Fallout Equestria: Desperados

Fallout Equestria: Desperados

Braking Point, Part 3

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"I’ve always been one to avoid getting into verbal altercations with others. I’ve never been the debater. I didn’t have that spark of communication one needs to get my point across. That's why I never even try to argue with Harp Melody. Even if I know I’m right, it’s just a waste of time and will give me a headache.

Now watching her verbally attack others, it is both terrifying and quite humorous. All she needs is just the scant amount of information about another and she can turn it into a dagger to strike their heart. If she was more of a fighter, she’d be quite the dangerous duelist since she’d be able to use her wit to emotionally compromise an opponent, bait them into making a mistake and make them even doubt their own selves. Unfortunately for her, if her friends were not around to back her up, that sharp tongue of hers would simply have gotten her killed." ~ Azure Dice

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Again we were put to work in the quarry, lifting the heavy stones that the stallion broke off and throwing them into a minecart for us to later drag to the rock crusher. Though my body aches from the last few days of it, strangely enough I felt like I was starting to get used to it now. It was only a slight difference, but moving the stones felt a little easier now.

Still, with the twelve hour work shift ahead of us, I was sure that this feeling of easy would be only temporary.

Things didn’t get any better as it quickly became apparent that Spritz was being kept away from us to prevent me from shaking things up any further. Thankfully the NCR didn’t keep as much of an eye on the Ganger Alliance, so Cherry was able to get her group to weave through the other chain gangs as they worked. Even though Cherry was not on good terms with Spritz’s followers, they were still more willing to hear her out then they were with Bitter.

Strangely, Railway was still nowhere to be seen, so we could only guess she got pulled into cleaning duty due to Cattle Prod probably getting pulled out.

The movement of information was slow, but we all had the time to move it carefully as the guards cared little about what they thought was just idle chatter. With the hours passing, we were slowly informed on how Spritz felt about my change of plans and how little time we had to start it.

“They say it’s going to take a big distraction to even convince Spritz to move,” Cherry informed us softly. “That bitch may be crazy, but she’s not stupid. Might have been a mistake to put out that information about the NCR wanting you personally. She's likely thinking of a way to kill you if you can't pull it off.”

I huffed as I shoved a large rock into the mine cart. “Thought as much. It’s better in the grave than with the enemy kind of situation for Spritz. That mare may be easy to read, but it’s not going to matter if I don’t have the strength to stay out of her hooves. Just tell them I have something they will not see coming in mind. They just need to be ready to take advantage of it when it happens.”

As Star shoved another lage rock into the mine cart, Cherry then began to push it away while giving me a wink.

“Tall order Harp. You sure you can do something big enough?” Star asked.

I smiled at her and said. “No way I can, but you can.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Okay… don’t leave me hanging now. How?”

Responding to her question, I pointed at my own eye and spoke quietly. “Your a Corps Brigadier, right? When the Wardin does his stupid ranting, get him cought in that magic of yours. That sould give us an opening we need.”

“Then what? The evil eye is powerful, but it’s a one pony at a time thing,” she replied.

I then sighed. “I know. I know. But if we can get him freaked out, then it might be easier to get the rest of the NCR panicked. I’ll get myself to shimmer as he freaks out. I’ll do some over acting, like I have some weird magic sickness. Maybe the two together should be a big distraction.”

Star didn’t look convinced. She seemed more worried than anything. “I may not be the sharpest boarding cleaver in the armory, but even I know thats a high fucking risk for a maybe. At best nothing actually happens, and at worst they might just shoot us for being mutants. I’ve seen it happen, so trust me.”

“You’re… you're right, but that's all I can think to do with what we have.” As another mine cart rolled over to us, I picked up a small slab of limestone. “If we had just a few more days, then we could be safer with this. I could have a real plan. But it’s now or never and all we have is a maybe.”

There was a pause. Star chucked a rock into the cart as she looked off into the distance. “Bridgent doesn't know about my evil eyes. Everyday I fear that she will find out and come to hate me. But I hate not being able to see her even more. So much so that it’s becoming harder and harder to not start screaming.”

