Fallout Equestria: Subject Absolute.

Chapter 2 – Amara.

“hooo weee. You got yourself in a sticky situation didn’t y’all.”

no... not now. this can’t be happening to me. its chasing me. the shadow gets closer. I look into it. I see the red eyes. the horns. I must run. death is after me. it’s too early. my life has been so short. it’s only started to get good. I’ve experienced so little. now I’m at the mercy of this beast. I must escape. I try to run. but my legs tire fast. my will fades. then I trip. I break my shin on a rock. the pain. it burns like if I were thrown into the sun. blood runs from my leg. pours all over the ground. I look back. the beast is still chasing me. I get up. I feel my bones shift inside my leg. it tears my flesh. I fall back down. I can no longer feel half my leg. it only hangs off of a bit of skin. Lifelessly. I can’t just sit here. the beast is coming. it’s getting closer. tears running from my cheeks. I fear that this maybe it. I feel myself growing weak. but I must continue. I try to crawl. pain surging through my body with every movement. no! I scrape my chest on a sharp rock. death still charging at me. my wounds pour out even more blood. I can’t avoid it. death is racing toward me. I sob in tears. my face covered in scarlet. I lie helplessly. I think over my life. look for a good memory. I try to make my last breath last. but pain is too strong. my chest pain burns with intensity. then somehow. my body bursts into flames. the sky rains fire. my hooves burn with rage. I cannot put them out. pain so terrible. I weep at the sight of my wounds. the beast is almost near. my hope fades away. my passions are obliterated. I can’t stop the beast. my hooves turn to ash. the fire now burns my bones. the fire creeps up my arms. my leg pours out blood. my heart is failing. I lie helplessly. in pain as death creeps up on me. I try to scream. but blood creeps into my throat. and I choke, and cough. I cannot breathe. I turn my head to the side. I see something. I try to focus in. I see a light. a beautiful light. so beautiful. as the beast takes my life. I look upon this beauty in awe. and I feel completed. Am I ready?

The reminiscences of my past was shady. At an age where I couldn’t tell my left to right was constantly being threatened by the inert world. Walking deceased ponies, senseless raiders and egotistical bounty hunters seemed to pursuit us like animals. I couldn’t understand it, we are the good people, why would anyone would want to hurt us? My mama, Shea was a deferential zebra with a nature of being gentle and genuine. She’s the one who is always there when I’m sick or alone, she’s the light in the dark, I couldn’t ask for a better mama. My papa, Wolfnanaki is a gratified and proud warrior. My papa was always the one to come to my mama and my aid when we were in trouble. So many times, he had risked his own life for ours. He is an inspiring zebra and one day I will live up to his name as a Kriger, meaning to be a hero. I always liked the word hero, it’s a word that gives you joy and gives you the feeling of being safe and secured with in the arms of someone who will protect everyone no matter what. That was my dream. I want everyone to look up to me with a smile and say your my hero as everyone would shout out your name in glee as if the name meant peace to the wasteland.

Through the gloom, black day of the dead leaved woods. The speeding wind brushed in my peeking face like thousands of tiny pins poking and the rain made me shiver and drizzly. The squidgy, soggy taps each time my papa ran made me recoil in revulsion as the sound made me ill to my stomach. The smell and taste death on the tip of my tongue like a bitter spice. Faster and faster we went into the endless path to nowhere. I glance back to my mama to see her breathing excessively as she struggled to keep up. Mama wasn’t extremely fit like papa, there was no need too, but it has back-lashed on her deeply this time.

“come on, mama!” I shouted. She looked up and gave an exhausted smile of reassurance, but my eyes said otherwise. papa turned to see she was careworn. He panicked and looked forward for anything. Then, he stopped, and I almost fell of his leathery back.

“come down.” papa said, and I did and felt the liquid mud on the bottom of my hooves. “you see that cottage? Go there and hide. We will catch up, Amara.” He said pointing down another root that is just as dark as the other. I looked up at him feeling puny. “but papa, I’m scared.” I answered back, feeling my heart race. He gave me a fatherly smile and eased my heart.

“it’s going to be okay. The stars will look over your soul.” He said in a calming voice. Right, its going to be okay because papa was with us. I put on a brave face and nodded.

“good, now get gone.” He bumped my rump and for a second, I hesitated. I looked back at papa, but he wasn’t looking at me, he ran in the opposite direction, into the deathly void. I went to shout out loud, but I couldn’t find my voice. The wind picked up and the drizzle got heavier as I stud there alone. I looked down the hole with terror. Papa said there was a cottage and I could certainly see the outline of something curvy as it was twice the size my papa was. With shire terror, I felt something poke my flank and my instinct said to use all my power to my little legs and full on dash down the path. I dared not to glance back, not for a second, I’d rather die.

Against the dark night sky all I could see was the crumbling walls that were nothing more than a ghostly silhouette of some previous existence. I swore when the wind whistled through the trees, it almost sounded like laughter of children who once lived here and the caring call of a mother letting them know dinner was ready. Vividly I could picture my childhood. My friends, Bella. I wanted to rewind time to the days where I didn’t have to care about death, to the days where we played ball, played tag and whatever popped into our inspired minds. We could run wild without worries of the taint that roams the world invisibly. When I got closer, the grim and gloomy building was the worst excuse for a cottage I’d ever seen, it was more like a long-abandoned pile of wood rather than a once glamorous home. The doors and cracked windows were covered with a thick layer dust that looked like it has been untouched for years. The windows of the "cottage" looked back at me like the eyes of an empty soul, along with the grand door at the entryway to the "cottage" that seemed to give me the impression it was a gateway to a different world. The door creaked open, moving open a centimetre at a time. It could move faster, but the wood of the door has grown mouldy and soft with water and neglect, and if I pushed it harder, I’d probably push right through the door. Once I was inside, a thick coating of dust and moss coats was painted everything and the roof now sagged in the middle and were it not for a hole that let the pooled water escape as the rain lashed down,the furniture, untouched in decades, was decaying and frayed. I step tentatively, as there are already several dark holes where floorboards have snapped, weak from moss and pressured downwards by the weight of the gigantic dust bunnies that have formed. Cobwebs brush my face as step deeper into the house. A shiver rushes down my spine. I can't tell what, but there is something unbelievably spooky about this place. Now that I look closer, I now see that this place was once a firefight. Teeny, tiny black holes appeared almost everywhere, years old splatters of blood designed the barely standing walls almost like a blood bath. I gasped, years old bodies with thin skin and parched eyes as if the body had been sucked dry from all the liquid from inside as fly’s buzzed around the revolving smell. deep inside a rib of a unicorn was a rusted curved blade similar to my papa’s blade. I cringed at the body as its eyes dry and lifeless stared on in another direction. Don’t ask me why but I wanted it, to keep me safe. I clinched my teeth around the squashy grip and slowly pulled it out as I was afraid to wake it up. Abruptly, loud, booming shots rang outside the melancholy cottage and it finally came to my reality that I was being chased.my eyes dashed left from right for a hiding spot but only one came to mind. The floor boards. Quickly, I cantered to a holey floor that was in a far corner and realised that whatever is to come inside wouldn’t have to look far. I scanned around once more for something to cover me. Box? No. rug? No. I shivered at a thought that had popped into my head. A body? I didn’t want to, honestly, I thought made me want to threw up to my stomach, but it was the perfect thing to hide under. Who would want to go near a dead body? I gulped and tried to put on a brave mask on.

