Chapter 1 – Hell’s reaper.

“alright lover boy, let me guess you want to always be around her and protect her, don’t you?”

War, war had changed everything that life had to offer for the living. The breeze of the soft wind, the slick green grass and the warmth of the golden sun had been wiped away from the face of Equestria by war. between two nation it began. Demise, detestation and skirmish filled our motions and judgements like pawns. Faiths and dreams of the innocent turned to ash as the dreading sound of the alarms rang out as the mass destruction turned against the evolution as things will never be the same because of war, war never changes.

My vision angled towards the black void of the night. The instant taps of the rain was the tears of the gods and its thunder was the streaks of rage as it struck the world as if the gods itself despised the lands entire existence. Behind the stained filled glass, I sat back in my seat and raised my jug of rum with hoof in-between the handle at the storm’s childish temper and jugged down the lot like I hadn’t drank in a week. Once I was finished, I slammed down the jug with a stupid grin.

“ahhhh, this, this right here is the real deal, this shit is amazing pal, you've out did yourself?” I shouted, getting the bar tenders attention. The bar tender looked over with a smug smile as I laughed.

“aye, found that one in the basement today actually. Must have been the former's malt.” The orange stallion with grey jagged mane looked back down to the glass that he was cleaning with a stained cloth.

“ah, yes, yes.” I chuckled stupidly as I wobbled and stumbled on my hooves. “give me one more of them rum things would ye mate.” I tried to catch my balance as I slowly walked to the bar, giggling like a foal.

“don’t you think that’s enough? You’re going to end up like that pony over there.” The bar tender nodded towards a stallion that was flat out unconscious with multiple empty bottles on the table. I thought to do what every other pony would do in this type of situation which is take a full swig of rum out the shot glass, pick up the shot glass and launch it at the sleeping pony’s head. As soon as the glass connected to the pony’s head, the glass smashed into five bits and left the stallion still in his dreams but now bleeding with glass sticking in his head. I chuckled more as I sat on the stool by the bar, spinning on the stool and laughed as I slowly stopped facing the orange stallion.

“tough sleeper isn’t he.” I made the stallion, wait, no, what was his name again? Uhhh, mmmm, it’s fuckin, uhhhm… Radio! I made Radio grin.

“maybe, or the poor fucker is dead.” He shuck his head still grinning as he finished cleaning a glass and went for another. “he came in here several hours ago, he was moaning to himself about something out to get him. He looked a mess when he came to the bar, he wouldn’t stop twitching and had that wary look in him like he was on the edge of insanity but, I didn’t want to kick him out though, he was paying me good caps and that’s all I cared about to be honest.” Radio said in pity. I sighed.

“hmmm, sounds about right, life’s a bitch like Luna, ye dark blue bitch!” I shouted as I took my aim at the passed-out stallion again and thrown another glass.

“you can say that again.” Radio sighed.

“life’s a bitch.” I said again like he told me too. I don’t know why but I looked over to the stallion again and I gazed deeply as I can remember when I was like that, broken and lost. in fact, I was exactly like that. I was sitting exactly where he sat but in a different bar and the only difference is that he's dead and I’m alive. To be honest, that’s why I’m mostly in bars to drink myself to death but the day just won’t happen. I am simply immune to dying I suppose, or someone who I can’t tell is keeping me alive for the plot, I’ll give you a clue, his name rhymes with the word “Rowen.”

“I’ll throw him out if you pour me another shot.” I offered and I wasn’t taking a no for an answer.

“done.” He said, grabbing a new glass shot from the shelf, while I tried to walk to the stallion looting his corpse which rewarded in a few caps and a tin of Party-Time mentats and dragged him outside on the cracked road; left to rot or a snack for the ghouls. I walked back into the bar with the fresh rum sitting in the glass waiting to be drank. I swear I could hear the rum shout out to me to drink it.

“so, Tequila.” Radio said waving a cloth over his shoulder. “since we’ve been pals and for a while now, don’t you think it’s fair to let me on a few secrets of yours.” He asked, grinning as he leaned forward inquisitively.

“like what?” I asked.

“well, let’s start off with the fact that you are a zebra and have wings.” He said thoughtfully. For a moment the lazy effects of alcohol wore off.

“you knew? How did you know?” I said not so giddy anymore.

“it’s not hard to see that something is there, I can see them moving around under your trench coat mate.” He laughed. I gazed to my sides and noticed that there was two lumps from my wings sticking out from under my coat. I hummed softly and I chuckled once.

“nah mate, I’m just fat.” I said, trying to play it off.

“to be honest, that was my first assumption too, but it was obvious in the end.” Radio said. “I understand why you would cover your wings, a zebra and a Pegasus mixed together, you must be the most hated creature to walk the wasteland if ponies found out.” He said, looking more immersed to me.

“aye, why do you think I’m hiding them.” I said looking correspondingly back.

“so, how is it that you are a zebra and have wings.” He asked once again, and I frowned with a long sigh.

“I don’t know.” I replied and He frowned, disappointed with my answer.

“is that it? You don’t know? Surely you have some sort of clue why you’re like that.” He bellowed.

“well what can I say? My mums a zebra and my dad’s a Pegasus!” I babbled loudly. “I just woke up one day and found myself in a dead world, there you happy now.” I shouted as I slammed my hooves on the bar.

“okay, okay calm down. I was only asking.” Radio backed off and sighed then looked just above my eyes. “also, your hair colour. It’s quite unusual to see a zebra with a different hair colour than grey and your eye, what happened to it?”

I rumbled furiously and scowled deep into his eyes.

“you better stop asking me question mate otherwise I’ll fucking turn your walls red, you hear me.” I said looking eye to eye with the shuck pony.

“okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” He pleaded his innocents. “here have another shot of…”

I couldn’t stand is voice any longer. his words stopped has his head blasted into meat and his blood splatted around him on the walls, the bar and me like a bloody piñata. His body fell to the ground leaving a pool of blood on the floor. I sat there unfazed as I held a revolver by my wings. Smoke escaping my weapon's chimney.

“you just had to say something, didn’t you, you gobshite. You had to mess with the drunken zebra thing didn't you.” I said to the corpse and I climbed over the bar grabbing alcohol, ammunition chems and I figured to take his saddle bag to cover my wings from leaving lumps from sticking out. Looking through the register, I grabbed all the caps I can stuff in my new saddle bag and walked off to the exit. Outside was my sky carriage with my bounty’s head inside and my supplies I salvaged from Hoofington. I linked myself with the carriage and I closed my eyes and smiled to the weather as the drizzle rain poured down on my heated face and it soothed my mind from the alcohol just for a second. Then, my wings popped through the holes and I took to the dark clouds with a powerful flap.

Hello fellow reader or listener. My name is Tequila, a bounty hunter and just a general killer if I get pissed off that is. I live far south-east of the main Equestrian lands in a small run-down stable called stable 45 in a little land called Britannia. the stable itself was clean and homey as not a soul made it to the stable door when the bombs dropped so as anyone would do is take it for yourself and make it my own. Life for me has been a lonely one but, I’m alright with that, no one to slow me down in the future but, yet again I wasn’t always alone, I had family and friends to look forward to but within one day that changed when a gang called the Righteous Wings showed up and killed everyone I loved. Now that, that changed my life, how I looked at things. I used to give ponies second chances, I use to try and guide those to a different path, hell, I use to offer other to join me but now I only care about is the ponies that deserve to have my blessing. Did I mention that bevies are my medicine to this wasteland? Rum, vodka, whiskey, gin and wine, there my precious. Drinking is the only way out this world and gets me in a good mood. In the far south-east, where stable I live in is an active city that wasn’t affected by the bombs much but it’s still a scruffy place called The Hood. This place is crawling with gangs, bandits and raiders and mostly ponies that are up to no good. It’s hard to find ponies who want to make the world a better place, honestly, I think the world is better off without heroes. I’m mean yeah, we need them but like everyone else they die because the wasteland always wins in the end no matter what. For example, I’ve heard a lot about this Stable Dweller, how she has recently free slaves from this Old Appleloosa place. It’s only a matter time for the wasteland to catch up to her and before we know it, she's dead along with her friends. That’s routine in this world and trust me I’m been around long enough to know, you see, I’m an old bastard. I’ve travelled the world not for fun or anything just a graft, just to take ponies souls for big bounties on their head from Hoofington to Manehattan, other than that, I would be ghostin’ in The Hood, it wasn’t fun or easy, but it was worth it for the wealth and freedom. I’ve had my fun in life, I guess, and I hope one day that it can come to an end very soon but it’s never the case. The wasteland has duffed me. The wasteland makes me suffer. Or maybe, it’s telling me something. survive and save others, live to your fullest. Be a hero again like the good old days. But the wasteland knows, and I know who I am and who I want to be cannot connect. Who I am now is a nopony. No one at all. Just somepony to stay away from.