Star then looked at me with a sorrow filled determination in her eyes. “If it’s what it takes, then I’ll send him to the depths of Tartarus, but you better damn well do your hardest as well!”

I gave her my best smile. The happy part in it was fake, but it was still an honest smile that showed my own determination. “Don’t worry. I’ve had a lot of practice in faking being terribly sick.”

A loud ping of a pickaxe hitting limestone nearly surprised us as a nearly perfect blocks of limestone fell near us. The Yak, Amralt, was happily breaking rocks with Slowtrot and Tire Fire was almost dragged behind him. The weirdly smooth blocks were not too big or too small, making it less of a pain to pick up and throw into the minecart.

Slowtrot rolled a boulder over to us before breaking it into pieces with a pickaxe. The pieces were not as great as Amralt had made, but he had clearly improved. Tire, on the other hoof, still didn’t care as he weekley swung his pickaxe into the limestone.

“So how is the whole plan going? Been here whispers, but they seem conflicted.” Slowtrot whispered.

I did a quick guard check and saw none were too close.

“Could be better. Could be worse. We need a big distraction before Spritz makes a move. Star will use her evil eye on the Wardin and I’ll make myself shimmer and pretend to be very ill.” I explained.

He raised an eyebrow. “That's it?”

“That's it,” I responded.

He frowned for a moment before smiling. “I see. Then I might be able to help.” He then looked over to Amralt and tapped him on the side to get his attention. “Amralt, my friend here has an odd magical illness that makes her weirdly shimmer when it gets bad. Dangerous for her and others to get too close when it starts, so if that happens, can you make sure everypony knows? I can help thanks to my pipbuck, but it’s difficult if other ponies get in the way.”

The big Yak looked at me, then at Slowtrot before smiling. “Yak understands. If Yak sees weird pony shimmer, Yak will make all ponies know.”

I gave Slowtrot a sly smile, knowing what he just did. More actors makes things more convincing. A big loud Yak will likely be even more helpful.

A huff then came from Tire Fire who did his best to not just chip the rock he was hitting. “So what do I do?”

“You? We need you to take us to your clan, so just stay close and make sure nopony slows us down.” I told the Desperado.

“Fine by me,” he said with another huff.

Everypony got back to work since the longer we talked, the more the guards would take notice of us. Anyways there was little more we could do but wait for the word to get around and the work to be done. I could only hope that our plan would work along with the amount of death being minimal. I also hoped Spritz would get what’s coming to her in the chaos along with the Warden.

As everypony focused on the work, the usual beat of our suffering became a rhythm as though calling to the prisoners. A song began to be passed through their lips.

...

Where did it all go wrong, oh where did it all go so wrong.

Chains and working till death, with only our regrets to comfort our souls.

This cruel fate is ours to share, for none wishes to suffer alone.

...

My momma once said, we only need to smile till papa returns from the war.

With the princesses to lead and heroes to guid, victory is assured.

These happy dreams did change, to a nightmare of fire and rage.

No food to sait our hunger, no water to quench our thirst.

Momma still smiled, still waiting for papa to return.

But I had to go, we had to survive, taking the old revolver expecting trouble.

Found my neighbor and shot him dead, only to find he had nothing to spare.

Momma didn’t ask, but I knew she knew, but that steu got us through the winter.

...

Where did it all go wrong, oh where did it all go so wrong.

Chains and working till death, with only our regrets to comfort our souls.

This cruel fate is ours to share, for none wishes to suffer alone.

…

Through bad harvests and tainted water, we all stuck together, we had each other.

In this harsh land our songs filled our hearts, nothing could ever tear us apart.

But smiles can’t fill our bellies as we grow weak, so we move to where we can eat.

Another herd of ponies, happy as us, but none they can share, nothing for us.

Not wanting our own to fall, together we chose, together we fought.

The blood of a young mare on my hooves, but together we will live, together we live.

But the dreams will not end, in them the faces of the dead.

The only escapes are booze and chems, makes it easy for when it’s time to kill again.

...

Where did it all go wrong, oh where did it all go so wrong.

Chains and working till death, with only our regrets to comfort our souls.