“please don’t wake up, please don’t wake up, please don’t wake up.” I muttered to myself as I slowly dragged the surprisingly light body across and over to my grave then the blackest black covered my like a blanket. In my hooves I held my blade across my chest, hugging it like a teddy my mama gave me when I was younger. As each bullet was fired by my papa, I jumped as my ears felt like they were going to bleed. I want it to stop, I want everything to stop and go away. I want to go back home to Chapel with Bella. My wish was granted as the single fire silenced in bliss. I peeked from under the skeleton with skin.

“papa? Mama? Are-

I quickly covered my muzzle as a tar black hoof stepped within the frame and I slowly lowered the body down. Tears started to swell up. Where’s mama? Where’s papa? Are they okay? Are they dead? Will I see them again? Who is this pony? Is the pony after me? Why? Why us? The questions came in like an uninvited guest to a party. Sobs, tears fled me as I tried so hard to hold my emotion in my cell. Then, my heart entirely stopped.

“where are you little one?” an unfamiliar voice said ominously. No, not now. I hid, quaking and sweating with fear as the steps creaked the floor boards overhead. I huddled with my weapon, Tears streamed silently down my face as I froze still like one of the dead bodies. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. I wanted to be anywhere but here. I wanted to live.

“where are you?” he said once again closer this time, toying with me. I was losing my mind. I am going to be found and when he does find me, I don’t want to imagine what is going to be done to me. I don’t want to die. The daunting steps got nearer, and I held my breath not wanting to inhale. It stopped and for the longest time I thought he had found me but then the sound of nibbling and flesh being ripped off gave me shivers. Whatever this beast is, it was eating the years old body for a snack and I might be its main course. He made it through the skin and was now devouring the bodies system. I can smell it, the blood, the organs. I think I’m going to vomit. The sound of the ribs snapping is enough to make me snap into insanity. By the time he was done, he could see me through the body like a tunnel. This is it. I’m done for. At least I had 13 years of my life being young. I closed my eyes, still trembling fearfully and I waited.

“Tumbler.” A cold, lushest voice said from a distance. The sickening munching stopped, and the monster gulped its food.

“what are you doing?” a mare said dangerously.

“I was looking for that yummy treat you asked me to get then I got hun-"

His words was cut off by a thunderous bang and he felt to the ground.

“honestly, I have to do everything myself.” She said as she walked over and started to eat, not the body on top of me but him. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening and I don’t think I ever will. Don’t ask me when but I had blacked out when I covered my ears and closed my eyes shut.

“damn, you sure had it rough?” Disk said as he clicked open a hole in a can and took a sip. She snapped back to reality with a weepy face. Me on the other hand had WildPegasus on my left and a carton of fags on my right. I took a pull of the burning paper and exhaled smoke feeling the stress die down.

“yes, it was hard.” She said as she looked almost emotionless. “but that was years ago, I’ve gotten over it.” she gave a hesitant smile.

“you haven’t gotten over it.” I replied. “otherwise you wouldn’t be looking like a narky ass.”

“I have. It’s just sad thinking about the traumatising night.” She said narrowing her eyes. I leaned forward.

“you. Have. Not. Gotten. Over it.” I replied with a low tone. She did not argue with me but had looked at me equally. She was the first to look away and crossed her hooves.

“whatever.” She muttered. I smiled in victory.

“so, you said they ate each other, right? Do you mean ghouls?” I asked as she looked back.

“ghouls?” she said with a mad confused face. Great.

“you know, ponies from 200 years ago? They look like they’re dead but there alive?” I spoon fed her and then she clicked.

“you mean they creatures that chased me to you?”

“yes, them.” I rolled my eyes.

“n-no, I don’t think so. They didn’t look dead to me and plus they were talking.” She thought back.

“right then, they must have been cannibalised raiders.”

“cannibals?” she looked in shock.

“hey, I don’t know the details but it’s some kind of disease.” I shrugged and took another pull.

“would make sense too. Papa did say we had to be careful of raider a few hours before.” She sighed dejectedly. “I should have been stronger. I was too weak. I even if I did have a weapon to fight back but I did nothing but hide.”

“listen, you did that right think.” Disk stepped in. “for a thirteen-year-old, you did well to hold your own. you said you had a weapon to fight back, would you fight back?”

“I- I don’t know.” She said miserably. “no, no I wouldn’t but now I can, I’m not afraid to kill.” She said to herself. Hmmm, I’d press X to doubt. Ahhh, sarcasm, I’m lovin it.

“sure, yeah, whatever. Please continue.” I waved my hoof and took another pull and flicked it as the ash fell.

Slowly, my eyes opened and rubbed my eyes awake and the numbness of my bones started to ache stiffly as I yawned. I found it hard to breathe as I tried to gulps of here lingering, I was also hungry my stomach rumbled in its mood and most importantly, where am I? leisurely, the replay came back to me. How long had I been here? Feeling brave, I lifted the lid of my hole and took another peek and to my surprise it was gaudy morning, the yellowy solar flare shined through the door and windows as it reviled small bits of dust and spirits flying around in every direction like birds. The warmth of the air flowed through my nostrils as I sniffed the start of the new day which contained of raider pony’s blood and flesh.

“Mama? Papa?” I lifted the lid off and climbed up feeling joints crack within me as I stretched my hooves. I got a good look at the pony eater. He had a black tar coat and clay grey mane with yellow piss eyes. I looked down at my killer that was going to eat me alive, I felt nothing for the pony, I know a hero was meant to feel remorse for every pony, but I don’t think I wanted to be a hero today. Yesterday, I was on the edge of insanity as my limit as I was coming at an end or maybe I was already insane and I just didn’t know it yet but then something came over me, I wanted to cry out of pity but yet I shouldn’t because of what he was but I did anyway, I guess he was pony once, what happened to him before he ate ponies. Was he like my papa? Did he have children of his own? finally, I glanced away feeling more appeared and went to find others that were more important than a murder.