As time flew by, the world became more visible. The morning light slowly faded in and eventually everything was crystal clear. I could make out the outlines of the unwavering mountains, the forbidden ocean as I made my way from Equestria thn as I crossed the sea, I could make out a ruin village below me on the edgy cliff. Black smoke rose from the village like a dragon’s fire, fire linked and infected the other buildings as a wild fire broke loose. Screams of ponies bellowed distantly begging for help and mercy as shots rang out. Bandits? Raiders? Slavers? Either way its none of my business, I might even join in if it means free loot but I’m happy of what I’ve got on me already or though it is tempting to grab some scran from the bakery, but I was not in the mood to get shot in the ass today. It’s too bad too, I’ve known some ponies down there that aren’t half bad, but I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, life’s a bitch. I stopped in mid-air as I hear my equipment crash in the carriage.

“fuck sake Disk.” I face hoofed. I looked back to see were the school was which was surrounded by ponies in rusted metal plates and fire power trying to breach the door. Without hesitation, I nosedived on the edge of the village and rested the carriage behind a group of boulders. I disconnected myself and ran to the back pulling out a bolt-action AS-50 sniper with a sling and a pre-war long sword with the mark Bestie along the shaft of the sword that was still sharp surprisingly and shining with its holster. checking the sniper’s mag for 50 BMG impact rounds, I wrapped both around my neck and waist.

“bullets? Check, sword? Check, alcohol? Check.” I said as I ran into the firefight with a menacing grin. Oh, I could get use to this.

Taking the dark alleyways and the burnt rooftops, I scaled my way to a small market the opposite side of the school, the founder, Solar Dusk didn’t long ago build the village and is mainly still in development of building more homes, market, trades centres and schools for The Hood. Solar Dusk accessed the schools and trade centre for the extra caps that he needed to continue his work. Disk is a younger brother of a pony that I know back in The Hood, I gave him my word to look after the kid. Scratchy has always kept his word for me, it’s time to keep mine too. Lifting my hood and snood up to my make my identity difficult to see. I mounted my rifle on a meat cart and took aim at the raiders with murderous intent.

“lets us in! we will only kill you quickly.” One bandit cackled.

“come on, let’s play a game outside?” another suggested crazily.

“go away, we don’t want to play.” A muffled foal's voice said inside. I lost my rag and opened fire through the metal helmet and skull of the pony and the pony fell lifeless. The others heard the loud roar of my weapon and turned to see his companion almost headless.

“what the fuck?” the crazed pony turned tense. “who the fuck did that! I’ll kill you!” he shouted wildly as the others around the school came to the front all wearing the same expression, murder. I pulled the cocking handle and let another fly into another’s eye, and she fell flat without a word. A pony that looked like the lead of the squad saw the flash from the muzzle and shouted my location.

“the cart! The bastard is at the cart!” and with that they all rounded on me. Some shot back and some legged it with machetes and axes. I smiled as I was hoping they did that. I fled around the corner of the building and flew up the slanted roof and waited.

“3,2,1.” I counted. As soon as I finished my count the two land mines, I left behind the cart exploded with bits of debris of the cart and ponies flying higher than the buildings. I whistled in awe as limps, organs, blood flew like fireworks. The others looked up anger and a bit of nerve. Once again, I mounted my rifle and took another life which got everyone attention to the roof.

“kill him! KILL HIM!” the leader boomed orders with fury and rage as he took aim himself. Bang, Bang, bang, and me and the leader was the only ones left alive. He glanced around him as if he was lost.

“AppleWing? Duster? Maggie?” he said pleading for a replied but nothing other than the other gun fires around us. Suddenly, reality hit him as he looked at the corpse.

“shit.” He whispered.

“aww, what’s wrong pal? Can’t fight alone?” I said gliding down from the roof tops and in front of him, grinning mavericky. He started to tremble as I pushed my rifle to my side and pulled out Bestie with my teeth, tasting the rubber grip and hearing a satisfying shing when pulled out. I lifted my hood and moved my snood down to meet eye to eye, face to face with him and then he looked at me with surprise as if he finally figured out what was on his mind.

“I see.” He said smiling in defeat. “the odds are not in my favour today, is it Hell’s reaper. The red-haired zebra, eye patch over your left eye, yep there’s no mistaking it, your Hell’s Reaper alright.”

My grin widened as I got closer and he moved backwards up the stairs to the school. The door of the school creaked at nosy foal creeped throw the crack and the stallion saw his opportunity and grabbed and shocked colt with his magic and put his gun to his head.

“back off or I’ll shoot him! I mean it!” he shouted and tightly pressed the gun hard against the shaking colts head. The foal tried to squeal and squirm to break free, but the stallion had the magic around him, keeping him hold like a chain with a lock.

“step back or I’ll shoot.” He shouted again but I didn’t back down, I continued walking.

“go on. shoot him.” I said encouraging his act. “he's not my son, I don’t even know him, the kid won’t help you live any longer, it will only make you look like a coward.” I said chillingly. The stallion was for a loss of words, he thought he was in control of the situation, he thought he could hide behind a defenceless foal. I’ve been in this situation a thousand times, in the end the hostage and the bastard always dies one way or another. It always doesn’t end well but sometimes there’s a chance.

“prepare to die.” I stud in a combat stance and ran towards them both. The gun pointed towards the foals head switched to me. Good. Seeing when he was about to fire was easy, he blinked in fear each time he fired so all I had to do was dodge and weave. Then, when I got close enough to impale them both he closed his eyes. Perfect. I struck his horn and the stallion went down in an agonising welp as his magic was no more. He dropped the child and his sidearm and kicked away, crawling.

“you—you bastard!” he cried in pain. “you will pay for this; the boss will kill you, I promise you that.” He held his horn tightly, squinting. I stud over him pitifully then I noticed something familiar. On the armour that covered his flank was one painted hoof stained on the armour. Of course, The Red Hoof gang.

“I’m looking forward to it mate.” I smiled before I pulled him to the stair case of the school and executed him as I took one slick slice throw his neck like a knife throw butter. His head tumbled down the stair case till the end. The blood each time it hit the stairs, the expression of fear each time he bounced, the way he was a stone-cold leader to a weak foal, it was music to my ears. I watched it roll and roll like a ball from a child. Speaking of children, I turned to the colt and he was shaking in fear and not once did his eyes leave mine. I moved towards him until my shadow covered him.

“s-sir, please don’t hurt me.” He stuttered.

“why? Have you done something bad?” I asked.

“n-no sir.” He replied

“then, there's no reason to hurt you mate.” I said with a reassuring smile and he tried to give one back, but he couldn’t stop trembling. “now, why don’t we go back inside.” I said helping the lad back to his hooves.

“thank you, sir.” He said. The colt pulled me back.

“was you really going to let him kill me?” he asked fearfully. I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

“well it was a 50 – 50 thing mate, I couldn’t back down to a shrimp like him.” I replied simply.

“oh. Okay.” He said confused. I crouched down and gave him a warming hug.

“don’t worry about it, you’re alive in the end, aren’t ye.” I said as I let go of him.

“I guess you’re right.” He said but still not sure of himself that I might turn about and eat him.

“I’m always right.”

“thanks again sir.”

