Fallout Equestria - Second Chances

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