Fallout Equestria: Desperados

Fallout Equestria: Desperados

Path to Power, Part 2

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"I asked Harp Melody about a mare called Spritz Cookie. Her name had passed through a few ponies lips when we finally reunited.

From her description, she was an obsessive tyrant who could only see her goal, never the winding path to get there. If she was living in a world of order and strict rules. She’d have been a fine if cruel leader, but she lived in the wasteland where no matter how much steel a pony could be made of, the wasteland will rust it.

To me, it sounded like the mare was a fool. One who is excellent at leading large groups with a leader over them to supervise. But they are a disaster once they are truly in charge. Not everyone is meant to be a ruler. Some are just meant to be a simple team leader." ~ Azure Dice

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We return to Bitter’s room where she had just finished putting Star's gun back together. The scaled pattern on it’s side glisend in the light and the muzzle guard was wrapped in snakeskin that only added to the look of it.

Bitter, with deep bags under her eyes, presents me with three gas bombs. “Alright Harp, this is all we can reasonably make with the strength you need it at.”

I trotted over and opening the box that I kept the one from before.

She raised an eyebrow at the empty box. “I guess you were right, so how did it go?”

Placing them in the box, I carefully closed it. “Not a way I want to die.”

“Naturally,” Bitter said, nodding before asking, “So why gas bombs? Wouldn't just shooting them be easier?”

“You know why, Bitter. Killing is easy… once you get past the first few,” I said. I took a deep breath before continuing. “The ponies who follow Spritz are not going to fear a simple fight. That happens all the time. As tragic as it sounds, life is cheap. But that doesn't mean they don’t fear death. It’s just that the death they see must be something to truly dread.”

“And you know that kind of fear?” Bitter pressed.

I nodded back at her. “I can’t say I respected my own life all that much. Despite how good it was compared to others, there were parts that I could never overcome. Death was a way out but when it was out of my own hooves, and in the claws of a monster, I found myself wanting to live. That will to live truly made me fear death.”

Then I sighed. “I’m a bit ashamed to admit it, but I pissed myself in that moment. The Islands I come from have a monster known as a paradise dragon. They're as terrifying as they are beautiful. Can easily kill a pony with their large claws. They're just one of many terrifying monsters living on the islands.”

“That makes sense. My mother would tell stories of the monsters of our homeland where ponies would live a life of safety and privilege. Our ancestors always fought to survive,” Bitter said as she nodded her head as though she even knew how it felt like being hunted by such monsters.

She then passed me the gas bombs. “Well for these, symbolism makes stronger magic, so I have been told. Using a weapon that is strong only inside closed spaces, such as a Stable, that had meaning to it.”

I gave Bitter a flat and serious look. “Yes. When you live underground your whole life, things like gas weapons are products of nightmares. It should put a supreme fear in any pony who wishes to stay in this stable.”

“But why not stay once that bitch is dead? You ponies love to cower behind walls,” she then asked.

Shaking my head, I then told her simply, “This place has already long passed its ability to support life. The sooner we leave, the better off we will be. Food, water, and guns. We should be able to travel far and do business before we're in any real trouble. Also, by turning to the Desperado’s, we should be able to get a safe passage to route 50. Let those who want to start new lives have a head start.”

Bitter rolled her eyes at my explanation. “It’s never going to be that easy. You know that. Rght?”

Smiling, I replied. “Never is.”

We then gave her the two SMG’s we took from Spritz’s followers. Forutantly she had enough potion left to paint them. I was given one of the snakebite pistols before we left. I hoped we were not going to need it, but the wasteland has proven that to be just wishful thinking.

Outside the Zebras room, things had mellowed out in the stable. With the feast over, everypony got back to work while giving off a feeling of peace to the stable.

Slowtrot passed us, hulling a few bags and looking a bit dower.

Trotting over, I asked him, “What's with the bags? Weren't you going to do more medical scans?” I asked.