This cruel fate is ours to share, for none wishes to suffer alone.

…

Half dead and with no caps, the wasteland gave no crap.

With my iron I just need to keep moving, leaving dusty trails before death comes for me.

In the distance I see a glint, a sign of hope, a sign of dread.

There before me sat a fridge, filled with water, clean and oddly cold.

Another stranger had trotted on by, both our mouths dry, with a long road still ahead.

No words said, none was needed, for we knew that one of us would soon be dead.

For that water did blood flow, my iron fast and true, giving the stranger the gift of death.

With my thirst quenched I leave a dusty trail, making tracks before death comes for me.

...

Where did it all go wrong, oh where did it all go so wrong.

Chains and working till death, with only our regrets to comfort our souls.

This cruel fate is ours to share, for none wishes to suffer alone.

…

I had thought I had started to get used to this hard labor. I was dead wrong. As we were transported back to the NCRCF, my body cried for me to just lay down and do nothing for a few days. Why did moving rocks around hurt so much? Why did it have to be all day?

The one silver lining in any of this right now was that even if this flimsy plan fails, I’ll at least get to leave this place and maybe have a decent bed to sleep in. But I would rather not become a pawn, so I really hope everything works.

As Daisy Chain came to a stop and the NCR got ready to lead us out and into the courtyard, I could feel something odd in the air. Not magic, just a feeling, as though the tension of a string instrument was wound too tight and was ready to snap.

Nothing seemed to be out of place as far as I could tell. The NCR guards were at their usual postes, guns at the ready. The prisoners who did the cleaning were hauling the last of the laundry away, and the smell of tasteless food was in the air.

Yet, as I stepped down onto the dry and cracked ground, the feeling that something was off quivered through me.

Maybe it was just me being worried. Nothing ever good came from a rushed plan. So many variables needed to go just right for any of this to work. Star keeping the Warden stunned will hopefully keep the NCR from responding properly, My fake sickness with the shimmering along with Amralt and Slowtrot putting on a show must put the NCR into a state of confusion. Then Spritz finally starting a riot once the NCR drops their guard. The other gangers further sowing chaos long enough for the four of us to get the fuck out of here.

It all had to go on without a hitch and running through the plan over and over in my head was making me see only the flaws.

But it was now or never.

We entered the courtyard, lining up in rows to wait for the Warden to appear. one by one, we were freed from our shackles. As we stood there, a warm wind blew over us. Everypony was silent, waiting, but the Warden did not show.

What happened instead was several NCR guards marched down the line and picked Slowtrot, Star, and I out. They removed us from the rest of the prisoners. As we were led away, everypony else was dismissed to go and eat.

At gunpoint, we were taken to the restricted part of the prison. The area where the guards got to relax with a jukebox in a corner and a bar next to it. We passed by a few rooms where the guards slept and even passed their armory that was locked behind bars. The walls in this part of the prison were decorated with NCR propaganda posters. Some reminding soldiers to not eat wasteland food due to contamination and another reminding them to be on their best behavior as they represent the NCR.

Lead upstairs, we entered a better kept part of the prison, yet still just as much of a ruin as the rest of this place. At a desk and going over paperwork was Lieutenant Ginger. The mare gave us a disappointed glance before returning to her work. Past her, we were taken into what was clearly the Warden’s office. The place had decent furniture and even a portrait of Warden Dynamite behind it. The painting looked far better than the reality. A very pissed off Dynamite looked down at us and I could probably guess why.

“Who snitched?” I asked.

The old stallion puffed on his cigar, sending a small cloud of smoke at my face. “All ya needed to do is not fuck around, and here ya go and try to start a riot. If the fucking upper brass didn’t want ya alive and unharmed, I’d have that pipbuck sawed off your leg right now.”

He then sat back with a smug grin on his face. “The damned ganger mare, Railway, the bitch said her name was. She had at least some brains to know who her betters are.”

“Bitch!” Star huffed with a growl.

With this, everything was likely not going to work. We needed all the NCR to see us and panic, not just the few in this room. So, with a sigh, I acknowledged, “You win. Now what?”