The school wasn’t big at all, in fact it was only one room that probably fit about 20 or so foals. It was dark and gloomy when we entered, the windows were barricaded with planks of wood and tables that had bullet holes and axe marks from where they tried to enter. The lights where switched off and there seemed to have no one inside. My eyes narrowed as I saw a gap in the hurdle big enough for a pony to fit through then a few meters away was a red body on the floor. Looks like Disk is at school today. We walked throw the extra wooden chairs and tables that was left scattered and flipped with other stuff like bags and pack lunches left behind.

“where are your school mates?” I asked.

“wait here.” He said as he moved in front of me, looking left to right as he looked over the oak.

“Disk, come out its okay now, we’re safe.” There was no answer, just a deafening silence lingering. Then, I saw it with my one eye. I saw something out of place.

“don’t move!” I shouted but it was too late, the legs of the foal was blown off from the red lines of a claymore behind one of the flipped chairs. The body hit the far side of the wall, after that he did not move at all. He lied there, his soggy insides of his legs turned to mush, his uniform was demolished. It was safe to say he’s not getting back up at all. The only pony I know who would carry something like that around is Disk.

"verdoem dit!" I said in zebra. Yes, I can speak zebra if you didn't know that already. Disks head poked out behind the teacher’s desk with a black sidearm in his mouth and a victories grin.

“yeah, fuck you Bandits?” he spat out his weapon and I heard him shout with a cheering voice.

“dumbass, you missed.” I replied. Disk’s ears perked up and his eyes widened with joy.

“oh, hello Tequila, how have you been doing?” he asked like he did not just blow up some kid. “I haven’t seen you in ages.” He said jumping over the desk top and walking over towards me with a cool swag. The ruby red colt with a brown frisky mane and blue eyes wore a school uniform like the other colt but more intact and a black rucksack on his back. Disk was the younger brother of Scratchy who is a close friend of mine. I know Scratchy and Disk when they were first born. There farther, High Tide was a loyal follower when I was sane but his wife and himself was slaughtered in front of their own children. After that, I’ve been there closest farther figure ever since. I’d say I’ve done well raising them, it wasn’t hard if you asked me, yeah, they cried like a bitch at times, but I’ve taught them to feel nothing, pain, sadness, guilt has flew right passed them like wind. The 6 simple rules that I gave them were 1, never trust anyone you don’t know well enough, 2 it’s okay to kill if they deserve to die, 3 is never back down to no one even if your life and others are on the line, 4 is be the alpha everywhere you go, 5 is enjoy life to the fullest and 6 the most important one in my opinion is never ever fear taking others life or feel afraid of death. It has taken them a few years to practice the system which I respect a lot for, they still need to get the hang of it but one day it will snap into their head that this is the wasteland and the 6 rules will get them places. I call it the life’s a bitch lifestyle. It was tough for me, I had to learn the hard way these 6 steps on my own. Born and raised by only myself and the wasteland.

“not bad just though I would pick you up from school to day.” I said with an amusing grin.

“what? My lesson doesn’t finish in an hour.” He jokingly said. “hay where’s…” he looked over to the corpse and cringed. “Oooo that’s got to bloody hurt. Oi, Turner you okay?” he said with apologetic smile, but the foal said nothing. So, Disk picked up a lunchbox and throw it at him, still nothing.

“yeah, I hate to break it to ye, but I think he’s dead mate.” I said solemnly.

“yeah no shit.” He replied with a shake of his head. “now let’s go, the lesson was boring anyway.”

“wait, where is everyone?” I looked around.

“the teachers dead and the rest are in the basement.” He walked passed me to the exit.

“aren’t you going to tell them everything is safe now?”

“fuck it, let them grow a pair.” Disk said and we walked out with a grin on our faces. A 15-year-old colt, he is a natural born killer in my books. I’m such a good dad. God, imagine if I was in Celestia’s shoes. Ooof… that wouldn’t end well.

When we stepped out of the school area, the villages fire worsened as wooden buildings and ponies were being burnt to a crisp. The foreign toxic smoke made mine and Disk’s throats burn as we coughed like we had something stuck in our throats, we desperately rubbed our eyes from the itching as they watered like drops from a tap. Quickly, I lifted my hood and snood and Disk reached inside his bag and pulled out a bandana and wrapped it around his nose and mouth to keep the tainted air to a minimum.

“come’ ed, the carriage is on the other side of the village.” I said trying to see through the foggy grey smoke.

“couldn’t park closer to the school, could ye.” He said with a roll of his eyes and sulked.

“If I wanted the bellends to loot the carriage, I would of gave it to them, smart ass.” I answered back. “and besides we can have a little fun on the way, can’t we.” I said nudging his shoulder for a response. He rolled his eyes and smiled.

“touché, touché.” He said as he as he pulled out his 9mm pistol with a mouth grip.

The Red Hoof gang forces must have finished with the market and patrolled the streets for survivors. Me and Disk picked of the patrol easily from the shadows and the fiery smoke as with a few bangs from are weapons and they dropped like flies but of course it got the other bandits attention from my rifle and Disk’s pistol. We walked back onto the street.

“let’s not use our guns this time, didn’t realise that rounds are louder than the fir?” I said feeling kind of stupid, I knew I should have bought a suppressor for Bezzie. Yes, I called my rifle Bezzie because I thought it would go nicely with Bestie.

“okay, I wanted to get close up to these bitches anyway.” He grinned menacingly and put his sidearm away in his bag.

“that’s my lad.” I grinned back and pulled the sword from my holster as he did but he had a butcher’s knife. Looting the bodies for caps and ammunition or whatever we wanted, I saw the outlines of 5 ponies with pointy metal armour and weapons through the foggy fire.

“Disk the pillar.” I pointed to a cinder block pillar and Disk nodded and hid in its shadow as I waited behind flaming barrels stacked on one another.

“I’m sure I heard the shots fired this way.” A mare’s voice said throw the cackling blaze. The details started to fade in as the ponies wore gas masks and one other in the front had two canisters on his back and a tube connected to the base of the weapon that had a blue glow at the end like a blow touch.

“shit! A flame thrower.” I thought and as quick as I could I ran over to Disk’s cover.

“what the fuck are you doing?” Disk roared quietly.

“they have a flame thrower.” I exclaimed back.

“so, what, we’ll just shank him until he’s dead.” He answered back.

“no, just leave him till last and pick them of from the back.” I planned and he nodded in approval. The five ponies were on the other side of the pillar as I squeezed with Disk and they are now going to see the bodies.

“you’re losing it Sunshade, everypony here might as well be-

they finally spotted as they felt the gooey liquid on the hoofs as they stepped on them accidentally. I took that opportunity to move position behind a pile of dead bodies that the bandits piled together. The stallions, mares and foals blood created a pool as they all combined like a fucked-up family reunion. The revolting smell lingered in my nose as it was too strong for even a snood wasn’t thick enough to block the smell. I sighed at the faces; they died a painful death, some burnt alive and some shot or axed down like animals in a slaughter house.

“shit. Spread out, they had to still be here.” The pony with gas mask commanded. I glanced over to Disk who was looking right back, and I gave a nod and we both walked out, assassinating the back ponies with a slice to the neck, Disk jumped onto the pony’s neck and jammed the knife into the pony’s neck as he blocked his voice of noise, then the three in the front. By chance the pony with the flame thrower turned to see Disk and I who had taken down their comrades.

“there you are you little rats.” He shouted out and unleashed a heated hellish fire. Quickly, I lifted the dead corpse in front of me as the raw heat thrashed passed me as the body was taking most of the fire in my hooves. I looked to were Disk once was, but the red and orange fire blocked my view. I could feel the blazing flame around the body as my coat started to roast.

“Disk!” I shouted and a grunting came out as a response through the fire’s fury. Good he’s still alive.

“I’m going to do something stupid, get back.” I shouted through the fire.

“roger.” He said and with that I stud with the body and started to walk. Each step I took was more painful than the next, the heat me sweat poured out like a river, my eyes watered from the fumes and the corpse I held was starting to melt its bloody muscles was becoming more visible like ice.

