and when we were done, we headed back to to Hoofhollow and celebrated. Red was in high spirits, the ponies in town feeling safer and better for having done something good, even my father was feeling better about it all. It was a great day and we sang and drank into the night.
It was a little after midnight when I managed to get some time with Red alone. He was sitting by the edge of town, looking over the hills where I’d first found him. I trotted up next to him, sitting down on his left, away from his glowing red eye.
“Hey, hero. You’re missing the party.” I smiled, putting a hoof on his back.
He turned back to face me, a sad smile on his face. “Oh, hey Cherish. Just... thinking about things. Needed some time to get my head in order and this party is more for the hard working ponies here, who did the right thing. I just pushed them in the right direction.”
I shook my head. “Without you, they wouldn’t have gone and risked everything to help keep the wasteland safer.”
“Without you, they wouldn’t have given me the time of day Cherish.” He said softly, still smiling. “You’ve got a knack for knowing ponies.”
I hid my blush with a bright smile. “That’s what I’m good at, Red. It’s what my cutie mark was all about.”
I saw him sigh a bit at that. “But you’re more than that Cherish. You could be doing real good out there. Not just with a little first aid either. You’ve got a good heart and a good head on your shoulders. Have you considered leaving Hoofhollow?”
I looked down at my hooves. “I mean, I’ve thought about it but my Dad would never let me. I think even Dusty might try to stop me. They both worry so much about me.”
He brought a hoof to my chin, tilting my head up to look at him. I couldn’t hide my blush this time. He stared into me with that beautiful blue eye.
“You’re your own pony, Cherish. You’re more than old enough to decide for yourself. I want to fix the wasteland. Toppling one raider group isn’t going to do that. There are so many things wrong out here and fixing it all isn’t going to be solved by just going town to town killing raiders. There’s more to the problems than just raiders. Somepony has to start building, and actually solving the problems ponies are facing. Not just putting bandages on gaping wounds and hoping for the best. I want to actually help Equestria heal. Food, shelter, power, and law. Order. Harmony. I want to bring back the best of Equestria, no matter what it costs me.” He smiled at me and any doubts in my mind melted away.
“I-I want to help you, Red. I really do.” I bit my lip, “But I’m afraid my family won’t let me. W-what do I do?”
He looked at me, that warm smile so welcoming. I felt like I could take on the world with him looking at me like that. “It’s up to you Cherish. You have to do the right thing. If you want to come with me, you have to make that choice. Defy your family. I’m going to leave tomorrow. I’ll wait down the road for you tomorrow night. If you don’t come, I know you’ve made your choice.”
I swallowed and nodded vigorously. “I’ll be there.”
He smiled and leaned into me. “I hope so.”
We sat like that for a long time, just watching the rolling darkness and thinking. I was excited, afraid, and all together overwhelmed. I wanted this, I wanted to go out and see the world. What’s more, I wanted to help other ponies and do the right thing. Though, to my shame, more than anything else I just really wanted to spend every waking minute at Red’s side.
The next day would go by relatively quickly. I said my goodbyes to Red as he packed, Dusty and some of the townsfolk gathered some supplies for him as a thank you. It wasn’t much but he was leaving town a hero, even if he didn’t see himself that way. The town gave him a real send off. My father was just glad he was gone, though he didn’t say as much. I could tell he’d been worried about how close I’d gotten to Red. I felt horrible that I wouldn’t be giving them a chance to say goodbye to me. I managed to give both Dusty and him huge hugs before they went to bed. I hoped it didn’t seem too out of place. I didn’t want them to suspect anything.
There was a part of me that hated this. I would be hurting them by doing this, and I imagined when I returned I’d get a pretty bad lecture, but I was an adult. I could and should make decisions for myself. I packed up all I thought I’d need. Some clothes, a backpack, my first aid kit, and as much food I could stash away. It wasn’t much really. A paltry amount to keep me going. I took my small stash of caps, just in case as well. With all my stuff packed up, I took a small poster off my wall and grabbed an old pen Dusty had given me. I scribbled my goodbye letter on the back of it. It was long and rambling, and I can barely remember any of it but the part I do remember was, as I thought at the time, the most important.
“I love you. I promise to come back, safe and sound. Don’t worry about me! I’m coming home eventually, and hopefully I’ll have some good stories to share.”