Taking another puff of his cigar, Dynamite let out a long exhale from his nose, giving him a menacing appearance as the cloud wafted around him. “I try to be a fair pony. A generous one to be exact. I give you all the opportunity to redeem yourselves through hard labor and good honest work. But then scum like you bite the hoof that feeds. Now I have to accept you're all getting leniency, a waste of the citizens tax money I say. A damn waste. Though, as things are, it doesn't mean I can't have you all punished for your conspiracy.”

I saw Slowtrot physically tremble, but he kept a straight face.

Star, on the other hoof, snarled at him. “You better not touch us or I’ll-”

“What?! Try anything and you will be shot and beaten bloody!” The Warden snarled back at her.

With another puff, he flicked the ashes of his cigar at Star. “Unfortunately, I’m to quote that pencil dick of an ambassador, not to conducted an unnecessary corporal punishment and just let you three sit around untill pickup arrives.” A snarl formed on his face. “And here I thought there were no soft talons. Served me right for thinking he’d be anything like Gwad.”

It was good to know that we were safe from any lashings as long as we stayed calm. I doubt Slowtrot could survive if they did that again. But this also meant that our window of opportunity was going to close real fast if they were going to just throw us into a cell and sit on us.

We haven't even had anything to eat yet damnit!

“So that’s it then? To bed without supper?” I asked, probing him while hoping I could get the opportunity to press a few buttons. Possibly give us an opening.

Dynamite leaned back, glaring at me with annoyance. “If my daughter had a mouth like yours, I’d have shoved soap down her muzzle to teach her some respect. But yes, that is the plan. The three of you get thrown in the hole until it’s time to get rid of you.”

Shit. A hole in the ground with a cage over it was going to make a cold night and guarantee we can do nothing at all.

“How… horrifying,” I said calmly, doing my best to not show any discomfort. The last thing I needed was to show him any weakness or reveal to him what I didn’t want to happen. It was a tightrope I was trotting on. One wrong word, gester, or inflection in my voice and I would lose. But then that was nothing new for me. “Here I was thinking you were going to make a public example to remind everypony why you're in charge.”

He huffed at me. “Oh trust me, that will come. Spritz and all those scum will be made an example of.”

A small coy smile then crept across my face. “After we get hoofed over to your superiors, that is.”

Slamming his hoof down on his desk, a puff of smoke rushed out of Dynamite's mouth as he growled. “Watch your tongue, mare, or-”

“Or what?” I asked as I stared right at him, finding it too easy to touch a nerve with him. “Give us some more lashes like you did to my friend? Almost killing him, might I add. I wonder what the NCR will think if we were to be delivered half dead and only a half baked. Do you have any excuse to tell them why?”

A snort came from Star. She clearly had caught onto what I was doing. “Ain't that grand. The big stallion has a rein over his muzzle.”

We then glanced over at Slowtrot who was trying to avert his eyes. “Hey, leave me out. I’m not some pathetic pony who picks on other ponies who can’t fight back. Isn’t that what raiders do?”

Papers went flying as the wardin bit down on his cigar, breaking it, then shouted. “Get out, you miserable scum!”

The guards watching us then stepped up, guns at the ready on their battle saddles. I just gave a little laugh as I pushed one of the barrels away from my face. “Alright. To the hole it is. This place stuck anyway.”

The little bit of mockery was not going to be enough. I needed one last blow to his ego. Something to make him do something real stupid. Thankfully, Warden Dynamite talked a lot, and Slowtrot was able to tell me about some of what he overheard after he had gotten his lashings.

I then looked back at the Warden one last time for one last attempt of vicus moccary. “It’s a bit funny that I never heard your name among the heroes who fought to take Fillydelphia. Ponies talked about them almost just as much as they do about the Lightbringer, though I do remember them mentioning a mad fool with a bulldozer who helped the slaver’s far more than he hurt them. Killed a lot of his own troops to just make a dent. What a maroon.”

As we were led out, I could hear the sound of something smashing against a wall and the stomping of hooves. A few seconds later, Warden Dynamite came out after us, clearly not taking his injured pride all too well.