“come on, come on!” I shouted to myself as I pushed myself to walking, my sword in my muzzle waiting to strike the pyro. The bastards, I could hear them chuckling and taunting me to fight back. Oh, just you wait till I get their you sons of a bitches. Then through hell, I felt it, I was in front of the flame thrower, I grinned, and I shoved the dead body in front of the barrel, stopping the fire completely. Even behind the mask, the eyes of the ponies was full of horror as I leapt into the air letting go of the body and the fire returned, the pony tried to pull up, but it was too late, my long sword decapitated the head of the pony.

“got ye.” I smiled then I saw fire pop out the canister like a fountain. “ah, verdomde narre.“ I said which translated to ah, fucking bollocks. he exploded as the I caught one of the canisters of gas and like fiery bomb, everyone in the area was blown away from the heated shock wave. I landed my back hearing a few cracks in my body as I whelped in pain from the landing on a stony surface. Slowly, I made my way up as well as the other two ponies left live but heavily wounded as bits of their coat was marked with bloody patches like mine, I had on my chest and legs. The fire was unbearable, I tried to breathe normally but not even the snood wasn’t helping me anymore. I choked and coughed ruthlessly as my lungs desperately begged for oxygen but known was around. The two ponies stud to their hooves, winces of pain. They rounded on me, one with a knife in his telekinetic grip and another with an axe. From out of know where, Disk came from the roof tops and landed on the axe pony’s back and chopped his neck making the bandit fall to a ground with a gag. Disk looked at me with blood splatted all over his coat and face and sat on the corpse as a chair. He pointed at the bandit as if to say well come on kill him. I rolled my eyes and grinned, getting to my hooves with a big push. The pony with the knife ran at me and I ducked under his side swing and it was my turn as he was wide open. I quickly, twirled to gather enough force to cut him in half. He saw what I was going to do and floated his knife to parry my attack but, all my might struck down on this poor soul and I felt his own knife driven into his own body. with a smooth slice, his organs and blood leaked, and his eyes fell lifeless before he dropped to the rocky path.

“took you long enough, I was starting to get bored up there.” Disk said tugging his knife of the neck of the dead pony.

“what? Can’t I have fun myself?” I asked with a smug grin. He rolled his eyes and we both continued throw the street like decayed demons.

We made it to the edge of the village with a few more encounters but nothing too serious, just a few noobies just brain dead. instead of going back to the carriage we went back in. why you ask? Because the main course was someone dangerous and has the big caps on him but, there’s a little twist. I’m not going to kill him, Disk is, I’m only going to help him out verbally. His first job, his first bounty will be today. The bounty was 5,000 caps and his name is Whitedeath, one of “The Lord’s” loyal unicorn henchman from the Red Hoof gang, his appearance is a brown coat, blond hair and green eyes. He wears a camouflaged uniform with webbing and sunglasses. His preferred weapon is an assault carbine and a 9mm sidearm. Wanted dead or alive.

“I think I’ll take him dead.” Disk said excitedly as he checked his ammo in the mag.

“it’s up to you, it’s your bounty.” I shrugged. “you do know that if you do take him in alive you get 25% more caps.”

“I know, I’m just not that fussed about caps, I just want to kill the motherfucker.” He replied simply.

“okay, how?”

He thought about it. clearly, I thought he would say shank him up his ass, but it came to a shock when he said.

“we’ll see where he is first, then I’ll decide.” He said, smiling. I smiled back.

“how are you going to find him?” I said quizzingly. I nodded awkwardly at the injured mare that was sitting, leaning on the wall, blood pouring down her mouth and holding her hoof to her impaled body. Disk smiled evilly and took out his red knife.

“torture.” He said looking deep into the terrified mares face, weakly shaking her head.

“correct answer, now I’m going to teach you a fun lesson today.” I chuckled as I walked over.

“please, don’t do this, I’ll tell you where Whitedeath is, please.” The hornless, pony said begging for her life.

“ah, ah let’s not get straight to talking.” I said sitting down beside her, leaning on the wall and wrapped my hoof around the back of her neck like pals. “here take this.” I said, handing over a dose of Hydra. She took it and her wounds closed.

“now, imagine this, you are a loyal soldier of Mr Whitedeath’s and you won’t tell my friend over there where he is, do this and I will let you go, hmm? Sound good?” I said with a reasonable smile. She opened her mouth to speak but then thought about it. She had no choice, she's fucked either way.

“you will let me go? How can I trust you?” she asked sceptically. “don’t worry, I’m got more than just hydra to keep you alive.” I said. She thought about it again stalling time. I frowned.

“okay let me make it clearer for you. You do this and I won’t kill you or don’t do this and we’ll kill you now.” I said losing my temper. She looked at me with shaken eyes.

“fine.” She finally said with an upset voice.

“good, Disk she’s all yours.” I said as he came over ready. “right, first thinks first what are you going to do to get her to talk?” I asked.

“stab her?” he asked confused. I laughed and waved my hoof at the buck

“no, no you ask where Whitedeath is first, maybe that will be a good start.”

“oh, right okay.” He cleared his voice. “where’s Whitedeath now?” He asked

“no, no be more threatening, she’s not going to tell you anything like that.” I said like a moany teacher.

“oh, I got it.” Disk pulled out his knife and jammed it half way throw her hind leg, she screamed out in agony. “where the fuck is White death.” He roared into her face. She looked at me with her eyes telling me, please let me tell him but I slowly shuck my head in disapproval as I stayed sat next to her, almost comforting her.

“damn it.” She said as she clinched her teeth in pain. “fuck you!” she shouted. Disk looked confused and looked at me with a tilted head.

“now what? The fucker doesn’t want to tell me where he is?” he asked, and my smile grown.

“now you torture her.” I said pulling out morphine and jabbed it in her leg. He looked at her and looked back me, blinking uselessly.

“how?” he said, cluelessly. I rolled my eyes and got up from the floor.

“easy, just hurt her as much as you can, just like you did but be more creative.” I said. His face lit up.

“okay, I’m good at that.” He said and got closer to her and wiggled his knife while the knife was lodged deep into her bone. She gave out another agonising scream as tears formed in her eyes.

“where is White death!” He shouted again and again she looked at me and I shuck my head again no. she said nothing. Disk looked back at me with a are you sure this is going to work face.

“okay, let’s try something else then, shall we?” I said thoughtfully. “maybe the revolver trick will work.” I said and he tilted his head.

“huh?” he replied.

“basically, you take five rounds out the revolver with only one round in the chamber then, you spin the chamber and you shot at the limb until she talks. It’ messes with the ponies head because the scariest thing is not knowing the known.” I explained.

“oh, I’ve heard of the game before, tried it once but I always won, and I got bored of it.” He rolled his eyes. “it kind of sucked.”

I looked at him in disbelief. There’s no way this kid had played zebra roulette before.

“how are you still alive?” I laughed.

“I don’t know.” He sighed. “anyway, come on I want to interrogate her.” he moaned.

“alright, alright.” I said and passed him my revolver that is set up for him.

“now, tell me where he is!” Disk pointed the barrel at her other untouched hind leg.

“wait please, just wait.” She said unable to move. Click.

“tell me where he is damn it!” He shouted. She looked at me, but I still shuck my head with a smile. Click.

“you think you’re lucky, do ye? Tell me where he is now!” He said once again but her eyes were glued to mine, but I wouldn’t let her spill it. Bang! The sound of the revolver rang out and she screamed at the top of her lungs. She held her leg in pain and yelled some more when the knife fell out her injured leg as she fell to one side. I walked over and lifted her back up and wrapped bandages around her legs and jabbed other morphine in her shot leg. I also gave her a healing potion just in case. Disk had got the drift and put another bullet in the chamber and spun it.

“let’s try again, now where is he.” He said coldly as he pointed the revolver at her knife wound. She looked at me once again with the same expression, breathing heavily but no. bang! The poor mare was breaking apart, as she screamed so badly, she almost broke her vocals. Tears formed more and more as she cried and cried. I walked over once again, and Disk had already put another bullet inside.

“please, no more.” She sobbed heavily.