I left it on the counter in the kitchen. I didn’t want them to miss it for a while thinking I overslept. Then, as quietly as I could, I slipped out of the house and started galloping down the road. It took about an hour and I was starting to worry, when I saw the familiar sight of Red’s glowing eye, and Winter’s glowing braincase. I galloped up to him, panting heavily and gave the biggest smile I could force out. I was still afraid, still worried and I couldn’t stop thinking of how much I would hurt my father doing this. Red just smiled and gave me a hug.
“You did it Cherish. Time to start living.”
I nodded into him and he helped me back to my hooves. We weren’t going to rest yet. He wanted to make sure we were well away so if my Dad came looking, we’d be long gone. I followed along with him and he started to tell me about the wasteland and what we could do to help it.
That was the beginning of a long trip.
We spent a year travelling around, trying to help others. At first it was hard for me, I was not used to travelling every day and keeping up with Red was hard. He might have lived underground for his whole life but he had a bottomless well of energy back then. Though it was hard on me, that first year really helped shape who I am. We went all over, offering to help and trying to do the right things. I got my first taste of actual combat, learned how to fire a gun, and thanks to Red, learned when not to. It was great but all wasn’t perfect. Red was distracted. Distant. I’d hoped for a whirlwind romance and to be swept off my hooves. Instead there was little romance, and a lot more wandering than I’d ever asked for. Red was focused on the bigger picture. The Equestrian wasteland hurt him with its mere existence. The more we traveled the clearer the scope of the problem was. Equestria, as he envisioned it, was so very far away. And everypony was too damn selfish to work together towards it.
I remember how frustrated he was, every time we solved one problem three more would become apparent. Everything we were doing was just a series of temporary fixes. I spent more than a few nights just listening to him vent his frustrations. It came to a head when we returned to my village.
It was a brisk autumn day. We’d been travelling for two days. We’d decided to return to my village, talk to my family. Let them know I was okay, and maybe rest for a few days to think up our next moves. Red had come up with some ideas for actually helping restore Equestria but there were just so many hurdles in the way.
We made our way through the winding trails and up the main road towards town but something was off. I noticed how quiet it was, how no pony was outside. Red noticed it too. We galloped up the road and I was hit with an unbearable panic. The decayed body of Well Worn lay in a heap near the road into town. There were bullet holes all over the old sign hanging behind him. My heart sank and I bolted off like a rocket. Red screamed for me to wait, he even tried to grab me once he realized what had happened but I was already galloping by that point. I ran through the road, passing more decayed bodies, the only ponies I’d known until a year ago. Shells was laying slumped against her doorway. I couldn’t stop. I kept galloping until I saw my parents home. The door was open and I rushed inside. There I found my father lying at the back of the living room. Dusty’s body lay between his and the doorway. She’d been protecting him. Though their weapons and valuables were gone, the shell casings weren’t. Dusty had gone down fighting. My father had tried to as well, the small casings for his pistol lay strewn about. The room was a mess and they’d died so close to each other. I fell on my haunches and just cried.
Red caught up to me soon enough, draping his hooves around me and trying his hardest to comfort me. I don’t remember how long I sat there crying. Just that eventually he took my chin in a hoof and tilted my face up to look at him.
“Cherish... I’m so sorry. I’m here for you.”
I tried to speak, to say something profound or... just anything but I couldn’t. I just continued to bawl and cling to him.
We didn’t sleep that night. Red eventually coaxed me out of the house, out to the edge of town. Had me sit, shell shocked while he went to work. He dragged the bodies, as best he could, behind the little village. It overlooked the hills around the village, the same spot we’d once sat. Then he started digging. I eventually joined him, helping him bury ponies he barely knew. He had mercifully already done my parents, knowing I couldn’t face that. We spent the night digging and burying. When we finished, he held me close and tried to comfort me. I was... empty. Exhausted. When he realized he couldn’t get through to me, he gently tilted my head to whisper words I would never forget.
“No matter what happens Cherish I’m not going to forget or forgive this. Neither should you. We’ll find the bastards who did this. If nothing else in this forsaken hell, we’ll get you justice. I swear it.”