Slowtrot sighed as he smiled. “I’ve already checked most of the ponies before the feast. Most of the rest are with Spritz.” He looked at the bag. “So with the free time, I fingered we put the dead to rest. Amralt is helping me dig the holes in the orchard.”

I felt a little ping in my chest. With all the plotting, planning, and now killing, I had forgotten the dead who were already here. “When this is all over, let's give the dead a proper sendoff.”

“I’ll join you in a bit, so just keep the death to a minimum. This is not stable 24 after all,” he told me before trotting over to the orchard.

The image of the two doomed ponies entered my head. They both wanted to be saved, but were too damaged for us to take them with us. It was an unfortunate thing I had to do, and one I pray to never have to do again. But here we were not among the innocent or pressured by a horde of raiders. The killing here is to save ponies, not to put the doomed out of their misery.

I then felt Star give me a hug. “There, there. He means well. Let's just get this over with. The longer we hesitate, the harder it will get.”

She was right. With things as they are, we only had a limited amount of time before Spritz catches on. Turning my attention to the last of Spritz’s followers up here, we trotted over Cherry’s spot in the stable.

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The large room had only gotten more decorated as time went on, along with the mares. It almost felt like I was back in the Ruffled Feathers, though lacking any class or order. Not that the place needed any of that. It was just a bit uncomfortable to trot in and see two ponies barely hiding that their having sex.

Looking for our target was fortunately easy. Though loyal to Spritz, this stallion had too much of an appetite for whores. He was already disarmed as a mare was showing him a good time. I averted my eyes as we waited for the mare to finish up. The sight of a stallion privates were not something I wanted to see right now.

When they finally noticed us, the mare very quickly made her leave the place. This got us an annoyed look from the stallion.

“Oy, cunts. I got another round to go. So why did you interrupt me?” he said, still fully erect.

Star then sighed. “I thought Spritz had told you specifically to not come up here.”

He laughed. “I do what I want. So long as I make sure you cunts don’t get all uppity, she's not going to give a flying fuck what I do with the whores.”

“What is even your job with Spritz for her to give you any authority?” I said, still looking away.

“Simple, I’m a fucking crack sniper. In ma gang, nopony fucked with me. Nopony. The fucking NCR even wanted me for their stupid ass 1st recon team. Told ‘em to shove it. I ain’t working for no buzzard cunt with all their rules. With Spritz, I can do whatever I want provided that I know that the one rule is that she’s in charge,” the stallion explained.

Star trotted up to him with a strut. “So that’s why you're with Spritz? What about all that anti-NCR shit she spouts?”

He then relaxed a bit as Star got close to him. “Well first, the funking NCR took over our territory and told us we can’t do bridge tolls anymore, so we blew the fucking bridge up and told them to sit and spin. If Spritz wants to kill NCR cunts, I’m all for it. They're just getting what they deserve.”

Seeing Star get close, I knew what she was up too, so I followed suit. I gotnext to him as well. “They did force us into hard labor. So much for banning slavary,” I said sweetly.

A smile formed on his face. “Hay, hey. You cunts are getting a bit friendly there. I thought you were all uptight and shit?”

It was almost disappointing how easily he was to draw in. “There’s just been so much work to do lately and so little time to ourselves. If you're just going to skip out on your orders, then maybe you can show us the best way to do it.”

He looked a bit confused. “Like right here? Because, as you can see, I’m ready to go.”

I frowned. “No, no. Not here. Let's go where we can make a show of it.”

A wide grin formed on his face as he grabbed his Service rifle. It was one for the tower guards rifles that was scoped with a longer barrel. “I knew it! You're a kinky one. All the uptight mares are.”

Giving Star a nodd, we both got up. We coaxed the dumbass to follow us. We passed a less than happy Cherry who didn’t say a thing. She didn’t like the idea of us killing her clients, but she knew to stay out of the way.

Trotting a short distance, we came to the school part of the stable. It was one of the few places with a big window that ponies could easily view in from the outside. Currently It was being used to store things we didn’t need, including bags of garbage, so it was the perfect place to dispose of this asshole.