“I know, I know, as soon as he points the gun at you, you can tell him, okay?” I whispered with a big smile as I placed another bandage over her wound with morphine but getting more sobs in return. I walked back.

“I won’t ask again, I’ll just keep pulling the trigger, now-“

“he is in the mayor’s office, west from here.” She panickingly spat out and… click. Disk pulled the trigger, click, she looked at Disk in horror.

“wait, wait, wait I told you…”

Click.

“…where he is, let me go!” she shouted putting her hooves in front of her face. Click.

“you, you said you would let me go!” she angrily roared at me.

“I said I’d let you go, I never said anything about Disk.” I chuckled. Her eyes widened as she looked down the barrel. Bang! Her head was knocked back and a fresh hole in her fore head was created, oily red blood dribbled down her frozen face.

“well then, let’s get a move on.” I said calmly.

“yep, let’s go.” Disk replied as he refilled his chamber and gave it back to me. We made our way to the west in search for the mayor’s office and something interesting was brought up by Disk.

“Tequila, what made you kill?” Disk asked out of nowhere.

“Huh?” I asked, took back by the question, but I embraced the thought.

“you must have gotten pretty mad to start killing like it’s nothing. Don’t you feel sorry for them?” he asked as we stopped down a smoke-filled alleyway.

“oi, look who's talking.” I laughed

“only cos I was born to kill thanks to you. Not to offend.”

“none taken. I see what you mean and the answer to that would be because I realise something years ago thanks to a few bastards along the way is that Equestria isn’t the type of place you can go around thinking everything is going to be okay, not anymore anyway.” I said fatherly.

“so, it’s okay to kill because everything is not okay?” he asked.

“not exactly, of course you kill to survives or because you need to but also, you can build companionship and friends to survive. Me, I work alone, I live alone and one day I’ll die alone.”

“why? Why would you want to be alone?” he asked a touch of concerned grow.

“simply because everyone would way me down and get in my way but not you and Scratchy, you two are just like me. A killer, fearless, a true prodigy, you two have adapted to the wasteland well just- just don’t get too adapted, I’ve been there and trust me I regret it and if I could go back in time and change what I did.” I said my smile upside down. Disk looked more concerned.

“wh-what happened?”

“I killed my marefriend and kids.” I said straight and Disk gasped.

“yo-you killed your marefriend and kids? Why?” he said ears perked down and trembling and I knew exactly why. Disk a 15 years old colt, fatherless, motherless, he never knew his dad or mother, neither did Scratchy. Disk looked up to me as a farther even though I’m not, I’m his closest thing to be called a dad. Telling him that I killed my foals must have put somethings in his mind. Who was his kids? Did he really kill them? Am I next?

“listen, it was my fault that my family died, I was with the wrong ponies and I now see that but trust me, I will kill the righteous wings if it was the last thing I do.” I said with rage bubbling up inside as I gazed at the floor as if I could set fire to it. Disk walked up to me.

“look at me.” He said

I did and got a heavy punch in return but then followed up with a damp, bloody hug and like that my rage was flushed down the toilet and felt the heart beat in the lad’s chest.

“I don’t think I can forgive ye for killing your own family but, I couldn’t say you wouldn’t be a good dad, so far, your doing a good job and I want to thank you for that. You could have left us stranded and hopeless, but you didn’t, you took us under your hoof and for that your 100% better than the old you.” He said finishing with a tear as he stepped back. I was at a loss of words, I wasn’t expecting him to thank me but to try and kill me. I sighed.

“well, well, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say the words thank you before.” I tried to laugh off the emotions.

“probably because I haven’t. you’re a special old bastard to me, don’t go getting yourself killed.” he said wiping his tear. I nodded and with that we continued. It was nice for him to be open like that, it’s good for him to, holding enough emotions can kill a pony. He's a good kid, I would happily put my life on the line for him. A true prodigy. We stopped at the end of the alleyway realising that the office was at the end of the road.

“listen.” I said getting back in serious mode. “I’m going to let you go on without me.” I said and he just wiped the warning with a swipe of his hoof.

“no problem, your fat ass would get me caught anyway.” He grinned.

“be safe, I’ll be watching.”

And with that, he went.

As I got on the roof tops with my rifle, I took aim on the position where Disk is. I spotted him behind flaming wooden crates from the development of the village, he looked over the box and quickly ducked. Two other bandits were roaming the area for ponies to kill. Silently though, Disk crept to the other side and hid as they walked passed. Mmmm, well at least he knows when and when not to kill. Didn’t think he could resist, saying that he has grown up since the day when killing was for fun. He was like a spoilt brat that didn’t know when to stop the last time I seen him. He moved on without getting caught but the challenge is soon to come. Getting in. I flew to the next roof top now side by side from a distance. I aimed up to the first floor to see bandits around a table playing cards then I aimed up at the second floor of the office window to see the old stallion battered and beaten to a pulp in the middle of the room, he was tied up on a chair with guards all around him sniggering at him. he was barely moving but I could see he was still alive from the slight movement when he breathed. I could give the signal to Disk but that would be helping, and I want him to do it by himself. Then, the pony himself walked into frame, playing with a long blade, White death, as exactly how he was described. He was talking to the trodden mayor, from my scope I could lip read what he was saying.

“where is it mayor, where’s the key.” He said. I couldn’t lip read Solar Dusk’s words since all I could see was the back of his head. Whatever, the mayor did say something, and White death didn’t like it. he sliced down on one of his hind leg and he gave a rusty, old scream. The white death, ugh his name is too long how about… Whitey for short, Whitey grinned evilly.

“how about now? You going to spill it, or do you want your hind leg?” he said. Solar Dusk shuck his head no and off went his hind leg. More and more shouts rang out, even I could hear him, and I was 50 meters away.

“I guess you’ll risk your life for this key.” Whitey wore a confident smile on his face. “how about we bring out a guest, shall we?” he said and moved out of frame and back with a small pony with a bag over her head. The mayor looked up and freaked out, he already knew who it was.

“let her go now! She has nothing to do with this, you want me, please have mercy on my daughter!” I heard him say as he tried to wiggle out his chair. I quickly, glanced down to Disk who had changed position closer to the building, peaking for an opening to get to his next spot. Hmmm, taking it easy, okay, I see you kid. Knowing that he was okay, I took aim to Whitey. He lifted the mask of the child and the filly wore a horrified expression. I growled like an animal, she wore the same expression as…

The morning light rose as me and my crew, Sandwich, Husky and Fleet headed back from our mission. We had had a long day of securing the Wolstein Village from the Red hoof gang. The Red Hoof gang is a massive clan, one of the biggest from the far south side apart from the firm which are gang that is the biggest with the Red hoof gang not far behind them. they get there name from Protection racketeering, murder, extortion, money laundering, loan sharking, bribery, counterfeiting, hijacking, smuggling, labour racketeering, gun-running, contract killing, robbery and assault but they are not our priority, the guards and security in The Hood can deal with them. the Red hoof gang have only one main goal in mind. The keys. I don’t know what the big deal is with the keys, but the gang would do anything to retrieve the artefacts. Today, we had just prevented another raid on the village with the help and security the parish had. Now, we headed back not to our base for payment but a barn not too far from the village to meet Vixen, the found of the Righteous Wings.

“oi, Tequila, why do you think that Vixen has ordered us to meet him at the farm instead of heading back to Haywood?” Husky asked with bags under his eyes as he yawned tiredly. “I’d rather get a kip.”

“I don’t know to be honest, right before the order he pulled me back to meet here. If we are lucky, it will be just a small meeting and not another all-nighter.” I said wings flapping as we all did a square formation. Me and Fleet in the front and Husky and Sandwich at the back.

“it bloody better not, I can barely keep my eyes open and plus I stink of shit, I need a shower.” Sandwich moped.

“surely not, Vixen is a nice stallion, he wouldn’t do that to us.” Fleet said as her mane blowing in the windy air.

“I think he would Fleet, the Red hoof gang is no joke these days, I think he would want us to set out to another village and set up camp for another wave of them bandits.” I sighed as that is the most likely outcome.