I nodded into him, my breathing shuddering as I started to cry again. We set up camp outside town and got some rest, fitful as it was. The next day would see us depart, Red had decided our next steps that night. In the ashes of my old life, Red’s fury and determination solidified. We spent the next few months gathering support, making alliances. In every town we stopped in Red always sought out info on bandits, raiders, and the attack on my home. All while trying to rally ponies together. It was slow going, but we eventually had a small group together. Stability was the goal. If there was to be a renewed Equestria, there needed to be a stable foundation. Clean water, Food, shelter, and the materials necessary to defend and support all of that. Red set his eyes on the slave city. Fillydelphia.
It started out nobly. With good intentions and an idealistic goal. Solve the problems of the wasteland. To rebuild Equestria. The ponies Red gathered were from all walks of life, all of us... wanting to do the right thing. We saw in Red a brilliant leader, a skilled tactician, and generous friend. We believed in him. His goals. His future. We wanted to make it come true. Long before there was the brutal wall that surrounded the city, Fillydelphia was a warren of slave pits and factories. Constantly in flux, always at each other's throats. There was no real leader of the city. Just a series of worse and worse monsters working their slaves to death.
Red didn’t enter Filly with an army. He entered with his closest followers. All of them were good ponies from across the wastes, ponies who’d come to believe in his fight. A unicorn sniper who always seemed to make the impossible shot. A former steel ranger seeking to do the right thing. A dragon killing griffin merc who found herself utterly swayed by Red’s ideals. An unmatched unicorn magician who saw in him a future. A hardened veteran from Whitetail Wood. And... me. A naive buck stuck in the middle of it all.
It started slow. Red spent most of his time just talking to ponies. As we’d done back home and so many times since. They were the outcasts, ponies, ghouls, and anything else the slavers held contempt for and had been thrown aside. Barely scraping by in the ruins. These ponies were cautious, fearful of the wrath they might incur by standing with the pony from across the wastes. They expected him to be shattered by the harshness of the city. To wilt at it’s pain and the horrors it bred. They laughed at his kindness and generosity, because all they knew was violence and death... but then they began to listen. To hear his words and see in him a conviction beyond that of the slavers and monsters within the city.
Red began to make headway. Rallying a few followers from the dregs of Filly and giving them his protection and encouraging them to help protect each other. Then the first of the masters took notice and tried to remove him from the outskirts of Fillydelphia. This master was a bloated wretch who proclaimed himself as, “Wrought Iron the Decadent.” Wrought was not cowed by Red’s words and or humbled by his reason, choosing instead to threaten to have him bound and flayed, then used for ‘entertainment’. He ignored the threats and continued to talk to outcasts. When Wrought’s first retributive forces moved on him, we broke them. Red wasn’t going to back down. That only inspired more of the outcasts to join us and when the slavers came again, Red spoke to them. He was inspiring, promising a change in leadership and offering them direction. A future. Wrought was hated by all those suffering under his weight. Only those at the top of the food chain, as Wrought would put it, were truly loyal to him. For they were the only ones he showed any favor for. He ruled through fear and retributive force and it was his utter downfall. Red convinced many of the slavers to throw down their arms or turn on their master. The betrayal of his men wasn’t so much a shock for the other masters of Filly. It was the aftermath. Red let the slaves decide Wrought’s fate, leaving the bloated bastard to their wrath. He consolidated those loyal to him and found himself as one of the many new lords of Filly. It was still early in those days, many of us were still bright eyed and naive about how hard rebuilding Equestria would be.
Things only escalated after that. We had freed the slaves and slavers from Wrought Iron but he was only one of many. It was then that Red caught the eyes of the Goddess. A trio of Alicorns descended from the sky into his newly captured base of operations. They spoke for the goddess, bringing him a message. She wished to meet the earth pony who had spoke of rebuilding Equestria and working together. We’d all heard the stories of the Alicorns, the rumors and myths surrounding their mysterious and their utterly lethal nature, haunting places of the old world or where radiation was thickest. We argued with Red. Told him it was a trap. He didn’t believe it was and eventually, despite our reservations took the goddesses offer. He went alone, of course. We tried to convince him otherwise but he wouldn’t let us. We were all needed to keep up appearances, for if the slavers saw that we were all gone, they would have no trouble toppling our hoofhold on the city.