“Mama? Papa?” I cried out once again as I stepped throw the door frame warily then my heart bounced. Hundreds of bodies laid before me in a massacre. Limbs were dismantled, colour red infected the trees and path like a virus. My engine started to thump as my hooves got dirty in the red mud. I held my breath, looking at the bodies closely hoping for my mama and papa to not be in the number. Ducking and flipping the dead for their identity was leading to the next to the next to the next like an endless chain of death. The cold bodies looked at me with long and emotionless look as if they were blind. My heart raced as it came to the last few. As I continued, something was off, I don’t know how I didn’t see it in the first place but there was something unnatural about this. All the bodies were in one spot with the blood connecting together on the outside like a plate, but this was the strange part. The liquid red was used to make curvy, circle patterns. It was everywhere, trees, path even on some the ponies that for some reason had no bite marks just slash wounds that was also used in a scary way. Whoever had done this evil act is also every much dangerous. Then, in the corner of my eye I saw something extra to this malevolent art. A trail of two pair of red hoof steps was trailing of down a path way as if fleeing the crime scene but leaving evidence cliché. With terrible curiosity I followed the pair of tracks and came to a sudden stop. I trembled a grin. There were two outlines of ponies in the distance trotting away. I wasn’t for sure that it was mama and papa because of the lends flare from the sun but I knew it was them, how could I not know how they looked.

“Mama! Papa!” I shouted as I ran towards them, smiling ear to ear with a sprint of relief. I knew it, I just knew they wouldn’t be lost. Thank the stars. They didn’t move. They didn’t turn around to face me. Most of their grey coat had turned to a ruby red and something was dangling at the bottom of them. My run quickly turned to a walk as I was not too sure if I wanted to get any closer them.

“mama? Papa?” I said for the final time as I stepped in front of them at that moment a thousand knives impaled my heart at once as I saw not my mama and papa but only the coat, mane everything else was gone. I tumbled onto my rump and put my hoof to mouth in utter horror. I looked into their eyes… wait, no, they did not have eye. There sockets had been snatched out with force and replaced with a slender gaze. The body just swayed around like a leaf in the wind, no bones, no flesh, no muscles even no organs everything was ripped out and substituted for a white body with a rusty metal pole through the stomach and planted into the soil. Mama and papa was carefully skinned and was hanging on display on a mannequin like they were on for a sale. I felt my eyes start to hurt as forced tears swelled up once again as my eyes were pealed to my mama and papa’s coat. Something enhanced within me and before me I spewed my food as the ghastly taste stayed on the tip of my tongue.

“mama! Papa!” I cried out with endless sobs to the point that my eye was burning. Mama and papa were dead and right now I wanted to join them. After a good 10 minutes of my crying I got up, wiping my tears and nose, sniffling and at the corner of my eye a piece of paper was stabbed to a tree. It read: ‘hello there. If your reading this note then, you have seen my master piece. This is the start of my sculptured art. Please call me Tint. Tint Red. And for my work, call it a couples red work. Please spread the word thus my work shall continue its brilliants. I hope I run into you one day then you can have the honour to become something beautiful and inspiring. Your truly. Tint.’ I felt my lip twitch in anger as I scrupled the paper into the ball and throw it to one side and pulled the dagger out of the dead bark with a forceful pull. Walking around warily, I found the rest of mama and papa as a pile of bones and flesh was hiding behind a blonder with their stuff, weapons and all. All I took was my papa’s hunting rifle and the saddle bags that had ammunition, healing potions and food and water. I took one last look at mama and papa’s fur and walked towards them. I dropped everything and gave them both a hug. I felt nothing from them as I tried to squeeze hard, but the fur didn’t budge down like flesh within them. I was going to cry again but I stopped myself. No more. No more crying at all, ever. these are the last tear I shall shed until I die. Also, I think I can leave the hero stuff for another time. Right now, my goal is to find Tint Red and turn him red like he did to everyone that died that day.

“hmmm, your mum and dad died too? Good for nothing aren’t they.” Disk said jokingly as he smiled and popped open can of fizzy drink. She looked out raged from Disk’s comment.

“how dare you put disrespect on my mama and papa’s name. don’t you care about your-

“oi! Watch what you say bitch! I was just joking about!” Disk exclaimed back at the fuming zebra. I just watched the two noisy pair shouts on as I smoked the last of my fag and flicked it away.

“even if it was a joke. you should never, ever disrespect my mama and papa.” She shouted in his face.

“I was only trying to lighten the mood, and don’t you ever say I don’t care about my parents. I laugh about it because it’s better than crying and I think my mum and dad would want it that way.” He yelled back at her.

“death is no laughing matter Disk. Death means that you will never see them again.” She fought back.

“true but that only means that they are in a better place in heaven with the rest of their family. Doesn’t that make you happy?” he countered.

“well because of death I’m all alone with no one to trust.”

Disk was taken back that and thought for a bit.

“fine. Fair enough.” He said as he pulled out his sidearm and shot inches away from her face. “but, don’t ever and I mean ever tell me that I don’t care about my mum and dad.” He said as he jumped out the carriage. Amara looked shell shocked as held her breath for a second watch Disk disappear. I finally replied.

“please don’t mind him. He doesn’t like it when his dad and mum is said. You see, he has never seen his mum or dad before and can only remember them by my stories I tell about him. Disk does love his mum and dad very much, but he just doesn’t want to show it.” I said drinking down a bottle of Wild Pegasus. She sighed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. I was just in the heat of the moment.” She said.

“hay don’t say sorry to me. Say sorry to Disk.” I replied taking another sip of my bottle.

“your right.” She said as she got up from her rump and headed out. I stayed in the back of the carriage waiting for her to come back. There’s a few more things that I want to know like where she went, did she manage to kill Tint and why is there a foul under my hay bag asleep. I crept over and lifted the bag to see a sky light blue coated colt curled up on a patch of my hay where I sleep if I’m away from home, sucking his hoof in a deep sleep. The colt Pegasus was no higher than 3 years old and had some battle wounds himself.

“hay little bud, wake up.” I politely shuck the colt which resulted in him slowly opening his silver eye and looked at me. “come on buddy, I won’t hurt ye.” I crouched down as the blue colt rubbed his eyes and yawned as he stud up and walked over to me wrapping his hooves around my neck before falling back to sleep. Aww, aren’t fouls the cutest and innocent little creatures. Holding the colt in my front legs I stud up on my hind legs and sat back down stroking the little foul’s golden yellow mane as he snoozed of to the dream land.

“put him down now.” Amara stud on her hind legs levelling a hunting rifle at us two.

“careful there. You might hurt someone.” I smiled smugly. She shuck a bit as well as tense as I held the colt carefully.

“please, just put him down.” She pleaded.

“now listen if you shoot you might hit your little friend here or you could hit me and risk Disk taking your life.” I said trying to calm her down.

“that’s a dilemma I’m willing to take.” She said.

“you know what else would be a shitty dilemma?” Disk said as a butchers knife curled round her neck like a snake. “You dead and the colt all by himself, now get in or things will get rough.”