“why us? Why couldn’t it be Drizzle’s squad? I’m getting the impression that Vixen doesn’t like us that much.” Sandwich moaned.

“it’s not that, he probably expects more from us as we are his 3rd squad, Charlie team.” Fleet replied sensitively.

“your head is so far up his ass Fleet, one day you need to take your head out.” Sandwich replied back to Fleet.

“oi, enough you two, we’re here now.” I shouted back as I lead them to the red battered barn that was amazingly enough still standing. We landed at the giant double doors that was slightly open, and ora of light peeking through the crack. As leader of the group, I took the first step inside the barn and was surprised to see alpha team at Vixen’s side. Drizzle, Trinity, Charger and him, Cellio, never liked the bastard. I didn’t like the way he merrily and ruthlessly killed ponies, he also doesn’t like zebras with passion so he’s the one that picks on me. Everything I saw in him screamed death and misery.

“ah, Tequila, I trust that you have completed your task successfully.” Vixen said with a welcoming grin.

“yes sir.” I said. “can we get straight to it, we’re not in the mood to linger around.”

“I promise this won’t take long, so I’ll get to the point.” He cleared his voice. “Tequila, I am going to dismiss you from the Righteous wings permanently.” He said sadly. I froze, shocked.

“what?” I asked, stunned.

“Sir, you can't be serious, this is a joke. Right?” Fleet stepped forward.

“sadly, not Fleet, Tequila will no longer service us.” Vixen says.

“why? What have I done?” I asked desperately.

“oh, you have done nothing wrong.” Vixen laughed. “it’s who you are, we couldn’t care less if you are a one-eyed zebra with wings but you’re a good pony, too good to have. You was once a killer and a mean machine but ever since you met your marefriend and had a filly, you have gone too soft. Today you have not killed any of them bandits did you, you showed them mercy and let them go, didn’t you?” Vixen looked at me with an unimpressed frown.

“yes, yes I did. You orders were to protect the village, you didn’t say how I would do it. me and most of my team agreed to spare the bandits to give them a chance to think about how lucky they are and hopefully they would change their ways. It’s called giving a second chance to everyone that has done wrong. I gave them a chance of a new life.” I protested but Vixen looked intrigued.

“who was the one to refuse your order?” Vixen asked. I looked over to Sandwich who wore a bored face.

“it was Sandwich.” I said. Vixen looked Sandwich up and down with a pleasant nod and whispered in Cellio’s ear. I looked at him sceptically.

“why?” I asked.

“oh, I’m just thinking if I should keep Sandwich alive.” He said with a grin. My team froze but I readied my rifle but as quickly as I took aim, Cellio rounded on me like a shadow and tackled me to the floor pinning me down. I went to shout to my team to engage but before I could shout anything something hit me on the side of the head, and I blacked out in an instant.

Slowly, my eyes opened in a dizzy, blurry state as my throbbing head banged like drums, I could taste blood as a river ran down my muzzle. Sounds of crying and sniffs echoed as a mare tried to comfort her.

“it’s okay baby, don’t cry.” The mare said. Wait, that voice does sound familiar. I looked up still fuzzy, but I could see 4 pony shaped blurs standing on the two hind legs, the far left one looking a bit shorter than the rest. A foal? wait no. I blinked rapidly and surely got a bit of my vision and then only I could see that they weren’t on their hind legs but was chained to the wall by their hooves, hind legs floating from the floor like being pinned to a cross. Scruffy bags were placed over their heads and seemed to be suffering as they moaned in pain. me, I couldn’t move, I was chained to a chair my chest and hooves glued to the spot. I tried to move but all it did was make the chain cackle. I looked around. Other than the hanging bodies, I could see hay, hay and more hay so yeah, I’m in a barn, wait why am I in a barn? I thought… then it hit me like a bullet to my head, the memories.

“VIXEN!” I roared with boiling red rage as I used my might to try to break my chains but with no luck, I couldn’t break free but that did not stop my furious adrenaline temper to free myself as I couldn’t stand to sit in one spot while he is still alive.

“VIXEN! GET OUT NOW!” I roared again feeling my voice hurt. Then, the bastard came around the corner from a door way with alpha team and Sandwich looking smug and evil.

“look who finally woke up.” Cellio chuckled. I stared at him with wrath, seeing red.

“you!” I said low and dangerously. “where is my team?”

“wait, you don’t know? Well let me show you.” Vixen said happily. He walked over to the ponies on the wall and removed the masks to show Husky and Fleet’s face all bruised and messed up.

“Husk, Fleet!” I called out and in response then moaned alive.

“Tequila?” Husk asked as he spat out blood. I looked at the other two that was still masked. A filly and a mare. No, no they did not!

“you better let them go or I’ll kill you all, I don’t care!” my voice boomed but the threats were weak as they looked at me in amusement.

“oh, I guess you know who the other two are then ye?” Vixen grinned. I looked over to Sandwich who wore a face of an emotionless pony as he stared at me.

“what are you waiting for? Help us. We’re a team remember?” I said but nothing got to him. He walked forward and drove a knife into my flank. I yelped in pain able to keep in my screams.

“I never wanted to be in your team, I’ve never liked you or your team, it’s always spare them, spare that, you’re too weak to be with the Righteous wings.” He replied back slyly and walked back to where he was.

“you traitorous prick.” I said back as I breathed heavily holding back the whimpers of pain.

“come now Tequila, there’s no need to be angry beside you should spend they last minutes watching your family die.” Vixen reviled the faces of my marefriend, Sweetpea and my daughter, Peaky both looking at me, helplessly.

“Daddy!” Peaky cried out, tear stains darkened her coat. My heart skipped a beat as her face said a thousand words. Help, I’m scared, please, I want to go home, daddy, I’m hurting, it hurts so badly, get me down, please, daddy, come and save me, help mommy, daddy, I promise I won’t go in the woods again, I promise, I won’t ever steal from the market ever again, please, daddy just come and get me. Sweetpea’s face didn’t look much different but a pinch of courage was show as she swallowed trying to keep her nerve at bay. I growled in defeat.

“what do you want from me?”

“nothing, you have done everything for us and I’m grateful for your service, but you are not in use for us anymore. Just another useless tool to throw away you are.” Vixen said.

“what have my team and family got to do with this?” I asked more calmly now.

“your team followed your merciful orders which makes them just as bad as you and your family is what made you soft, you was the perfect soldier, you would have been my right wing pony, you could of took my spot as the boss when I finally died but you let this pathetic mare turn you into a wanna be hero and now you and your team and family will die because of you.”

Husky, a 23-year-old Pegasus stallion who had a milk white coat, blue grubby short mane and eyes with a ball as his cutie mark. He was our attacker, charging in head first, he was our assault. He was the one to put himself first in a fight for the sake of others. He lived in Haywood in a little shack with his sick mom who is dying from taint. He would work day and night for the caps he needed to treat her. If I would have to describe him in one word, it would be trustworthy. Too bad that his trust in me lead to his head being turned to mush as Chargers Mini gun had terminated him to a flesh of meat.

“NO, STOP, PLEASE!” Fleet shouted out, crying her eyes out. Sweetpea and Peaky looking in horror as blood managed to get over them. Fleet, a 21-year-old Pegasus mare who had a pale brown coat, dirt brown mane and sea blue eyes, her cutie mark is a plain brown book. She was our medic, calm and collected when she was on the battle field, always put others first before her own safety. if I had to describe her in one word it would be heroic. living in The Hood with her buckfriend, we would always bump into each other sometimes in The Hood, but I guess this isn’t the type of bump into she was expecting as the armoured Drizzle had forcefully shoved a sticky grenade in her muzzle. Fleet tried to gag it out, but it was too late as it went boom, her head disintegrated, blood and meat everywhere. I was helpless, speechless as I could only watch my loved ones perish with my own two eyes.

“please, stop.” I commanded powerlessly, they heard me, but none followed. Sweetpea was next and I wanted to run to her aid as I resisted once more but then, Sweetpea looked me fearlessly as if she had accepted what was going to happen to her, we looked eye to eye and she nodded once as if to say it’s okay, I’ll see you in the next life. I stopped the struggled at gazed with tears.