I remember the others talking about how... different Red was after meeting the Goddess. They said she must have had a profound effect on him. He certainly spoke highly of her... ideals? Her unity. He spoke of Unity often afterward. I knew him better than that though. It wasn’t a profound change. It was a calculated one. Unity was a message. A goal. An ideal we could achieve and one that gave hope to the ponies who followed him. Though he wore it as faith, I know it was more than that. For with her faith, came her alicorns and the small cult of followers she had garnered. It wasn’t a coming to god, it was a negotiation for reinforcements. Of course, this didn’t sit well with any of us. The Alicorns were... terrifying to behold in battle, and utterly uncomfortable to be around. They projected their thoughts into your head. It was just... horrible but though their numbers were small, their effects were... undeniable. The former ranger was the most put out. First he had allowed the slavers who had surrendered into his ranks, now he was allying with monsters and their god? He and Red argued a lot after that. Our markspony started waver as well.
We soon took the fight to the slavers. Red always offered quarter, always offered a hoof to them. He gave them a chance to become a part of a better tomorrow. At first, all refused and they were torn apart for their actions. We gathered more territory and the masters of Filly began to waver. As Red gained power, ponies began to call him Red Eye. A name he wasn’t fond of but one he took to, for his enemies whispered it and his followers cheered it. Soon we began not only to fight, but to build and to start work on the foundations of a future.
It took three whole months before things... fell down. Lots of ponies assume Red just... took over and accepted the slavery as the norm. He didn’t. We tried to feed the ponies we’d freed, protect them, but Red’s ethos was that all of us should work together. That we had to, otherwise our future would fall apart. It was what he had set out to do in the first place, the linchpin of all his rhetoric. Those we freed were grateful, but most didn’t stay. Worse still, those we asked to work began to resent it and would scurry away. We were winning battles and swaying the followers of the other masters, but we were losing at our goal.
As things got worse, Red began taking prisoners. Pushing them to work while he began to ally with other masters, giving them far better treatment than he had before, in exchange for their soldiers and followers service. We weren’t freeing slaves anymore. We were giving them choices. Fight or contribute. Prisoners didn’t get a choice. They simply had to work. This was the breaking point. We were allying with slavers and putting prisoners to work. Slaves. It wasn’t so... simple really but that was the crux of the issue. First our ranger left. He abandoned Red and fled the city. Then when we were nearing the total conquest of the city, our markspony left. He had said Red had betrayed us all. I remember him storming off, furiously when none of the rest of us would hear it. Our griffin gathered her sisters and soon Stern and her Talons were responsible for ensuring order was kept amongst the myriad of forces. Our veteran brought his clan together and the Whitetail Rogues became a terror on the battlefield, acting as the vanguard in Red’s battles. His magician was given the task of researching the old ministry buildings in the city and Radiant Blaze began to lay the foundations for his research wing. I... helped him with the slaves.
We spoke often to them. Sharing our stories and giving them hope for a better future. In truth, by the time we eventually brought the last slaver to our side, most of the slaves had been put back to work. The workers weren’t going to last long though. The city was a ruin and the conditions were hellish. To accomplish all Red Eye had in mind, we needed to increase production. We began trying to capture raiders, bandits, and other... parasites as Red Eye had called them, to force them to work for the betterment of Equestria. It didn’t stop at raiders and bandits. Red Eye travelled to his stable, and returned with new followers and a host of new slaves. With more slaves came greater production and new projects. The wall was built and soon more slaves were needed. Always more. As the industry came to life, and things began to accelerate, Red Eye made clear his plans. He would rebuild this world and if ponies would refuse, would selfishly condemn the world to continued anguish, he would force them to contribute. Red Eye’s former companions became enemies. One even tried to kill him. It didn’t matter to Red Eye. He respected them, cared for them but they too were selfishly blinded by their morals. Morals he sacrificed because it was the only way he could see to bring an end to the overall suffering of the wastes.
Many would suffer now, so that many more wouldn’t later. He always spared the children, for they were the generation he was building all this for. I believed in him. In all of it. I thought he was right. If ponykind couldn’t get their acts together for almost two hundred years, what really could make them, besides his forceful hoof?
I was made a slave master, an overseer. Red Eye saw it as a chance to have a pony he trusted to be kind and caring to show the other slavers how the city should run. For a time, I was the best damn overseer in the city. Morale, care, and order really help keep quotas and numbers up. I was the most efficient and my death rates were the lowest in the entire city. I did exactly what Red Eye had wanted of me. And it was all undone by my own... inability to sit back and watch.