“you wouldn’t kill me, you’re too weak. You would have killed me by now if you had the balls.” She smiled. Disk grinned back twice as happily.

“oh, try me please. I’m on a kill streak right now and I’m more than happy to make you another number on my list.” he said, the knife pressed tightly against her neck. Her grin faded as she didn’t like the position, she was in.

“whoa, whoa, whoa there Disk, let’s not start killing the plot of this shit.” I said taking other sip of my alcohol with my wing.

"huh?" Disk looked at me, questionably.

"don't worry about it, now get in before I'll kill the lot of ye." I said.

"you wish." Disk muttered under his breath and took his attention to the baby. “what’s his name then Amara?” Disk asked like he definitely didn’t try to kill her. She hopped back in at sat opposite of us, nerves written all over her face. I leaned forward with the colt and gave it to her to calm her nerve.

“his name is Lucio. A name given by an old friend of mine.” She said with a deep frown. A frown that meant remorse.

They say once you have mastered being alone, you are ready for the company of others, that doesn't make it easy though. When everyone's life journey separated from my own, when the only heart beating in this forest belonged to me, it wasn't something most could take. For there are days when the brain becomes a cold fire, perhaps that is what others call panic, but when you are alone, who are you going to call? I guess the good news is that in time, after many unpleasant days, you are okay. Then you find joy again, or maybe it finds you. After that, your journey can change, take on new and exciting adventures... I wish I could wave a magic wand for my isolation, but there are somethings you must learn the hard way and I must endure my time alone. Carefully, I trotted along one side a shallow hill and the other a river. The river winds through the forest, welcoming stray flora that comes its way. It is part of this place, integral to life, yet also a thing unto itself. The river is always flowing, taking its willing passengers onward to the great ocean beyond. At the edges it tempts the dead soil to join the tampered waters just as much as the humble leaf litter that lies on top gently. The deceased forest was ancient. The trees thick and old, roots that were twisted. It might once have been filled with bird-song and animals that roamed. But now it was ages past its former glory. I took my direction aimlessly and with luck I found myself an exit to the spine-tingling death zone. Now that I’m finally back, it’s time to search my enigmatic target. Sitting on a black log I pulled out a folded map from the wasteland survival guide and looked carefully around me. There was the forest with three entrances, so which one was I at? I see that I was an open ocean away from my home Hoofington on my east. I looked up to find a massive tower that speared the orange clouds. Oh, there is the black invincible skyscraper. It looks like I was the closest one now the problem is whether I stay. snap! a branch went, and I quickly hopped down from the log and rested my rifle over the top towards the sound behind me. For a few shaken moments, I thought it was just my paranoia, but a few seconds had passed, distraught alive ponies with weak leather armour wrapped around them with blood stepped out of the forest. I was not a good shooter, no matter how much my papa taught me how to fire a gun. It was never my thing. I was never interested in guns. I was more into swords and blades or whatever was sharp enough. It was that it was more… easy to control but in order of killing an insane artiest I’ll have to practice.

“where did that little runt go? I’m hungry.” One raider sniffed the air like he had a sent. “She’s somewhere here, I can smell her zebra flesh.”

I focused my aim to his temple, the pointy sight on his head. Bang! My round went and it had grazed his cheek as he clinched out the way. A gruesome smile was slapped on his face as he found me.

“o nee.” I whispered and ducked down. Wait, how do I do the thingy again? I growled in frustration and throw down the rifle. I looked back over and… van kak. The three savage ponies ran towards me, there rotten tongues drooling with no weapons just the red teeth. It was three against one, how am I supposed to get out of this? I didn’t need to get out of this. I’ll just end it. I couldn’t run, not now. How was I supposed to kill Tint if I keep running. I stud my ground and pulled out my papa’s blade with my mouth and charged back at them which was the worst thing I could have done since I have no clue what I’m about to do. I closed my eyes and tried swinging it, but I felt no connection anywhere. I opened my eye for a brief second before I felt a daze as my mind went blank as I felt my body fly backwards. Did I just get hit by a train or a boat? Painfully, something had gave me great stress as my back struck the log that I once was sitting on. I slowly got back up on my hooves still waved back the blow, but I had shuck it off. They looked wild, feral. Theses ponies are no longer ponies but no better than my living dead things. What was I thinking? I got to get out of here. Fast. Quickly, I turned my back to them and bucked it picking my papa’s rifle on the way. No… not now. My hooves beneath me galloped feeling the mud flick behind me. This can’t be happening to me. I turned around and to my horror, they were chasing me and there getting closer. For the last time, I looked into them. Red forgotten eye, the horns of their race, I had to keep running. Death its self is after me. No, no it’s too early for this. I have barely lived; my life has been so short. now I’m at the mercy pony eating beasts. I ran and ran, I must escape. I try to run my fastest. but my legs; I don’t think I can carry on. I don’t know why I looked back, I knew they were still there. Maybe it was a dream and as soon as I woke up, I would be back in mama hooves but that’s a dream, this, this was too real to be a dream. I focused on the as didn’t think to look back as I tripped. bones broke in my shin on a rock. Oh, the stars, the pain. it burns like if I were thrown into the sun. the warm liquid flowed from my leg. It lied all over the ground. I look back again. the beasts still chasing me, and they did not slow down. Fearfully, I got up. I feel my bones shift and turn inside my leg. it tears my flesh, my muscles. With a scream, I fell back down. I can no longer feel half my leg. it only hangs off of a bit of coat. Lifelessly. Damn it, no, I can’t just sit here, there’s someone out there that needs to pay and plus the beasts is coming, it’s getting closer. tears ran from my cheeks as the pain was unbearable. Is this really it? I fear that this maybe it. I feel myself grow weak. but I must continue, I promised myself before anything that I would kill Tint. Dreadfully, I try to crawl. pain surging through my body with every movement. Then, a pain rushed through me once more. No! something under me had just scratched my chest deeply. death was still charging at me. my wounds, oh my wounds poured out even more blood. I couldn’t run, I can’t avoid it after all. death is racing toward me. I sob in tears. my face covered in scarlet. I lie helplessly. I think over my life. look for a good memory. I try to make my last breath last. but the pain is too much, too strong for me to bare. my chest pain burns with its fury. The steps got closer and before I knew it, they were there then somehow, my body bursts into flames. my hooves burn with rage. I cannot put them out. the pain, pain, pain, pain, it hurts so bad. I weep at the sight of my wounds. the beasts just above me. my hope fades away. my passions are obliterated. I can’t stop the beasts. my hooves turn to ash. the fire now burns my bones. the fire creeps up my arms. my leg pours out blood. my heart is failing. I lie helplessly. the pain as death nips up on me. I try to scream, but blood creeps into my throat. and I choke, and cough. I cannot breathe. I turn my head to the side. I see something. I try to focus in. I see a light. a beautiful light. so beautiful. as the beast takes my life. I look upon this beauty in awe. It’s just like a star. and I feel completed. Am I ready? No. No, I’m not. The light was flashing on and off like a signal. A signal for what? A signal that I’m going to die? A signal to run? But I can’t right now. I’m about to die. I focused in more and I could see that it wasn’t the stars light but bursts of fire coming out of a weapons barrel. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! It went but I couldn’t actually hear they fire. Is that one of the effects of death? Hmmm, peaceful. Just bliss. Suddenly, I was rolled onto my back which sparked more pain through my body, and then something was jabbed into me and something was flowing through my throat. I… I could finally breathe, the pain, it didn’t hurt as much. I blinked rapidly as everything was just a great blur.