“The pit is too good for you!” he growled.

Lieutenant Ginger quickly got out of her set, cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses. “Sir! May I remind you that we already stretched our orders by sending them to the rock quarry. Any more and there will be consequences!”

The Warden spat on the ground. “And let these piss ant scum mock us? No! They need one last lesson before they leave.” He then regained his composure and adjusted his tie. “I mean, if they got into a fight with the other prisoners, then that's not our fault.”

“Sir!” Ginger said sternly. “Just lock them up and drop this madness.”

Dynamight ignored her as he trotted over to us with a smile. “You wanted trouble? Then I’ll let you have trouble.” With a sharp whistle, he called over a few other guards. “Solders, go tell the other troops we’re gathering the prisoners to show a public disciplinary action.”

The NCR guards in the room looked divided in this order. Some were nervous and others grew a wide grin on their faces. The Warden then pointed to two of the troops. “You two, make sure the Lieutenant here stays inside to finish her paperwork. If not, then your next for corporal punishment. You got that?”

Fear quickly formed on the two soldered faces as they shouted “Sir, yes Sir!”

Escorted to the courtyard, the NCR were rushing about, passing orders from one to the next. They all checked their guns as soon as the order was given. Soon, what seemed to be every NCR guard was now observing the prison from the safety of the prison roof, tower, or behind the fence.

The prisoners were also now coming out. Some were still eating as they gathered around the outside of the mess hall and along the fence. Many of them looked either annoyed or amused, but none of them seemed lost, so this was likely nothing new to them.

As to show off, the Warden drove Daisy Chain over to give him a closer look at what was to come. Two heavily armed guards sat on top of the tractor. They stopped right outside what was becoming a circle before he got out and climbed to the top of the tractor. He placed a pair of mirrored sunglasses on that reflected the low setting sun.

“Listen here, good ponies and dirty scum!” Warden Dynamite spoke loudly through a megaphone. “We have a special event. A show for us and an opportunity for you. These three fools wish to fuck with the natrual order of this place and not expect consequences. Now, if there is any of you scum wishes to teach them this lesson themselves, you will, for a week, receive both double the food and full exemption from any work. All you have to do is beat them until they beg for mercy. Simple as that, but they are allowed to fight back. To make it’s fair, only three at a time. Any more than that, then you risk getting shot. All those who wish to partake, go line up next to Daisy Chain. Remember to not touch her and keep your distance.”

I ground in fustration, not expecting such a babaricly stupid response, but at least it was close to what I wanted.

A nervous chuckle then came from Star. “Well ... this might be a problem.”

“What?” Slowtrot asked. “Are you okay?”

She frowned. “I’ll be fine. Maybe. But that's not the problem. The problem is that he’s got those fucking sunglasses. They’re blocking my evil eye.”

“Fuck!” I huffed, “Alright. We need to get him to remove his glasses. Any suggestions?”

Star smiled back at me. “One way is to get some blood on them.”

“So we're doing this? You know that last fight was just a fluke, right?” Slowtrot questioned.

I didn’t like it either, but there was no way around it, “Just follow Star's lead. Once we have the Warden in our trap, everything else will fall into place.”

Or at least I hope it will.

It didn’t take long for prisoners to start lining up. Some were from the cleaners and some were from the quarry workers. I even think there were a few from Spritzes followers in the line as well, likely with her approval. With how I felt from all that work and lack of food, it only made sense that many ponies clamored to be free from it for even a day.

The first three ponies to come charging in were clearly from the cleaning inmates with how much energy they had and lack of muscle from hard labor. Slowtrot and I got behind Star, letting her take them head on as we backed her up, though we were going to need to be careful about this if we were going to win in the end.

“Order, activate SATS for all three of us!” I commanded, and the world froze.

The cartoonish twittermight avatar of Order floated over to the closest of the three charging ponies. “Please choose combined action.”

Options began popping up over the first pony with names over them. A kick to the face popped up with Stars name next to it and a move request was added by Slowtrot. Selecting it myself, I saw that I could not only select my own action but suggest one for the others. Unfortunately, the two seemed to be bickering over what to do, so I quickly selected what we will be doing myself.