I kept pissing off other slave masters through my constant roster manipulations and refusals to send slaves to horrible masters. My stocks were always full, my ponies were always fed and I’d gathered some loyal guard ponies to ensure no harm came to my workers. In so doing, I had every other overseer wanting me dead. Some outright threatened me. Some tried blackmail. Instead I was beaten by bureaucracy. They claimed I was manipulating rosters to prevent my workers from having to work extra shifts. That I was gaming the system and that my numbers were not correct. They bribed several of the bastards in charge of supply to ‘misplace’ several of my production runs. Thus, I had numbers I could not account for.
I was stripped of my place as a slave master, they took everything from me. Most of my personal property was sold off and I was demoted to a simple guard. Red Eye knew it was a betrayal, but unable to prove it, his hooves were tied. I had my most prized... possession taken from me and was left in ruins. I languished like that for a long time. I very nearly gave up, throwing myself into despair and darkness. Red Eye once again lifted me from that darkness. He brought me into his private room and told me he had a job for me. I was going to lead a small force of soldiers and I was going to get my revenge. Red Eye had found the bastards who had taken my parents from me.
New Roano was a small settlement north of the Canterlot ruins. There was an old Ministry hub there. It was for the Ministry of Arcane Science and Red Eye found out that was the location of a research project he was interested in. He’d been debating sending Whitetail until he found out the town had been founded by bandits. The same ones who had slaughtered Hoofhollow. Only one of their number was still alive. An old stallion named Roughshod.
It was a little over a year ago. I marched north with thirty three soldiers, two of Red Eye’s magic researchers, and one of Stern’s Talons. The Talon was there to provide personal protection for the researchers and assist my command. We found the little ruin of a town with a sturdy wooden wall built around it. There was a guard atop a platform by the gate. He raised his rifle as we marched up.
“Woah nelly, fella. What’s with the army? Y’all friendly?”
I shook my head. “My name is Favor, I am here on behalf of Red Eye, the Lord of Fillydelphia himself. We require access to the Arcane Science hub in town, and the murderous bastard named Roughshod.” My voice was commanding and firm, but there was an edge to it. Even to this day I remember that. I was right on the edge of fury and jubilation.
“Roughshod? Err... No I can’t do that for you, fella.” The guard called back, looking incredibly nervous as he took in just how well armed we were. Though we didn’t have the newer heavy machine guns, we had a lot of prewar combat rifles and most of the veterans had new shiny black combat armor. Adorned with Red Eye’s glowing red eye.
“I’ll make this simple for you, we’ll be up the road. You have one hour to hand over Roughshod and open the town to our forces, or I will happily smash that gate and bring the wrath of Fillydelphia down upon your heads.” I grinned maliciously at him. I was being denied. I... honestly wanted to be denied. I felt it in that moment. I wanted to put that town to the torch. I wanted to bring it down with fury and wrath. I wanted to kill the bastard that had torn my home apart. We traveled back up the road. I had the griffin, Harker, get an aerial view of the town.
I sat there for an hour, stewing with rage and anger. As Harker landed near me, he tossed an old watch my way.
“Hour’s up boss.”
I nodded, no words left for my soldiers. They knew their duty now. I led them back towards the gate. Stopping down the road before calling out to the towns ponies. “Anypony who stands down and allows us to do our work, will be released. All who take up arms against us? Well. They’ll wish they were dead. I just want Roughshod and the damn hub.”
The response from the ponies on the wall was a shot from a rifle. The shot would’ve been a kill shot had the rifle been of a proper caliber and aimed at my head instead of the thick shiny combat armor I wore. It ricocheted off and I stumbled back before screaming for my ponies to fire.
The fight was over quickly. We blew the gate open, my soldiers storming in. My orders were firm. Anyone who fought us, shoot to wound and maim, but not kill. Anyone who surrendered was captured. Anyone who hadn’t fought us was to be left alone. We lost three ponies. They lost nine. Seven more were captured. Harker brought me to the wounded Roughshod.
He was an older stallion, mottled grey with a thick mustache and mane, though they’d greyed considerably. He was wearing a badge, the town’s sheriff and mayor. He’d fought hard to protect the ponies with him, but had been caught by a stray bullet. A gutshot. He was going to die without healing.