“hooo weee. You got yourself in a sticky situation didn’t y’all.” a raspy, western voice said. Who? Who said that? You know what… who cares? I’m tired.

Though my eyes are opened suddenly, I can't think of why; my heart is pounding, mind empty. It's as if a hypodermic of adrenaline has been emptied into my carotid. I strain into the utter darkness, breathing rate beginning to steady. I looked around the room surprised to see a spotless bed room I was in… well as clean as it can be. There was only a mattress, a pillow, a blanket, a window and four walls with a door. The mattress on the floor was in a decent state. No springs poking out, A pillow which was stuffed with a soft material and the a curtain that acted as a cover for my body. I liked the patterns, its looks pretty and… ugh, no I’m not thinking about Tints art. I will never like his art. Its not even art, it just murder with style. I leaned up, half wary, half confused of where I am. Last thing I remember was… I quickly rushed to my hooves which I deeply regret as I fell back down to my pillow as the wounds in my chest had not healed. I muffled my screams of agony and I tried to calm and eventually I did. I let the fear sweat away for a bit and my anxiety was kicking in. Am I dead? If so, this is the lousiest afterlife. Am I alive? Sure, does feel like it. and how did I survive? I was being eaten the next and now I’m here. Did someone save me? The voice, who was it? slowly this time, I rose up and saw myself with white bandages around my chest from the deep cut I had, and my leg was amazingly enough mended. I sneakily walked towards the door and gently opened the door, but the creaking door gave me away. Damn it. why does everything has to be so loud when I’m trying to sneak.

“well, well look who’s up.” It was the same voice from before. I peeked through the small gap in the door and saw a… I don’t know what he was. He had a mane and a similar base of a pony, but its brown coat was thin and skinny that I could see his ribs and its joint on its legs. Its ears was twice as big as mine, its tail, thin and long with a bit a dark grey fur on the end like a candle and its mouth skin looked like it was half way melting. His green emerald eyes met mine.

“well don’t be a stranger little one, come in, come in.” he greeted me with a wave of a hoof and an old smile. I don’t know what it is with the deformed pony, but I don’t think he is much of a threat, he might be the pony that saved me. I looked around the room, glancing at every detail. furniture sown up, barricaded windows, a crib? It slowly swayed.

“o-okay.” I said and walked over. The smile on the pony faded as he looked towards my chest.

“you still above snakes?” he said. I tilted my head.

“above snakes?” I replied.

“yes, it means still alive.” He chuckled and looked back to what he was doing. In front of him was my papa’s rifle in pieces with other stuff like a black liquid and a stained black cloth.

“I-it still hurts. What are you doing to my papa’s weapon?” I asked as slowly sat down beside the weird pony.

“oh, sorry for not asking first but your sally was dirty, and I couldn’t leave it to rot otherwise it would be just as good as a wagon with no wheels.” He said, cleaning a long metal thing of the weapon.

“oh… okay.” I said as I sat in silence as I watched him dipping oil on the complex structure of the weapon and parts. “if you don’t mind me asking what are you?” I asked.

“me? I’m what some of you ponies call a mule but I am a donkey.” He said as he started to reattach my weapon.

“A donkey? What’s your name?” I said as I watched the donkey make my papa’s weapon whole again.

“here you go. my name is Jackass and this shit hole is my place.” He said waving his hooves up at the room with displeasure and looked back at me. “and this is where you’re going to stay and work for me for a while.” He added.

“Huh?” I said, taken back by what he said. “you can’t keep me here.” I barked.

“you owe me for saving your life and I have a few jobs that an old donkey like me can’t do these days.” He replied with a grin. “or you can get me enough caps to get me into Hoofington.”

Hoofington? Why would he want to go to Hoofington?

“why don’t you just go to Hoofington? It doesn’t cost nothing to get there.” I said.

“indeed, it is free to travel there but, I’m lacking drinks, foods, medical supplies to continue. I was on my way to Hoofington before I bumped into you that is. I saw you was going to die, and I almost left you there, but I’ve become soft over the years and I gave you most of my medical supplies to keep you alive which had took you a few days to recover. You owe us big time.” He said and with that I was doing little jobs for the old donkey.

2 years later, I was working in the north-west village of Equestria in the mines for coal and whatever is valuable to my bosses eyes, Lady Valentine, she runs a large trade company with in the village, selling coal and scraps of junk and sometimes gold if we found any. Jackass as a blacksmith, selling weapons and armour and buying junk that we needed for the house and us. We are now well stocked with food and drinks that we could made the trip to Hoofington and back and probably have some left over. The only issue is medical supplies. The village has the basic first aid equipment like bindings and cruchers for the physical injuries from the outside, but the inside of the body was where we was having problems. They don’t have medicinal machinery or medicine for the sickly, one by one we drop in our graves from radiation, mutation or some other viruses or illness we are not aware off and I’m more likely to catch it more than anyone down in the mines. Me and the others don’t go further than the banner blocking the rest of the tunnel with a warning of death. There was a time a curious colt had wondered inside the mines had never came back from his dark nightmare. Some had said that they heard voices, screaming at night, some said that they saw a ghost with black eyes and a pale white coat. Me, I don’t believe in the phenomena. I believe it’s all trolls and make believe or the mental state might be getting to them, Jackass has said the same thing, and he has been living here for years now and he had not seen anything out the ordinary, as far as I’ve been here, it’s been normal. Well, normal for me and Jackass. Swinging and connecting to the tunnels walls, I rubbed my brow as I’ve been at this for hours and had only corked out a few stumps of black stone from my area of the cave. The sound around me was the same old clanking sound of steal to rock with echoes, the same old smell of radiated nitrogen oxides which is a strong smell that can be smelt when mining and the same old view of rocks, rocks, maybe a few coals there and then and guess what, More rocks.

“hay Amara, how was your sleep?” Fudge asked from behind, walking with her pickaxe over her shoulder with a touched hard hat. The tanned, creamy coated mare said with a tired smile. Oh, did I mention that it was dawn. Yeah, sometimes I just can’t sleep, how could I these days.