Trotting in, the Stallion followed with excitement and hunger in his eyes. “So who’s first? No. Better yet, why don’t you both clean up my shaft? Get it back up and ready to pound.”

I almost gagged when he found a seat and sat back, letting his soffend member be exposed for everypony that could see in from the outside.

I looked at Star who shared my disgust. Giving her a nod to finish this, she nodded back in conformation.

Star then breathed in through her teeth. “Ya. We’re actually putting on a different show, you see, with you as the main entertainment.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Like what?… Oh. So you want to beg me or something? Well why not? But I get to fuck Harp while you fuck me!”

I had to hold desperately to not puke at that image in my head. Pulling out the gas bomb, I flipped the switch and rolled it to him. The stallion quickly bolted, but Star kicked him in the face, knocking him back. “The door is going to be locked, so just fuck yourself with the time you have left,” I told him as we trotted out of the room.

The sound of a pop was soon followed by a chair being thrown against the window. This was soon followed by the stallion trying to break the window by smashing it with another chair, thus breaking the thing on the glass. All the while he began to choke and bleed, slowly succumbing to the venom gas.

“You sure he can't break through that?” Star asked.

There were then several loud and muffled bangs as he attempted to shoot open the glass with his rifle. They only scratched the stable-tec reinforced bulletproof glass.

“Never mind,” Star commented as we watched him give up and fall to the ground, clutching at his own throat. A red foam began to seep from his mouth as blood dripped from his ears, nose and eyes. With one last final attempt to save himself, he charged head first into the glass, smearing blood on it before collapsing.

Many of the ponies in the atrium had already gathered when we lured the stallion into the room, likely hoping for a show. They got one, but not one they expected.

Taking a deep breath and turning around, I addressed them. “Just so you know, this enter stable was set up to gas itself before we ever arrived. The same stable that has a mad steel ranger wanting to be in charge. The same steel ranger who sees all of us as unworthy of any tech that’s in here. How long will it be until she gets rid of us all? How easy would it be for her to do it?”

I let them talk among themselves for several seconds. I let the thought of her gassing everypony set in before I finished my little speech. “I say we take everything we can and leave this place. If we stay and fight the NCR, even if you survive Spritz, they will come for you. But if we leave, get out of the NCR’s reach, then you all will have the opportunity to start a new life. Everypony will be given what they need. This stable has the provisions as we know well. From there, it’s all up to you. Die for Spritz, or help me and choose freedom!”

They were all quiet with more ponies coming over to see what was going on and getting informed by those who had heard me. It started with one pony stomping their hoof on the ground. Then a few more. Soon almost all the ponies were making the noise. Both ponies from the red and blue side were here, cheering me on.

Mother had always told my siblings that a public execution was the best way to get your point across. Now having done it myself, I could see that the message had come across loud and clear. Holding fear and respect on one's hooves was a powerful thing. Only time will tell if I truly have any real sway over them, but this was enough for right now.

This speech itself would soon reach Spritz, so it was time to finally confront her before she could prepare.

Trotting down, we were then joined by Slowtrot. “I got a bunch of the healing potions ready, just in case,” he said as he adjusted his saddlebag with a worried look on his face. “Are you sure this is the best way to do this?”

I shook my head. “Probably not, but I doubt Spritz would let us have better options. That aside, three of her lackeys are now dead, so there's no going back.”

He nodded. “I thought as much. The little show you put on did send a strong message. And I agree, we should start leaving sooner than later. It’s a little disturbing to me that we're using literal zebra gas bombs. Every day I stray further from my old life.”

One of the ponies working with us trotted over. His face was covered in a damp cloth. He held the rifle of the pony we just killed. Star laughed as she took the rifle and passed it over to Slowtrot. “That old life ended in baelfire. In this new one, it’s up to you.”

I cleared my throat to get their attention. “Alright. We got four more ponies to deal with, then Spritz. We didn’t see any pony run to maintenance on this side, so we may still have the element of surprise. Just follow my lead. I hope to make this as clean as possible.”

They both nodded and we trotted down to maintenance.