“Roughshod, do you know who I am?” I said as I approached, pushing away the soldier who was trying to bandage him so we could capture him.
“Some bad bastard from Filly.” He coughed, glaring up at me. “Why did you want me?
I knelt down, a sick smile across my face. “My name is Cherish Favor. My father was Doctor Cross Stitch. My stepmother was Dusty Trail. Do you remember them?”
He shook his head, groaning in pain. “Never... heard of em.”
“You killed them, you son of a bitch. You and your bandits. Before you started this play at being a good little town.” I growled, getting in close. My muzzle nose to nose with his. “You killed my family. My friends. Every last pony I ever cared about, save one.” I spat, standing upright.
“W-where?” He coughed again, his blood splattering the dust. He’d be dead very soon.
“Hoofhollow. Northeast from here. Near the crystal mountains.” I said coldly.
“Ah... It was just me left then.” He said softly. “I’m the last one of em alive. The others are long dead. Please, don’t hurt the others. You got your revenge, the others-”
I slapped a hoof across his face. “Shuttup you fucking coward. You killed my family. You killed my friends. You don’t get the last words.” I growled, taking him by the throat. “Harker, I want the survivors of the fight in collars! They’re coming back to Filly.” I shouted at the griffin, before dropping the old stallion. “The others who didn’t fight us can leave, but they must leave. I’m putting this shit hole to the torch. An eye for an eye.” I spat on the old stallion.
He clung to life, barely. “D-don’t. They didn’t do anything, they just wanted to protect me. They weren’t-”
Roughshod was cut off by a rapturous bang as I pulled the trigger on the revolver I’d drawn.
“Pile the bodies in the center of town. Burn them. It’s more than this bastard ever did.” I ordered firmly.
I’d gotten my revenge. As... minor as it was compared to the damage they’d done. Ten dead, including Roughshod and six captured. Six slaves wasn’t much, but they didn’t matter. In my... rage I didn’t even bother to learn their names. I let Harker handle their transfer. Though they’d never been a part of the raid on Hoofhollow, they’d tried to kill my ponies to save a bastard like Roughshod.
I dragged those six ponies behind our marching columns back to Fillydelphia. I didn’t learn anything about them, I didn’t give them the time of day. I couldn’t. At the time I thought I was just trying to avoid feeling sorry for them.
It was the blackest day of my life but I’d gotten my revenge and more importantly I'd gotten justice. It was thanks only to one pony. The one pony for whom I’d go to the ends of Equestria for. The one who’d become my only family. My only friend. My mentor. My dream. Red Eye. When I returned to the city, he gave me a new position. Chief Cooperative Organizer and eventually Personnel Manager.
It is with all this in mind that I ask that you understand why I did what I was about to do.
It was the morning after the riot. After I’d let a slave get away. I had Tender Care come with me, having him follow behind as I made my way through the Funbarn to the roof, where Red Eye waited. Winter sat by the stairwell acting as a guard. He was far bigger than when I’d first met him. Red Eye had augmented him with even more cybernetics, increasing his size almost threefold and he had replaced the dogs old simple metal paws with huge claws that mounted hellhound talons. There was no better protector in all Equestria. I smiled at the old dog, who whined lightly and inclined his massive head towards me. I gave his brain case a gentle petting, before rubbing one of his metal ears. His case glowed a happy green as he let out a tinny bark of approval. Tender simply kept quiet and averted his gaze from Winter.
I passed the dog and trotted through the door to the roof. Two dark green alicorns stood stock still on either side of the doorway, shrouding the roof in a thin but unbreakable shield. I didn’t like the Alicorns. I still didn’t trust them, but Red Eye vouched for their loyalty so I abided their presence. I had Tender Care wait patiently at the doorway between the Alicorns and then I made my way across the roof to Red Eye. He was sitting on the edge of the roof, overlooking the city. His cloak was draped over his back, watching the goings on in the streets below. I took my seat to his left, as I always did.
“Cherish, I’m glad you could join me. You did wonderfully yesterday.” He said cheerily. “I was right.”
“You were... right?” I asked, a bit confused.
“Yes. The stable dweller will do nicely. She’s just what I was looking for.”
I bristled. I’d almost forgotten her in all that had happened. “I heard she caused some trouble and then you set her free?”