“sleep? Good I guess, just thought I’d start early hours to get them extra caps.” I said with a yawn and a rub of my eye.

“sure, doesn’t look like you had a good one, you look like shit.” She said, mining beside me. I didn’t reply, I knew I looked like shit, I felt like shit as well. Its routine around here that everyone that is above the age of 14 to get a job or you’ll be stuck in the mines like me, the only reason that I’m down here is because I’m an outsider and a zebra which I wasn’t fond of, so I had a bit of back chat which end up with me working for nothing for a week. After that, I just put up with the abuse, it’s the same old, same old.

“I don’t know how you do it, Amara.” Fudge broke the silence.

“how to do what?” I said, eyes forward, focusing on mining.

“how you can take so much abuse from the village. I get it, they don’t like zebras much but it so wrong to see you like this.” Fudge said angrily.

“you didn’t like me at first. So, tell me why it’s now all of a sudden wrong to hate me.” I said bluntly. Fudge was taken back from my response.

“I didn’t know better, I was taught to stay away from zebras but that all changed because of you. You saved my life.”

I sighed frustratedly.

“listen, it’s been a long day and I’m tired. I’m sorry but I’m not in the mood to be giddy.” And with that we mined in silence, an awkward atmosphere covered us. When I first stepped into the village I was looked down upon as a weak, little zebra, now, I have a reputation for kicking ass, being the tough one, I had Jackass to thank for that, as old as he is, he knows how to keep fit and he dragged me into it, so now I’m a ripped freak. I had the structure and the mentality a god would be proud of. It’s hard to make friends around here, it’s rather because I’m a zebra or because I’m feared for my muscular appearance, either way, I was judged for who I am. I shouldn’t be complaining entirely, Fudge was one of them, but something happened one day, I saved her from being crushed from a collapsed building and she had being treating me like a friend ever since. I was a hero that day, and it had put a smile on my face but, not everyone looked at me like that, no, to them I was the same old zebra, even if I did save one of their own. to them, they were right, and I was wrong. On the railway tracks we stud as me and Fudge used our strength to push up a cart of coal. 2 caps for each coal we collected. Total bullshit the wage but this morning I was happy with the amount of coal I dug through the abused cave, the cart was half full with a little bit of Fudge’s help. I glanced over in her direction for a second and noticed that she wasn’t herself. She was meant to be happy and cheerful, damn me and my words. I sighed.

“I’ll split it with you, I’ll get half, you’ll get half and we’ll call it a day and head out to Ponyjoe’s.” I said giving a small smile. She looked back to me with a smile of her own.

“don’t be silly, I’ll take a quarter of the caps and then you’ll go to bed and rest then maybe me can go to ponyjoe’s.” She insisted. I nodded, not complaining with the idea and saw the morning shined at the end of the tunnel.

When I would walk cautiously home with my caps, I would always get snide eyes looking towards me, little horrible comments on my race, sometimes I’d get gangs squaring up to me demanding caps, all because I was a zebra. no pony trusted me and with the body I have, I don’t think anyone would want me near them. There was no other zebra around in Buck Vile, Just ponies, 1 zebra and 1 donkey. I just looked at the dry floor as I went, shameful for who I am, it’s enough to think to myself. Is my life worth living? And that thought fucking drives me up the wall! I have Jackass to look after, Tint to kill and most importantly, I need to stay alive for Lucio because in this wasteland, he needs me more than ever. I know what it feels like to be alone, and I’ll be damned if I was going to let him feel the pain I had. I knocked a coded pattern at Jackass’s door and waited a few seconds, hmm, must have gone out for a quick run around the village. I sighed and pulled out a key for the rusted lock. It took me a few goes to turn the key to the left as the stiff lock looked battered, it eventually opened and there was the foul sitter playing with Lucio and she looked at me with disgust then went back to playing.

“why didn’t you open the door?” I said miserably, hanging my saddle bag on a hanger with the rest of my weapons and Jackass's shit.

“I’m busy.”

Of course, she was, couldn’t move her fat ass up and open the door, could she. Super fucking busy that is. Hope that busy is big enough to ram it up your arse.

“right, well I’m of to bed.” I said with a wave of my hoof. “keep an eye on Lucio, I’m going to be out of it for a while.”

She didn’t say nothing but, I did feel the eyes on the back of my head, like a sniper getting ready to pull the trigger. I didn’t bother taking my clothes or hard hat off, I just simply jumped onto the bed and as easy as walking, I drifted to sleep. Into the nightmare I know all too well.

Looking through my unpatched eye, I drank the rest of my drink and moved onto the next one, with a pull of my teeth, the bottle cap went flying off. Disk in the other hoof was looking interested.

“so, you was being eaten? Tell me, how did it feel?” he asked too into the story. She shivered in a spook.

“like I said, it felt like I was on fire, a fire I couldn’t put out.” She said rubbing Lucio’s mane. “it felt like the organ and flesh was being ripped from my body.” she said as her whole-body shuck in goose bumps, almost waking up the colt.

“I was eaten once by ghouls myself, my whole bottom half of my body was completely torn, I had to use three hydras to grow them back to normal.” I said thoughtfully. Those were the good old days.

“okay, that’s a lie. You would have died the second you gave yourself the first hydra.” Disk said.

“it’s true. either way, I would had still lived. I’m just a stubborn bastard. I wonder what it would be like having no back legs… yeah that would actually suck major balls da.” I said feeling my back legs tingle. I wasn’t lying when I said I did get eaten.

“whatever.” He tusked, still not believing me.

“believe what you want, it happened.” I tusked back at him, grinning.

“do you two always act like little fouls?” she asked and we both nodded. “I should have known.”

We both laughed at her disappointed face. Disk was still in his teens so he as an excuse, but me, I just really don't give a fuck what anyone thinks. Disk is my mate and if I can’t be a colt like I once was, then I’d rather shoot myself. Its who I am or it’s what the alcohol turns me out to be. It’s like saying I have to act my age, no one likes to act their age so who ever says act your age, fuck you and suck my cock and balls bitches.

“so, you have lost your parents and was differentiated to your village. Any other sobs stories you wanna tell?” I said drinking my alcohol. Hold up. Is… is that… is that what I think it is? Is that a buzz I’m feeling. Oooooh my it is. I can feel myself grinning already. Oh, you don’t know how much I love this feeling. Disk shuck his head.

“I’ll never understand why you like alcohol, it tastes nasty.” He said. “please don’t mind this alcoholic, what happened next?” he asked as I laughed with hiccups.