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Things down here were more orderly with ponies carefully moving tech and parts out of their rooms. Spritz wanted everything cataloged and put into a safe place away from those she didn’t approve of. Fortunately this meant that not very many ponies were allowed down here right now and they were watched by Spritz’s true followers.

“Ahh, back here again, little stripy,” a mare in security armor greeted us. She was one of the four we needed to get rid of. Her job was to watch the entrance from the blue side along with the other nearby rooms down here.

“Here to see how the cleanup is coming. The sooner I can have access to the talismans, the sooner I can get more of the tech back up and running,” I told her, not entirely lying.

The mare rolled her eyes. “Ohh, an impatient bitch! Spritz said you’d get access when she says you will.”

I expected as much. Spritz wanted me as far from any more of the tech as possible. She probably had plans to kill me before everything was done, too.

As for this bitch, we just needed her to take us to at least one of the other loyal followers and away from the other ponies.

“Then we need to talk with Spritz. She is still down here, right?” I asked. It was a gambit, but Spritz was still busy going over the tech. She’d likely have me wait while under guard.

With a groan, the mare responded, “Fine, but the boss is busy right now. You can go wait in the fucking break room.”

Following the mare, she made a stop at the lab which had a few ponies boxing up the different tools inside. “Oy, the stripy mare wants to see the boss. She’s got Star with her.”

A stallion, also in security armor, trotted over. He gave us a stern look and nodded at the mare. It was another of the loyal followers. “We’re almost done here, so whatever.” His eyes lingered on Star longer than the rest of us, likely seeing her as the bigger danger. Possibly expecting a fight.

“Good. I’m going on ahead to get the others. You watch them in the break room,” the mare instructed before trotting off.

Now following the stallion, I could see the extent of Spritz’s operation. Each room was slowly and methodically being cleared out. Whatever was not nailed down was being piled up and sent to the lab to be boxed up. Whatever Spritz was planning, it at least would make things easier for everypony once she was out of the way.

Fortunately the break room was not being used for its intended purpose. Both rooms have long since been cleared of snacks and booze. Everything else was just left where we found it, including the turned over dented tables.

“You three stay here,” the stallion ordered us as he sat down holding his gun. Two ponies attempted to pass through, but the stallion glared at them, causing them to retreat.

“Soo… what's Spritz doing with all this stuff?” Star asked.

He shrugged. “Fuck if I know. Something about keeping it all safe and determining what can be used.”

“I see, so she’s trying to monopolize all the tech.” Slowtrot said quietly.

It made some sense. Spritz was trying to build her power base through the tech. From what I saw, it was all minor things meant to make life a bit easier. There were also some good researching tools and a lot of spare parts.

But for the wasteland, this is a goldmine. There were things that can ensure a pony survives the wasteland.

Yet why hoard them? It’s not like the wastelanders here can make do without the tech. She was also just one mare, not counting the four ponies we still needed to kill. Also a lot of this tech was useless without a power source. It was something I could provide, but not her.

Spritz was not a dumb mare. She would know there would be better ways to hold power. What she was doing here would only keep ponies loyal to her so long as she was stronger than them. It was too short term thinking for a mare who boasts about being greater than everyone here.

I didn’t like it at all.

The mare follower finally returned along with two other mares. All of them were in security armor and armed with service rifles. As they trotted in, one closed the door behind her. At the same time, the stallion watching us closed the door we had entered from.

“Where did you get that rifle?” one of the mares then asked.

We eyed Slowtrot for a moment before turning back to the loyalists. “Same place you did. Now how long will Spritz be?” I asked back.

Feeling trouble, I had the gas bomb ready to be used from within my bag.

She snarled. “Don’t play dumb with us. So did you kill that hornball fucktwit?”

I flashed her a smile while I used my pipbuck’s levitation spell to toss the triggered gas bomb as I answered, “Ya, like this.”

They all dove to take shelter as we changed to the door we came in from. Both Star and Slowtrot tackled the stallion while I reached out and pulled on the doors switch.