“ah, Mrs Sweetpea, its lovely to finally meet you after all this time.” Vixen looked up at her with a smug, punchable grin. She looked down at him with hatred.

“can’t say the same from up here.” She hissed and spat in his eye as he flinched away.

“you bitch!” he shouted and wiped her saliva from his face to his hoof as it drooled down. He smiled.

“Sandwich, prove your loyalty to the wing and kill this mare.” Vixen said, moving aside for Sandwich.

“sandwich. You don’t have to do this.” I said pleadingly. He looked back at me in abhorrence.

“I’m not weak.” He muttered and turned back to the ferocious mare and they looked eyes both gazing, carelessly. he took aim. Sweetpea, a 30-year-old earth pony mare who had strawberry milkshake pink coat, brown mare with three light to dark purple strips on her fringe and ice blue eyes and a black star as her cutie mark. An innocent mare from a village to a friend to the love of my life. To me, she was the next best thing to the warmth of a sun, she would brighten my day from the look at her gentle and kind ocean eyes. Her silk smooth coat and touch sends my chills air born as we would cuddle. The way she would kiss me with passion and care. The way she would treat me home when I got back from a fight. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we were happy, we were sad. We weren’t perfect and we understood that fact, that’s why we were meant to be together. When we had our first kid, it was so surreal, we did not expect to have Peaky, but it happened, and we took her with open arms. We dressed, we fed, we gave her medicine when she was sick, we played, we told her off, we protected her. Me and Sweetpea would die for our own flesh and blood. If I had to describe her in one word after all this time, it would be lovable. I don’t think I told her I loved her today, now I don’t think I can. Peaky screamed as the bastard didn’t kill her quickly but made sure she could die excruciatingly as he would first shoot her hind legs, blood dribbling down as Sweetpea eyes went wide with a soundless scream, then he would work his way up her legs with each shot from his machine gun.

“no, stop you meanie.” Peaky shouted, wiggling but he never stopped. She was getting tortured in a painful way. Sandwich would try and give her a healing potion, but she would spit it out and glare down on him, she wanted this end as quickly as possible.

“take it or you will die.” Sandwich said.

“what’s the point, I’m not going to give you the satisfaction.” She said with a painful snarl. He snarled back.

“I guess I’ll end you now if I can’t have my fun then.” Sandwich said aiming his weapon. She closed her eyes and waited vacantly.

“wait, no!” I shouted but the only thing that was talking was his bullets that met his mark.

“NO!” me and Peaky shouted as she was impaled by bullets. Memories among memories rolled back in slow motion like a slide show. I remembered the time we first met, it was in the north-east town of The Hood and a bandit was going to shoot her dead but me, I came to the rescue as always and a bit of connection when I laid eyes on her. I remember the time she would be so relieved to see me walk throw the door and would give me the biggest hug and a tea to feed my stomach. I remember the time we fought about the Righteous Wings and how I’ll end up dead. She was the first pony to know my little secret that day. I remember the day we made love with passion as we kissed and cuddled pleasurably. I remembered the day when we first realised that we had a baby, her face was not of a fear or concerned expression but full of excitement like a foal on her birthday. I remember the time we cried in happiness as we held our baby in our hooves. I remembered the day she would teach our daughter how to read and speak and write, feed her every day and would tell her stories when it was bed time. My marefriend was the world to me, the only reason I would live for was her and my daughter. Nothing else mattered other than them, there the reason I am where I am now and now seeing one of them leave this world was like cutting out a scoop of my heart. I will never see that majestic smile ever again. The gun fire stopped, and my eyes were pealed to my marefriend, holes and holes were created, and her red juices left. Tears started to form in my eye and even more from Peaky as she sobbed like she never had before and I was useless to comfort her, I wanted to hold her in my hooves and tell her everything was okay, but it wasn’t okay, not at all. I looked over to Cellio who was leaning against wood, smiling hysterically as he shamelessly chuckled. I clinched my teeth that my back-tooth cracked, I stared at him, feeling my head cover with murderous intent.

“I’m going to kill you all.” I threatened the killers with my words. “mark my words.”

“oh, I’m shivering in my boots over here.” Cellio mockingly said, getting up from the wall and trotting over in front of me. “you can’t do much from where your standing now can ye?” he laughed. “now watch as I’ll kill your only daughter.” Cellio said as he pulled me closer to Peaky who was wearing a face of horror. she squirmed and wiggled as she flapped her flightless wings trying to fly away but nothing, and she knew who was next. I looked down the line of dead bodies. Husky was demolished, Fleet blown to pieces and Sweetpea tormented. Now, it was Peaky’s turn. Peaky, an 8-year-old Pegasus filly who had a light smoky grey coat, a short light blond mane and light green eyes. What can I say? She was my heart and I was her armour and I would destroy anyone that would try to harm her. She was a bright kid, with a bright future ahead of her as a soldier, she never had much friends and took inspiration from me. If I had one word to describe her, it would be cheerful. I looked down and closed my eye, refusing to look at my daughter’s death. It was quick thank god, there was a thud of a knife that sounded to go right through her skull and into the wooden wall, she must have died quickly, not a word or sob responded. I couldn’t take it, I kept my head low knowing my own flesh and blood had just died right in front of me and I was too much of a coward to watch. I took Peaky’s tears and cried for her. My family, my crew died because of my stupidity. I wanted to be a hero, I wanted to help the world to be what it was 200 years ago but clearly it wasn’t meant to be. Instead of becoming a hero, I put everyone I love in danger and who’s blame is for that? Me of course. I spun around and there was Vixen looking pitifully at me.

“it didn’t have to be like this, you could have ignored that mare and continued working with us but as always, you have to do it your way because you know best, right?” he sighed.

“you’re a monster.” I responded with a dangerous scowl.

“like you once were Tequila, like you once were.” He replied and with thunderous knock of his pistol grip, I blacked out once again.

The next time I woke up, I was still strapped to the chair but this time I was outside the barn looking at a camp fire of dead bodies. I could see Husky and Fleet stacked on one another and I could see Sweetpea’s flack at the bottom and Peaky’s was probably somewhere behind them, melting to ashes. I think that’s when I clicked. What was I thinking? I couldn’t change anyone in this wasteland. The wasteland has a tight grip around their thoughts like a puppet. I looked deep into the fire and all I saw was pain and suffering from the wastelands creation. How did things in Equestria change? What made the wasteland? At that point in time, I don’t think I cared, I just wanted to kill something.

“you’re a fool.” Sandwich said from behind me.

“oh, I know.” I replied not bothering to escape. “all I wanted was a life where everyone was nice and peaceful.”

“that’s impossible.”

“I know, so I guess I’ll just kill everyone that deserves to die, including the entire Righteous Wings and you.” I said emotionless

“maybe in the afterlife.” He said and I felt the barrel touch the back of my head and bang, my world flew away once again. That was when I made an oath to myself to never become a hero and who ever fucks with me, hope Celestia and Luna is on your side.

Coming back to reality, I shuck my head angrily, I said I wouldn’t go back there but I couldn’t not forget the past, how could I? it’s all I have left. I looked down to where Disk once was to find that he was completely gone. The two guards at the at the front door, dead. The bandits playing cards blown up and upstairs, there he was having a scrap with Whitey, both dodging slices from their weapons, both missing by millimetres. All six pony guards from upstairs had been injured or died from Disk’s pistol or knife. I watched as Whitey was struggling to mark a blow on the small devil, for Disk’s side and speed he couldn’t keep up with him, I think Disk was toying with him, even though Whitey was a unicorn which was a huge advantage to him as Disk was only an earth pony. I smiled as I watched Disk taunt the frustrated stallion.

“stay still!” he shouted but Disk laughed and struck back to caught his flank with a scratch. They kept dancing for too long and I got bored. I jumped down from the roof, headed inside and up the stairs. I popped my head up the stairs and they were still at it. I sighed.