I was no combat expert, nor some military strategist, but fortunately this required neither and gave us time to think. What was important was not wasting our energy with long drawn out fights and get close enough to get blood on the Warden’s glasses, so the best course of action now was a quick take down.

I selected Star to trip the ponies and then for Slowtot and I to hit them when they're down. My hope was to disorientate them long enough for Star to run in and knock them out. It took a long moment for the other two to comply, but when they did, the world began to speed up and Star shot out like a bolt.

With a low drop kick, Star sent the first pony flying over her and caused the other two prisoners to trip over their team mate. My body then moved on its own, leaping in and colliding hoof first onto the pony’s stomach.

I felt a hoof connect with my leg, causing me to stumble over. The pony I had attacked was barely hurt at all by me and was already getting up. “Bitch, you should bulk up a bit before trying that again,” the pony said as they swung their hoof. It connected with my chin.

Everything spun for a moment as my head hit the ground and I bit my tongue. The taste of blood was all too real in my mouth. Looking up, the pony was already getting ready for another hoof strike. All I could do was raise a leg to attempt to shield my face.

With a crash, Star tackled the pony then quickly drummed her hooves onto the pony's head, banging it on the ground. This gave me the time to get up and regain my composure. I noticed that both Star and Slowtrot had been successful where I had failed. I had already known I was not cut out for such fighting, but now it was more clear than ever that I was a liability to them if I fought like them.

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of doubt. We had not lost yet, so I was not going to admit defeat until they dragged us away. I just needed to fight smarter, not harder.

The next group of three charged in. Star charged to meet them. This time I stood back to assess this fight in order to come up with a better plan. The prisoners this time were quarry workers, so they were better built but lacked any real energy to fight properly, but that was the same for us. Fortunately they were focusing on Star, likely trying to take out the real fighter first before moving onto us, thus giving Slowtrot and I time to breathe.

Order then pinged a message into my vision. “Tactical S.A.T.S. is ready.”

The fight took a sudden turn as one prisoner got Star in a hold from the back and another got a heavy hit to her face. Turning on S.A.T.S. this time, Star and Slowtrot waited for me to give directions, so I did. This time I put myself as the tripping hazard, having Star perform a kick while in the hold and Slowtrot simply tackling the third pony. Like before, we needed to just disorant them long enough for Star to finish them off.

Our bodies again moved on their own, under the control of the spell. As though choreographed for a stage play, I charged in just as Star’s back hooves collided with a ponies face, causing the one holding her to become unbalanced which, in turn, allowed even the small body of mine to knock their legs from under them. Star’s weight added to the fall, thus crushing the pony under her.

Quickly getting up, Star did a hoof jab at the pony who had been holding her before charging at the one who hit her. Slowtrot, on the other hoof, was not having as easy of a time. The two locked hooves only for the prisoner to then head butt him.

Rushing in to help him, I grabbed onto the pony's legs, thus giving Slowtrot the opportunity to knock him over onto his side and attempt to pummel him.

Getting up, I felt the world spin again as the body of a pony collided with me. It took a moment for me to realize what had happened. The Warden sent in another three right as it was clear the second group had failed and not give us the time to defend ourselves. The pony that bodychecked me had turned to take on Slowtrot who was almost as unprepared for the hit as I was. The other two prisoners were already taking on Star.

Blood was coming out from both my mouth and a leg from the hits I had taken. Slowtrot and Star were in an even worse condition than I was. It was clear that, again, a change in strategy was needed. Maybe somthing stupid, as the smart plan was not going to be given the space to happen.

Feeling the magic around me, I began to draw it into my body, filling me. It wasn’t going to help me in a fight, but it might distract everypony enough to give Star the upper hoof. As the magic flowed into me, I began to feel it reach its capacity, causing the air around me to shimmer.

Gasps and murmuring erupted around me. Everypony saw something they had never seen before. I hoped it would be enough to start what I hoped would be the panic to start a riot. Looking around as I shimmered, the looks of shear confusion was enough to know that this was partially successful.