Scrambling out, bullets began to fly, nearly hitting me as I, too, dove for cover. Slowtrot and Star quickly followed,

Blood splattered on the wall as Star stumbled passed the door. She now had a large gash through her leg, exposing the bone underneath.

“Fucking leg shot again!” she hissed as she was hoofed a healing potion from Slowtrot. She poured some of it on her wound and drank the rest. She winced in pain as her leg pulled itself back together. “Thanks. Fucking rifle rounds aren’t a damn joke.”

Reaching up to close the door, the stallion burst through and quickly dashed at me. The tackle sent me to the ground, causing my vision to blur for a moment as my head bounced on the hard cement.

“Oy fucker!” was all Star said as she pulled out her Nightstalkers Regard. Within a second, 12 bullets went flying, mos of which slammed into the stallion. The rest ricocheted down the hall.

He glared at her as he pulled up his own rifle. Most of the shots had harmlessly hit his armor.

With her leg still healing, all Star could do was stumble in a futile attempt to evade the attack.

But when he fired, the shot went wide. It deafened us with the bang, but fortunately hit no pony. He then wobbled as he struggled to aim the rifle. Blood dripped from under his armor.

The venom enchantment had taken effect.

A second shot rang out, causing the stallion to fall over. Slowtrot himself had taken him out. The blank look in his eyes were a clear sign that he uses S.A.T.S.

With one confirmed dead, we looked in to see the rest of them. One mare was on the floor, red foam coming out of her mouth as she spasamec. The other two had jumped behind the bar and taken aim at us. Ducking back, the bullets followed us ricocheting off the walls harmlessly.

“Ya bitch! The fuck yo throw at us!” one mare shouted as she coughed, practically hacking up a lung.

The room must have been too large, thus causing the gas to become too thin. But at least it had reached them.

“Should I throw the last gas bomb at them?” I asked as I pulled out the last gas bomb.

Star shook her head and pulled out a bundle of powder charge sticks. “Naw. Let's just use the normal stuff. I just need you to cover me so the throw is just right.”

She then lit the fuse at the mid section. Quickly pulling out my snakebite pistol, and along with Slowtrot, we fired at the bar. Both mares ducked under cover for protection.

“Ya. Waste those bullets. Spritz will be here soon and you're all gonna be dead!” one of the mares shouted.

Throwing the bundle of explosive sticks, Star's aim was true. It perfectly flew through the air and fell behind the bar.

All we heard was a “FUCK!” right before the explosions went off, sending a wave of heat at us.

We waited for the smoke to clear along with whatever gas was still in the air. We at least knew they were dead. No pony was that hard to kill. But one could never be too careful. As soon as we saw the mutilated corpses of the mares, we relaxed. Parts of their scorched bodies were scattered all around the room.

Star was the first to trot in, giving us a big smile. “So, you think we should just toss the gas bomb in the Spritz room and run? Rather not get into another hoof to hoof fight with her. I’m still hurting a bit from the last time.”

Any debate on what strategy we should use ended as soon as the door to the other break room opened up. Framed by the door was a very pissed off Spritz. She had one of LMG service rifles attached to a stable-tec battle saddle, fully armed and ready to fire.

“I guess I should have expected savages to even fuck up at killing other savages.” Spritz snarled. “Now just die already!”

Star dived behind a nearby steel table as Slowtrot and I quickly backed out of the room. The rapid fire burst of the two LMG’s followed, clattering through the doorway as the bullets wiped towards Star.

“Maybe if you weren't such a crazy bitch, you wouldn't have to rely on savages to do your damn dirty work!” Star shouted, followed by a click from her pistol being racked.

“I would not expect you to understand,” Spritz responded, the sound of her heavy hoofsteps coming a little closer.

Slowtrot and I peeked out a little, but quickly pulled back as several shots from Spritz came at us. The sound of the bullets flying came so close that it made my ears ring.