The time where I fall asleep is the time when the nightmare would come. the nightmare was always the same. Waking up in a cottage Paralyzed, naked, cold. The unknown masked mass murder would come closer with the knife, making sweeping movements to an instrumental music only he could hear. He would be closer, then further away and then closer again like a glitch. The pony would dance around me deathly, cutting and swiping my flesh into patterns. The pain would be too great to the point that I would die, but I never do. It makes me think what is fake and what is real. My body crumpled to the dirt, leaves and mud met the side of my face and my knees curled up like an unborn. Then, like last time, my body went up in flames from the demented, crazed ponies eating my insides. As that happened, Lucio and Jackass would stand from a distance gazing blankly, unfazed by the zebra being eaten alive. I would open my mouth to speak but nothing would come. Eventually, they would turn around and walk away. The moment I would reach out with my hoof was the time I would wake up shivering and sweating ruthlessly. But, not once did I cry, no, I was not allowed to cry, I wouldn’t let myself cry, I wouldn’t give the satisfaction to Tint, I’m not a baby anymore. I’m not the weak, old Amara that I once was. I would take my sadness and turn it into rage. Rage to end Tint’s life. Before I die, I promise you that he or she will die by my hooves. Hatred doesn’t compare to what I have for that bastard. I rubbed my rinsed eyes as I raised from my mattress like a zombie in a wrecked uniform and hard hat. I sat on the end of the mattress feeling my aching legs straining for a stretch and with that, every joint on my bones clicked satisfyingly. I sighed and looked out of the window and the wasteland stared back at me with a promise of death one day. Oh, I don’t doubt that day will happen, just wait a bit for me, just a few things I must do before I go. To hell or heaven? At this point, I don’t know anymore. I got up on my hooves and walked through the door which was wide open, I mustn’t have shut the door behind me, then something thunderous knocked on our door.

“what the fuck?” I whispered, the first thing I saw when I stepped outside my door frame was South Paw, the foul sitter was circled in the corner with Lucio inside her embrace, then when I turned the corner from the hall way was Jackass, blocking the door with his body and might.

“what’s going on?” I shouted in shock. I have just woke up, I don’t deserve to wake up just for ghouls to start breaking in.

“it’s the village! There after you!” Jackass heaved back the force from the other side of the door. Sharply, I noticed that the boards on the windows were being forcefully pushed in by the angry mob outside. I quickly dashed over and pushed with every muscle I have in my body, even my head. I looked back to South Paw with serious alert.

“in Jackass’s room, under the bed is an under-ground passage way, take Lucio and wait on the other side for us.” I exclaimed and without any argument for once she went without a word, then I glanced to Jackass.

“why do they want me?” I shouted over the riot.

“they said something about a murder, I wasn’t paying attention if I’m being honest, I just don't want a bloody war in my house.” He said as he broke a sweat. Me? Murder? Okay, I look like I can kill someone but never someone in my village as much as I would wish to beat the snot out of a few of them… Actually, all of them… Except Fudge, she gets a smack around the head.

“what? How? I was in the mines for a few hours with Fudge and then I came back here and went to sleep. I didn’t lay a hoof on no pony, I swear.” I explained my innocents.

“I know, I believe you, just push that couch towards me.” He said as I could see the veins pop from his head. using my upper body strength, I held the barricade in-place as I tried to kick the couch towards Jackass. Jackass pulled the couch and flipped it sideways, covering the entire door. Quickly, he took my saddle bag and weapons and thrown them over to me. He joined me.

“you follow Lucio, I’ll be right behind you.” He ordered.

“no, you won’t, as soon as you let go of that, it will come down, I know that and you know that too, don’t be risking your life for me.” I replied.

“listen, I’ll be fine. They are here for you, not me, so go before we both get caught.” He bounced back.

“no, I won’t leave you. Not again. Never again.” I shouted and I wanted to cry so badly but, I didn’t. “if you die, I will never forgive myself.”

“listen, I know what you’ve been through and I do know where your coming from but please. You need to go, I need you to go. Lucio is waiting for you on the other side, he needs you.” He said gently. Damn you, damn you and your words.

“fine, but if you die, I’ll kill you in the afterlife.” I said was I wrapped one hoof around him in an embrace and finally let go of the barricade, picking up my stuff and ran towards his room. I looked back and he gave me a nod which I replied back with a nod from myself. Swiftly, I wrapped my papa’s melee weapon and my rifle around me as I went into the shared wardrobe to grab my combat armour with a quick grab of my teeth. South Paw was in such a rush that it the mattress is still flipped and the trap door wide open on its hinges. I sighed as I tipped the mattress and shut the door tight. As I shut the hidden door, the light from the evening was swallowed up by the darkness. from a distance, the old donkey must of gave in to the mob as the crash and crack of wood entered and the shouts became clearer.

“where is the zebra, donkey!” one mare shouted as the crowd went silent.

“zebra?” jackass said sounding elder and more innocent than he is.

“don’t act stupid you mule, we know she lives here so where is she.” Another stallion exclaimed.

“oh, that zebra. I haven’t seen her in quite some time, she might be still mining in the mines I’d say.” Jackass laughed cheerfully then followed with an old wheezy cough. Damn, since when had he been good at being old.

“that’s a lie, you know where she is so, you’re coming with us until you tell us.” The same stallion said as a pair of chains or shackles could be heard clanking together. I wanted to run out there and then, but I couldn’t, I had to stay hidden for Lucio. With a great and painful sigh, I turned and walked down the black tunnel. After I replaced my dull grey mining kit for my combat clothing, keeping the hard hat for the protection and for the torch that was attached at the top, setting everything in front of me into a virtual blaze. Each galloping step I took, each water drop that hit the puckered floor, each time I let out musky air was when a spirit replied like an echo. Every twist and turn of the snake was infinite black, a gloomy ambience remaining from the history it has. Jackass had said to use this tunnel in case of an emergency, to the top of the hill on the outskirts of Buck Vile, but he had never told me how far it would be to get there. Jackass, I hope he’s still alive. Right now, he's my world alongside Lucio, I don’t know what I’d do or go, he was my guide to life, he was my ticket to happiness, to freedom. I’ll rescue him, I’ll be a hero for him, no matter what, I’ll save him. I finally seen a light that was not my own and it have gave me the motivation to run faster, slowly turning the wide corner, I could see the natural light entering the cave and before me was South Paw and Lucio waiting at the end like I told them to do.

“is Lucio okay?” I asked as I got hold of him, analysing, he looked back at me with tearful eyes.

“h-he’s okay. Where is Jackass?” she asked, still in shock. As much as I hated this mare, she wasn’t all bad, not as bad as the rest of the village. I sighed agonisingly.

“they’ve got him, I’m going to save him, please, I know you hate me but, I need you to stay with Lucio.” I said, hunting through my saddle bag for the sealed bag of caps. “take it and stay here in the cave, here is some supplies to keep you two going.” I said, passing over drinks of apple sider, food and my papa’s blade. I swallowed to the next thing I was going to say. “and if I don’t come back till dawn, run away and please, look after Lucio.” I tried to looked at South Paw with a brave face and she looked back with a scared countenance.