*Bang!* a bullet whizzed by me. The shot was a warning and caused me to freeze in place.

Yelling could be heard from the NCR guards above us and the fighting had stopped. All eyes were on me, thus giving both Star and Slowtrot the opportunity to push the ponies off of them.

Star gave me the look of “Doing this now?” and I motioned with my head for her to keep an eye on the warden.

From the crowd of prisoners, I heard Amralt yell out! “It’s that sickness Slwotrot pony warned me about! Smashing must stop or it can get worse! It’s dangerous to other ponies if not careful!”

This got the prisoners to start slowly retreating to the mess hall, causing them to push and shove as their voices became louder. All the while the NCR looked confused as they turned to the Warden for what they should do next.

“Calm the fuck down. Not like weird magic shit is new!” Warden Dynamite called out which calmed the guards enough to back in line, thus foiling the plan outright.

Limping over with his face battered and bruised, Slowtrot was clearly trying to stick to the plan as he tried to loudly say. “I… I need to get her to… medical… I can help her.” He knew and I knew this was not going to work, but he was still trying. Still holding onto hope. “She can be contagious if we're not careful.”

Slowtrot awkwardly smiled with his own blood on his teeth as he reached out a hoof. I sighed, knowing even if the hope was small, I could not abandon it, and took his hoof.

He then vanished!

Where Slowtrot was just standing was now empty space, just like… after the last time he vanished, right after touching me when I was shimmering!?

Everything went dead quiet for a moment. So quiet that I could probably hear a pin drop... Then, like a loud crack right before a damn breaks, a pony yelled from the prisoners “It’s contagious!”

This sent everypony into a panic. Both prisoners and guards.

Looking over to the Warden, he was attempting to yell orders to the guard as he looked over at me. He removed his mirrored sunglasses to show the rage in his eyes.

Then, like a crazed hero, a bloodied Star Charter jumped in between me and the Warden.

The Warden froze in place. He dropped his megaphone since he was unable to respond to the other NCR guards looking for orders. We had finally got the distraction we needed. All that was left was to take the bulldozer. Hopefully Slowtrot was going to reappear soon/ I didn’t want to leave without him.

*Bang!* another shot rang out over the panic, followed by Star crying out in pain. She had been shot. She struggled to keep her eyes on Dynamite.

“GO!” she yelled at me, not moving from where she was.

Taking a deep breath, I ran, not letting the opportunity she gave me to go to waste. As I looked over at the panicked prisoners, I saw that Spritz was cool as a cucumber, commanding her followers.

*Bang!* another shot came down at me from one of the towers, just nearly hitting me.

*Bang!* The fourth shot whized right past my face. The noise from the lead bullet caused my ears to ring.

I skidded to a stop as I saw one of the guards from on top of the Daisy Chain point his belt fed service rifle down at me. Dread filled me as I activated S.A.T.S. and selected to dodge what would be soon a hail of bullets right at me.

My body moved to dash to the side, yet everything remained slow. Stranger yet, everything was dead quiet except the sounds of echoing metallic hooves trotting on dirt. To my shock, clear in my vision and moving at a normal speed, even though everything was still slow, was a headless pony clad in black armor. Two revolvers covered in blue flames floated by her side.

The bullets from the guard slowly whizzed through the air and impacted onto the headless mare. It bounced off harmlessly as she pointed her own guns. *Bang, Bang!* her revolverswent, echoing as though they were being shot from within a tunnel. The NCR guard then exploded in blue burning gore. Flesh and gore turned to ash in mid air as time slowly returned to normal.

I quickly regained control over my body and not trying to even think about what had just happened. Instead, I thrusted myself at the bulldozer. Reaching it, I quickly clamored for the door. *Bang, Ping!* a bullet ricocheted off the vehicle's armored plate, sending a spark across my face. Fortunately the door was unlocked and as I pulled myself in. The other guard on top poked out with his rifle and I only managed to close the door right as he fired down at me.

Turning a hatch, the door was locked and everything quieted down to a muffle. Quickly, I began pulling levers, cursing that Slowtrot was not here as he likely would know what the fuck any of this did.