“hurry up Disk, I’m bloody starving.” I yelled over to Disk, waiting at the stairs. Disk rolled his eyes.

“fine.” He mumbled through his weapon. Disk dodged a few more times and then struck a heavy blow to his two-hind leg with one slice then his horn as Whitey took heavy breaths. He cried out in pain and fell to his side in anguish.

“you bastard!” he shouted.

“shut up you baby.” He said as he landed a few more blows to his neck until his head rolled off. I went over to the dusted curtains and ripped it off, put Whitey’s head inside, wrap it up with a knot and whala, a bag that was dripping blood.

“it- it’s you. Hell’s Reaper.” A voice said behind me. It was the three-legged Solar Dusk, he was flipped, still strapped on his chair with his legless limp bleeding fast, looking intensely at the both of us like we were killers. Then there was the little filly trying to unknot the rope with her teeth, blood splattered on her head. He noticed that I spotted her and went wide eyed.

“wait, please don’t take her away from me, she’s all I have left.” He said, begging. I looked to my side to see that Disk was behind me, peaking from my back side. He was… hiding? Surely not. I Turned from Disks odd behaviour and faced Solar Dusk.

“sorry what was that?” I asked.

“please don’t take-“

“ah, right okay, yeah I don’t want her, unless she’s worth taking.” I said. “is she with the Righteous Wings?”

“no, no she doesn’t even-

“then I don’t care mate.” I said as I went to turn for the stairs.

“why did you save us?” he asked as the filly untied him from the trap.

“I didn’t save anyone, Disk did so thank him, and he only did it for the caps that the cum coloured prick had on his head.” I moved so the both can see him. The little blood caked monster a few seconds ago was rubbing the outside of his leg and looking at the ground, blushing? What is up with him?

“th-thank you Disk, I owe you my life.” Solar held his hoof to his heart.

“Yes, thank you Disk.” The filly gratefully gave a small cute smile.

“n-n-n-n-no problem, Trinity.” He stuttered nervously. I looked at Disk so confused. What the actual fuck is wrong with this kid? Like honestly, you’re fighting to the death one moment then turned into a pussy the next.

“aren’t you in my school?” she asked, and Disk slowly looked up.

“yeah, I’m in all your lessons.” He said awkwardly and a for a second there was obstinate silence in the air.

“so, what will you two do now that you have your bounty?” Solar asked and I grinned.

“celebrate!” I said pulling out a tasty drink, Tequila.

Me, Disk with his bounty and the other two that kept their distance from us followed our lead and left the village to our carriage. Soon enough the Hood Air Force or the HAF finally came to the rescue to finish what I started and took Solar and Trinity in their own hooves and us well all we got is there thanks and pat on the back. We didn’t care though, we’ve got our caps. Disk let out a frustrated sigh.

“Disk? What the fuck was that?” I asked, angry that I couldn’t understand what happened to him.

“what the fuck was what?” he answered back like nothing happened.

“back in the village you was being a big wuss when I was talking to Solar.” I said.

“oh, that, I don’t know what it is but when I’m around her I just feel weird. My heart starts beating and I can’t stop thinking about her, I don’t know what it is.” He looked up to me, begging for my answer. I smiled and untensed as the thing that was bothering was clear as day now. I chuckled, which then turned into to a hysterical laughter.

“what? What’s so funny?” he said getting annoyed. I tried to answer, honestly, I did but it was too much, it was too funny.

“you-you-you…” I started to wheeze and laugh again, I put my drink down on the floor as my stomach tightening like a knot. “you like her you fucking mong.” I laughed once more, tears of joy flowed.

“I. Like. Her?” he said thoughtfully. “but I like you and I don’t feel weird.” He said.

“it’s a different type of like to me.” I said, wiping my tears and now calmed down as I picked up my tequila and took a swig. “alright lover boy, let me guess you want to always be around her and protect her, don’t ye?” I said with a grin and took another swig.

“yeah, I guess so. How would you know?” he asked like I was a mind reader.

“I’ve been there and done that mate. It’s called love.”

“Love? So, I love her, do I?” he said with a wondrous smile.

“by the look on your face, yeah you do.” I said. Wow, is, is he really in love. I guess it’s true what they say, they grow so fast, next week and I think he’ll start fuckin drowning himself with alcohol like an arl lad. Suddenly, I frowned and gloomily drank the rest of the tequila and thrown it away making it smash on the dead floor.

“listen, I’m not going to tell you to forget the love thing but let me tell you this. When she dies due to the wasteland or age, it will hurt you for the rest of your life, it will haunt you for the rest of your life, I promise you.” I frowned deeply. He looked over.

“like your marefriend?” he asked, and I swear I felt pain cut deeper into my heart.

“like my marefriend.” I replied miserably.

“I can take it.” he said, and I looked to the determent colt. I smiled. Just like I was.

“right then.” My mood brightened. “do you want to be with her?” I asked.

“yes, yeah I think I do.” He said happily.

“then you must be confident, don’t bloody be shy that will only make you look weak and scared.” I instructed and he nodded. “next is be yourself, no one in the world likes a fake so be yourself.” I said and once again he nodded. “and most importantly, kill anyone that would harm her, because that’s your girl and you will protect her no matter what.” I said finally and he nodded again but this time with a deadly grin.

“right, she’s going to be mine in no time.” He said excitedly.

“whoa, whoa, whoa there. Do you mean, we’re going to be together in no time? Just remember that she’s a pony not just meat you use.” I said, correcting him.

“right.” He said, agreeing and we continued walking to the resting carriage with a smile on our face, laughing and joking while the village and the lost souls burned behind us.

Finally, we made it to the carriage and I now realised that I was in the evening as the blurry ball through the sky had moved a few meters from its last location, damn, how long had it took? 3 hours? 4? I don’t know but it didn’t really matter we have got our bounties, we’re happy chaps.

“want some scran?” I asked as I went to the back of the carriage. God I was starving. I could eat a dragon if I had the chance.

“sure, any Crackers?” he asked.

“let me have a look.” I said as I put the key in the lock and opened the doors on the carriage and…

“who the fuck are you?” I shouted as I raised my rifle and the zebra who was stuffing herself with crackers looked back in shock and went to the corner of the carriage and swallowed.

“wait, wait, wait, wait don’t shoot.” She waved her hooves. Disk came around to nose.

“who the fuck is this?” Disk winced.

“I don’t know. Who the fuck are ye and how did you get in my carriage?” I asked, tempting to pull the trigger now.

“it’s not what it looks like, I jumped into your carriage when I was chased by them creatures from Hoofington.” The young zebra replied immediately.

“oh, that’s why there was ghouls messing with my carriage you little fucker.”

“I’m sorry.” She pleaded. I sighed and lowered my weapon as I jumped and sat down, picking up a packet of years old crisps. The zebra was only I’d say 16, wearing a customised security plated armour, covering her from neck to hooves and had something around her neck, a necklace? She also has a knife strapped on her front right leg and a no sighted hunting rifle around her back. She also wore a brutal scar along down her chest I would be proud to show off, actually, now that I look closely, she is a very strong zebra to the hood and core. She might actually give Disk a run for his caps.

“coming in?” I asked Disk and he shrugged and sat beside me as we both looked at her.

“so, let’s start off with your name?”

Footnote.

Level up.

Your tragic past has made you stronger than ever. Your companion admires you, which gives him the ability to take his combat skill to the next level in speed and strength.

is that it? you’re just going to bring up my past and say I got stronger because of it. come on,it’s the first chapter, give me at least an ability would ye, Owen.

Like what?

I don’t know maybe I can grow a horn and use magic?

Fuck off, the only thing I’m giving you is to be more dangerous with your sword.

Mmmm, okay that’s fair.

Tequila, you also have more handle and control of your long sword. There happy now?

Yes, yes, I am. Thank you.

Can I go now? I’m bloody starving and I’ve got college soon.

Sure, I’ll see ye next chapter yeah?

Yeah, why not. I am the one writing this shit. Bye.

Bye.

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed my first ever chapter. Please let others know who are a big fan of the fandom. Also, I would love to get some feed back on my work. Peace ✌