“I-I-I will, I’ll go to the next village west from here, Mare Vile.” She said with whimpers. I hate to say it but, I felt for her. me and Jackass had dragged her into this mess and now she can't even go home to her village anymore knowing that she had been working for us for 3 months now, she can’t risk it, even if she is a pony, she was desperate, that desperate that she came to us for a job and we took her in, she knew she was going to be hated by the village for it, we warned her but, for her life sake, she worked for us. I gave her a hug which she was taken back by.

“before I go, I just want to say goodbye and I’m sorry for making your life hard.” I said in her ear. She hugged back tightly.

“I’m sorry too, I just have a lot of trust issues not with just zebras and donkeys but with ponies too. I don’t trust anyone but myself these days, so please, understand that I don’t hate you at all, you and Jackass are the closest things to real friends, especially you Amara, you are an amazing zebra, putting up with the hate and looking after Jackass, Lucio and even me at the same time like that is something that makes you special. I admire you, in a way, You’re my hero.” She said as little sobs came from the mares voice. I held her tightly with a heart filled smile as we finally departed from the grip. I crouched down and kissed Lucio on the head.

“I’ll be back, I promise.” I said softly like my mother would when I would start to cry and gave him a cuddle. “I will never leave you after this, I promise you my life on that.” I squeezed a little hard before I let go, he looked at me wiping his eyes and gave me a hopeful small smile and with that, I went on my way to the village which was now a death zone for zebras like me. I glanced back at the two and they headed back into the shadowed hole. I sighed with relief, I hope they will be okay there. I looked back at the distant village which was once my home, I walked towards it feeling… like a somebody. What South Paw told me must have had a heroic effect on me. I feel like a hero.

“so, you want to be a hero?” Disk said taking a sip of his can. “waste of a life if you ask me, not to offend ye, just my opinion.”

“what? Why would you think that?” she said her voice low, trying not to wake up Lucio.

“because I said so.” I stepped in the conversation. “being a hero means you jump into danger, that means you’re more likely to die for others and are expected to do suicidal, impossible jobs to make the world a better place, I’ve been there and done that so, riddle me that.” I crossed my arms with a smug grin. See, who says alcohol makes you stupid, because it doesn’t, you know why? Because I said so. Boom!

“okay, first of all Tequila, that wasn’t a riddle and second of all, alcohol clearly does make you stupid by the look on your face.” Disk laughed. Wait, did I say that out loud? Oh well. It doesn’t by the way, trust me.

“but yeah, what Tequila said is pretty much my way of seeing it. I don’t want to through my life away just because someone said so or because it makes the world a better place. If I’m doing something, I’m doing it because I want to or because it benefits me.” he held his ground. I held my bottle to Disk

“that's my boy.” I laughed and we bro hoofed.

“so, you’d rather let innocent ponies die, than help them. Do you know how sick that is.” She said. I smiled which made her uncomfortable.

“listen, I’ll tell you what I’ve told to my mates, one day your brain is going to click and realise that this is the wasteland, you can’t change ponies or save them because the wasteland is going to catch up to them one way or another, you heroes don’t prevent death or whatever you do these days, no, you just slow it down like slowing down time. It’s not heroic, it’s just pointless. If you ask me, you're the one making ponies suffer in this world by keeping them alive, not so heroic now, is it?” I explained but she was unruffled by my comment.

“you can believe what you will but, you will never stop me from doing the right thing, my papa was a hero and he told me to follow your heart and my heart says to save the wasteland.” She replied back with her belief.

“even if it cost your life?” Disk stepped back in.

“especially if it cost my life.” She responded almost instantly. Disk looked at Amara as if she was an idiot.

“is she a blert or has her head been kicked west.” Disk blurted out.

“fok jou!” Amara shouted in zebra.

“fuck you too bitch!” Disk shouted back and Amara's jaw was left wide open.

“you know zebra language?” she asked, shocked.

“ja.” Disk said which translates to yes. She looked back to me, her gob still open.

“what? The kid wanted to know zebra, so I taught him it, I don’t see what the big surprise is here.” I looked over to Disk, but he shrugged.

“I haven’t known a pony or anything that isn’t a zebra to know our language.” She said still surprised. “okay, what does strepe in pony language?” she quizzed.

“stripes.” he said plainly.

“stropers?”

“raiders.”

“hallo, ek is Amara en ek is 'n held.”

“hello, I’m Amara and I’m a hero.” Disk said bored. “can we stop now? This shit is getting old.”

Amara laughed in dismay almost waking up Lucio for the second time. I think she’s forgotten that she has a colt with her. Haha, I remember when I forgot to go home to Scratchy and Disk after a few bevvies at the bar, they kicked the shit out of me when they found me in a pile of black bags, full of garbage, still funny to remember though. I took a gander over to Amara who was fixated on the bag that was hanging from a peg and had my bounties head inside.

“Tequila, your bag is slightly leaking.” She said suspiciously.

“oh yeah, a pony’s head can do that with a clean cut.” I said drinking my alcohol.

“A what?” she gasped.

“A bounties head to be exact.” I replied. “his name is… his name is… shit, I forgot his name. Fuck it, his name is Larry now.” I laughed. Larry, sounds like a name Joe would start shouting for in a hoof shop, shouting for a random size. LARRYYY!!! I NEED A SIZE 7 TIMS!!!!!!

“you kill ponies for caps?” she asked.

“Ooo, speaking of bounties, I need to get mine in.” Disk said before jumping out and back in with a soaking bag and hung it up next to mine with a proud smile. Amara looked at us in disbelief.

“for what it’s worth, mine was a filly rapist and Disk’s was just a murdering cunt.” I added and she exhaled.

“Fine, that’s fair enough, just as long as there not innocent.” She said.

“yeah, can we get back to the story?” Disked asked and Amara nodded as she was thankful for the change of subject.

Footnote.

No level up.

Listening to others experiences in the waste-

Whoa, whoa, whoa there... no level up? why on Twilight's purple ass cheeks is there no level up?

Why'd you think you’re going to get a level up just for listen to Amara ramble on and on about her sad life and you just sat there, being a piss head like you always are.

listen, Owen, buddy, I know you and you know me for some time now. please give me anything.

I’m not giving you anything but, if you just listen to what I had to say, I was going to give a little passive to Disk.

which is

let me restart.

Footnote.

No level up.

Listening to others experiences in the wasteland has not affected your thoughts but your companion as learnt a few thing from Amara's past. Disk has a better understanding of the wasteland and the Equestrian main lands. 5+ intelligence.

fine, fine, fair enough but next episode you better give me something.

I don't think so pal, your still listening to Amara's story in the next part.

fuck you!

well fuck you too Tequila