Then the engine of Daisy Chain died. The guards likely had pulled out the spark battery.

“Come out. We don’t want to clean your blood out of the inside!” The guard yelled at me from outside.

Taking a deep breath to try and calm down, my heart felt like it was trying to explode with how hard it pounded. My head was also feeling light and the scrapes on my leg were starting to feel like they were burning. Nothing at all was going how it should have been. Everything was going insane, or was I the one going mad?

I tried to shake it off, but deep down, I knew, I knew those revolvers; Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse. They were the guns Vibraphone used. My friend’s guns. There was no denying it.

My stomach then convulsed and I wretched, dry heaving as tears flipped my eyes.

“FUCK!” I screamed, beating on the inside of Daisy Chain with what little strength I had. It had to have been a delusion. It had to be. I had to get home, find out with my own eyes. No way Vibraphone was dead. She had to still be alive! It was all a lie! Twisted magic making me see things again!

The sound of scraping metal caught my attention. I saw the NCR pushing the barrel of his rifle through a slit in the bulldozer's armor. “You got nowhere to go. Now come out!” he shouted.

“I don’t?” I asked, a smile forming on my face. “But I have to go home and you’re in my way!” A little chuckle escaped my mouth as I began letting my magic out. “GET OUT OF MY WAY!” I screamed as Daisy Chain roared to life and I began pulling levers and pressing petals at random.

The Bulldoze began to move. The Guard fired wildly, sending a deafening storm of bullets over my head and ricocheting around me. I was sure I had been hit as I felt hot pieces of metal pierce me, but I didn’t want to stop. I couldn't. With a few more random pulls of the lever, I finally got the bulldozer to go forward. It was impossible to see where I was going. The eye slit was too high for me and I didn’t want to stretch my neck up that far. I just needed to go, so I pushed forward.

The gunfire from outside, along with the yelling and screaming, all became whitenoise as the bulldozer rumbled forward. It came to an abrupt stop as I felt it hit something. All around me was the sound of breaking wood and ripping metal that scraped onto Daisy Chain’s armor. Unable to go forward, I managed to back it up and go a new direction only to once again hit something after going forward momentarily. Backing up again, I just needed to keep going until I was free. All the while the sounds of bullets hitting the armored plates reminded me of rain. Really annoying rain.

I lost track of how many times I had to stop and turn around. Was I going in circles? Did I finally get out? Was I forgetting something… or sompony! Star. I hope she was fine. Slowtrot too. They must have gotten out. They were survivors, I know it.

For me, everything was getting cold and dark. My hooves were slick with my own blood making it hard to pull the levers.

I was so stupid. I fucked everything up. I always fucked everything up.

It’s all I ever do.

“Do you want to live?” a cold voice called to me.

I wanted to look around, but my body was too weak. Too cold.

“Or do you want to die?” the voice then asked.

Smiling, I found the question dumb and pointless. “Does it even matter what I want? I’ve never had the choice in the first place.”

The presence felt as it loomed over me. It’s coldness chilled me to the bone, yet a small feeling of warmth irritated from it. “Choose.”

“It’s the wrong choice. I know it.” I told her.

Whatever it was then vanished as everything began to fade, all becoming cold and dark.

_______________________________________________________

-Level up-

-Slowtrot-

Lv, 7

Melee Weapons is now at: 28

Learned Skill: Smash like Yak - By simply striking at the right point an object can be easily broken into bits without having to apply much force. Slowtrot now does an additional 5% to critical chance and a 10% chance to cripple limbs when using melee weapons.

-Harp Melody-

Lv, 7

Speech is now at: 71

-Learned Skill: Take Charge - Sometimes just giving orders is all a pony needs to do to get things done. When Harp Melody gives out commands in combat to her friends/companions they gain a 5% boost to damage, accuracy, and critical chance.

-Star Charter-

Lv, 7

Explosives is now at: 54

-Learned Skill: Stone Throw - when tossing heavy rocks for hours on end a pony quickly learns how to throw them a bit better. Star Charter can throw weapons 10% farther with 10% more accuracy.