“I am a Star Paladin Spritz Cookie of the Steel Rangers. Second only to an elder. I made sure we stuck together no matter how far we were apart. Setting up supply lines, destroying threats, and training up new hopeful crusaders. Under my watch, the Rangers were strong and focused. When I am promoted to Elder, I will see them wipe out those traitors. Along with those NCR savages that aid them.” Spritz fired another burst at Star Charter as she ranted.

I laughed. It was hard not to. “That’s not what I heard.”

A single shot flew through the doorway. “And what would you know?”

“Oh, not too much, but enough.” I said mockingly. “Met one of your subordinates, an Apricot Biscuit. She told me they tried to follow you, but you were too much of a murdering psychopath to bear. Said you killed a lot of your own troops on your way out.”

She gave a quick sharp laugh. “So that weakling is still alive? She didn’t have the guts to be a true ranger, just like those who turned their back on our mission. I showed them what it takes to be a Steel Ranger. We must be unbending and never falter. They all failed my test.”

“Failed at what? being raiders?” I shouted at her. “Was one pipbuck worth all that blood? Did you need to kill a stable dweller for it? Or are you so mad you can’t see what you truly are, just another raider boss?!”

A loud growl came from Spritz. “You know nothing! What I suffered, what I struggled through. How many true comrades I had to bury. Not for some mutant crossbred freek to talk down at me! When I’m done with you, I’ll work the rest of the savages to the bone and return to the Ranger with a bounty of tech and material. You would not be the first group of savages I’ve so brilliantly used like this, nor shall you be the last!”

I then sighed. “Order, you have that all recorded?”

“Yes. Madam Harp.” my pipbuck answered.

There was a pause. Only the sound of Spritz hoofsteps scratching the floor could be heard then and there. I was sure she heard that. I wanted her to hear it.

“So what? You will die before you tell anypony that cares,” she said confidently.

Then the intercoms turned on and her own voice began playing through it. Starting with “I am a Star Paladin Spritz Cookie of the Steel Rangers...”

The whole rant played loud and clear. Every inch of the stable would be able to hear it. I had planned to catch Spritz denouncing everyone as savages that were beneath her to fuel their mistrust of her. But this was a whole new level of self incrimination. No way anypony would follow her now. No. They would kill her for this.

It put a smile on my face.

“Unlike you, who comes from a culture that hoards old technologies, I come from one that used and improved them.” I told her as I pulled out my last gas bomb. “Food and water for everypony, a working subway system, and two airships you probably would have committed genocide to obtain. It’s not perfect. Far from it, but far better than what you have done for the last two hundred years.”

I stepped out, holding the gas bomb in my pipbucks levitation. I also looked Spritz in the eye. “I am Princess Harp Melody, direct descendant of both Princess Platinum, and the descendant of a founder of Orhtrus. It is you who knows Celestia damn nothing!”

Tactical S.A.T.S. activated, thus slowing down time. The orders were simple. Star would dive for the door as she fired Nightstalkers Regard. While she did that, I activated and threw the bomb. Meanwhile Slowtrot waited to close the door.

There was no disagreement. As time started to move, our bodies acted. Slowly I saw Star dive and shoot. Bullets still rapidly flew out of her gun. But I also saw Spritz firing her own gun, murderous rage on her face.

In a blink in the eye, time returned. Star collided with me just as the door closed. A tremendous amount of pain flashed through me. Ignoring the pain, I reached out with my magic and disrupted the doors control with my own power, thus keeping it shut.

A hoofprint shaped dent formed on the door. “Fuck! Who’s the real monster?” I said it was almost too painful to talk.

A bottle of healing potion was poured onto me. It mixed with all the red. Looking down, there was a long gash along my stomach and I think I could see my lower intestines hanging out.

“FUCK, FUCK, FUCK.” Slowtrot shouted as he pushed my intestines back in and poured more healing potion on it. It all hurts like fire, but yet not hurting.

Star soon joined, helping Slowtrot pull out some bandages for him to wrap me with. Then she passed him my leg. It was mangled to a pulp. I was starting to feel lightheaded now and a bit cold. I knew they could handle the rest. I was feeling too tired to do much of anything.