He shook his head. “Not quite. Though she did cause quite the ruckus.” He laughed a bit, “Her friends even managed to get the upper hoof on Stern. She’s not taking that well, let alone being the hostage in the trade. The dweller and the zebra for my loyal second. Considering I wanted the dweller out there doing my bidding, it was quite the deal.”
I smiled at his laughter but it was faint. “Red Eye... I’m sorry.”
He turned his head to look curiously at me. His blue eye the only one visible from this side. “Now why would you be sorry, Cherish?”
“I...” I put my head in my hooves. “I betrayed you yesterday.”
I felt his hoof gently rest on my back. “Cherish, what happened?” He wasn’t accusing or angry. He sounded concerned and surprised.
“I let a slave get away. I could’ve stopped her but... I don’t know. I stopped myself and just let her go.”
I felt his hoof rub up my back. “Cherish, you’ve always cared deeply for other ponies. While a bit disappointed I would hardly call that a betrayal.”
I sighed heavily, “I just... it’s my job to stop these things, right? And I... failing is one thing. Everypony can fail. It’s normal. I didn’t fail though. I deliberately let her go.”
He brought his hoof to my chin, lifting my head up to look at him. He was smiling. “You know you’re the only pony in all the world who would come to me after thinking you betrayed me, honestly and without prompting tell me about it, and then when I try to let you know it was okay, you still feel responsible. Cherish, of all the ponies in Equestria, there is no other so loyal. I value that higher than anything.”
I didn’t know what to say, I felt... silly of all things. “Aph... I’m sorry. I’m being over dramatic, aren’t I?”
“Just a tad.” He smirked, “Today’s a good day Cherish. Not one for apologies. My great work is set in motion. Unity, a new Equestria, is closer than ever before.” He beamed, “And I have a task for you.”
“For me? Are you sure? I just... after what I did...”
He looked at me dead pan, “I was wrong, it’s not just a tad over dramatic. Now you’re being excessively over dramatic.”
I sighed and nodded, feeling sheepishly stupid. “Sorry...”
He laughed a bit more, it was nice to hear. “Stop apologizing. I command it.” He said in a playful tone.
I smiled a bit and gave a salute. “Yessir.”
“Now, as I was saying Cherish.” His tone lost the playful hint. “I want you and your squad to find and raid a Ministry of Awesome hub for me.”
The courtroom was utterly silent. Righteous Creed looked down at the slaver before him. He held a look of astonishment.
“Cherish Favor, can you please clarify for the record. You willfully admit to massacring New Roano?”
“I do, yes.” Cherish said, closing his eyes and sighing softly.
Everypony sat in silence, looking at the pink stallion at the front of the room. The mare at the back of the room crying again quietly. Charity looked at the stallion in confusion. Bronze Star glared at him with a mix of contempt and disgust. The Lawbringers in the room held similar glares.
Righteous Creed closed his eyes and nodded. “Very well. That’s enough for today. Marshals, please return him to his cell.”
Every creak of wood and jostle of chain was felt throughout the room as the two marshals slowly unlocked his chain from the floor and trotted him out.
Cherish could feel the eyes on him, his head hanging low as he trotted out. He didn’t look to the mare this time, even as she followed him with her own eyes. He simply couldn’t. With his head kept low, Cherish Favor was ushered out of the room and through the building towards the basement and the cells.
“I told you.” Bronze said, finally breaking the silence as he pushed Cherish into the cell below. The room illuminated only by the light coming in from the open doorway. Cherish’s cell was mostly dark, save for the glow of his pink cybernetic eye.
“Yeah... fuck.” Charity said quietly, looking at Cherish with a mix of confusion and disgust. Both marshals jumped when Cherish broke the silence that followed.
“It was the worst thing I’ve ever done, marshals.” He said softly. “You don’t know regret until the consequences of your actions really sink in.”
“Consequences? You’re only just regretting it because we caught you?” Bronze barked back, furiously glaring at the form of Cherish in the dark cell.
“No, marshal. This? This ain’t my consequences. You all didn’t catch me because of New Roano. Though, I guess you weren’t quite listening today were you?”
Karma Level: -650 "Train Yard Terror"
Faction Reputation:
Red Eye's Devoted: Idolized
Red Eye’s Army: Idolized
Slavers of Filly: Smiling Troublemaker
Slaves of Fillydelphia: Hated
Survivors of New Roano: Vilified