A heavy slap across my face woke me back up, and a bottle was shoved into my mouth, forcing me to drink. “Fuck! You're not going unconcious now!” Star’s muffled voice shouted at me. “Slowtrot said you could go into a coma if you sleep now!”

“Out of the way!” Slowtrot said as he pushed Star off me. I watched as he shoved a big fucking syringe into my chest.

A moment later I shot up. “By Luna's glorious flank, I’m alive!” I then felt myself twitch uncontrollably. my body filled with energy and no pain at all. “What was that?”

“Pure adrenalin,” Slowtrot sighed. “Healing potions aren't meant to be used on that level of trauma, so you could still die if we're not careful.”

“Oh come on. I can go another round. Two more, even!” I said, feeling so full of energy.

Star then gave me a hug, “No. Let's just get you to medical. We can have some pony drag Spritz corpse up to us.” She then pulled me onto her back. I let her carry me away.

_______________________________________________________

As I was being carefully hauled up the stairs to the atrium, all the energy quickly drained from me, and then came the pain… fuck the pain was so unbarable I started to cry from it.

“Did she shoot my leg off!” I gasped.

“We got it back on, so try not to use it for a while.” Slowtrot told me as he followed. “Healing potions can only do so much, and your condition is still critical. So, once we get you to medical, we're going to try and do a blood transfusion.”

“Thank fuck the ones down here are still full strength.” Star said then turned to Slowtrot. “Can’t you use that weird stuff you used before?”

“I rather not. She only just stopped bleeding from the eye yesterday. But if the worst comes... I use itl.” Slowtrot replied as we entered the atrium.

The ponies here had already gathered. They almost crowded us as we entered.

“Move out the fucking way. She needs to get to medical right now!” Star shouted. In response, the ponies parted a path for us.

Cherry ran up to us, a panicked look on her face as she said. “No! Not that way!”

*Bang!*

Everypony got down onto the ground. A moment later we saw Filch fall down the stairs from the way to medical. A trial of blood followed him and the blank look of death on his face.

“No!” Cheery gasped.

Slow and heavy, Spritz trotted down the stairs. Her eyes were bloodshot, red foam dripped from her mouth, and several bullet holes along a leg.

“Yo… you think you have… won?!” she slurred as she tried to aim her body at us.

Everypony scattered, cramming into the side rooms or up the stairs. The door to the other stable was closed and blocked off, meaning they had seen her coming.

“Y… your nothing, just… a… bunch… of… sava… ages” Each word from her was pained and filled with sheer malice. “I… will… survive… you… and-”

“Order... kill this bitch!” my own voice was filled with pain as I gave the command.

“Yes Madam!” my pipbuck said as it used levitation to raise Star’s gun.

Both it and Spritz fired. The steel ranger aim was low due to her still being on the stairs. Her shots hit the hard concrete and ricocheted wildly. Order, on the other hoof, managed to get a clean shot at her. It sent a line of bullets up Spritz’s chest and face.

Both guns clicked.

After a moment, Spritz collapsed, falling the rest of the way down the stairs. There was no movement. No sound. Just her body on top of poor Filch.

Passing Star another healing potion, Slowtrot slowly trotted over to Spritz. His legs were bleeding from several shallow bullet holes in them. He then took out his rifle and fired two more shots into Spritz.

Spitting out the healing potion, Star then trotted forward. I looked down to see that her legs had also been mangled. She smiled as she said, “Rifle rounds are a real fucking bitch.”

As we passed Spritz’s corpse, I couldn't help but worry that she was going to get back up. Maybe she’ll use her last bit of life to kill me. But she did not move. She only oozed blood.

It was over… at least this fight was. Now I just needed some damn med-x to dull this pain.

_______________________________________________________

-Reputation-

-Spritz’s Convicts-

With Spritz her most loyal followers dead, this faction is no more. They are now absorbed into the Ganger alliance.

-Ganger Alliance-

The three have more than proven their right to lead, and so the future of this faction is in their hooves.