Fallout Equestria Distant Lands

Fallout Equestria
Distant Lands
Chapter 1

Wood. It's what Chane found himself lying on when he woke up this morning. The morning after his transportation from Sanctuary to this boat.

they'd been sailing for a while now with no real end in sight.

The room Chane was in was less than appealing but at least it was more walled of than the usual accommodations. Light peered through the cloudy stained windows of the room he inhabited along with two others, another zebra and a pony.

It was cramped and frankly, with Brief consideration, Chane concluded that a breath of fresh air was in order and it seems the other zebra agreed.

“Madam pony would you mind proving these locks phony? “

A rhyming zebra she was augmented cybernetically in nature and though it defiled tradition Chane didn't complain seeing as he too had broken tradition.

He failed to protect his people, a warrior bad at war.

“You lot might want to stand back.” Chane ran in front of the pony before they started on the door instead, taking a more direct approach to opening it.

“1 2 3 and smack!” With one quick solid buck, the door came flying from its hinges just as another door across the hall was torn from its hinges to reveal a strong tall pony, unicorn variety he was in the ruins of a suit of power armor that looked more like a piece of river trash.

It was helmetless revealing his face white with mane going from black to grey with his age.

~~~~~

From Mud to wood. Figuratively and Literally Still Life's surroundings had changed, his room was shabby, dark and grimy.

There were two ponies besides Still, both were glaring at him, of course, his power-armor being so grand and abstract in this setting probably helped matters in that sense. it was a blueish black suit that had certainly chipped and faded with time revealing its steel exterior but the symbol of the crescent Moon on his chest was almost untouched by the elements of the wasteland as if preserved.

Besides them, there was a cabinet of sorts in the cell and of course, it was empty but not useless.

Lowering his head down low like he'd done many times for Luna Still instead did something more practical, using his mouth he with some fiddling broke loose a leg from the wardrobe with the assistance of his large frame to help stabilize the wardrobe proper.

And in one instant Still went from weaponless to a club in hoof mostly wedged on the armor between one of his crescent-shaped joints in a way that allowed optimal hitting.

“Well, I suggest if you want to get off this ship you should follow me.” The slaves stationed with Still we're less than adamant to jump on the rebellion wagon well at least compared to him.

The door was relatively sturdy, something Still discovered after pressing his armored hoof on it with force.

he could in theory just bash it down but that would be a waste of his new weapon.

He got to work prying on the hinges of the door with the club telling each hinge was removed making the next step much easier as the others stood back and watched.

Still pressed ever so lightly getting stronger each second until the door opened in reverse snapping the outside lock well that or the door itself, the door opened with a crack showing Still face to face with Chane who unlike Still bore no armor nor weapons.

“I see at least one other creature has some level of competence.” Said Still.

“Escaping I presume?” Chane gave a simple nod as the other zebra in his quarters came out.

~~~~~

After Berri woke up to a zebra and pony on either side of her and no Root insight she knew thing's we're going to a fight.

Berri attempted to get the aid of the pony but the Chane cut them off choosing to think more with his hooves on the locked door issue.

After he bucked it open with the simple command to "Stay back".

After said event, he went out into the hall where another door was laying on the ground knocked over by a power-armored pony though he was missing a helmet.

Coming out to the hall Berri addressed both door breakers.

“Shall we take leave of this place with glee?”

And with that, She got a unanimous comment of "yes" from the two as they headed forward down a flight of stairs to face a filly.

She was small like most but certainly not the smallest Berri had seen, she was also a pegasus something that's rare even as adults let alone a child it was no wonder the slavers took her.

~~~~~

"I hate griffons!" after a few weeks in the wasteland and only having one bath per town, Silver was already losing her mind but when she asked for a simple bath here they went all-in on it.

Silver Pick had been picked up from my room and held under the water for at least five minutes or at least it felt that long I mean she started choking, heck she could have died!

Thankfully her mane didn't shed her gun. It was dad's revolver and he'd kill her if it got taken, well if he even cared that Silver was gone, the only thing she lost was a few bobby pins.

However, they did take her helmet. Admittedly it was a pot but still, it's better than nothing.

Silver's room was dark and had another pony in it who brought her back via CPR and Silver really and truly thanked her for it. Her name was Snowdrop.

“Thank you *cough* what's your name?” Said Silver through restored breath.

“Snowdrop and you are?” She was sweet and had a voice that sounded like a pony Silver occasionally saw selling shampoo up in the clouds.

“Silver Pick.” she didn't see too much harm in telling Snowdrop her name especially given their circumstances.

After a brief attempt to open the door with a combination of pulling, pushing and pouting Silver had one last idea.

She'd never tried too hard to pick a lock. It was on her list of things to do to try and get her cutie mark so she figured why not try here.

After a good bit of fiddling, Silver broke a bobby pin and then another one and if she'd done it again she would have broken another so Silver had a better idea.

“Hey Snowdrop, do you think you could try to pick this lock?” Was it smart to ask someone who's probably never picked a lock, to pick a lock, who knows?

“Well, I guess I can try.” Said the unicorn, she had a light blue coat and pink mane.

Silver offered her a screwdriver and two bobby pins which she promptly grabbed in her magic and began using on the door.

After some clicks passed and Silver heard her say something under her breath the door finally gave the telltale sound of a lock popping open.

“Hey, I did it guess I haven't lost my edge!” She opened the door and left for Silver to follow, coming out she was met to face three other creatures, a pony like herself and two zebras.

Before Silver let her mind jump to conclusions on them she let herself have time to think about them besides they seemed to be aiding in her escape.

Across the hall was a door like her own, running up to it Silver began working her magic and picked the lock, why didn't it just work for her door? She wondered.

After the slight click, she opened the door to a filly running past her, something Silver only noticed because of the pipsqueaks cape brushing against her.

Now not to sound rude but she was short even by Silvers standards and she's a filly which makes me wonder just how old she was?

~~~~~

“I'm a sneaky ninja spy pony and I'm gonna jump on them when they come through the door.” Explained Mysty to the other two slaves sharing the room they admittedly weren't taking her seriously but hey what can you do.

Mysty was hidden in the room's cupboard well, she was until the door opened and she ran out the door completely forgetting her surprise jump attack and instead weaved around a Silver who opened the door.

Mysty was a filly on a mission to find her Pixie, the single most bestest cutest blue fox ever, I mean sure she was poisonous and once made a trade pony’s eyes cry red for a few hours but she was still Mysty’s little Pixie.

The main room of the room that everyone had entered was a far cry better than their previous accommodations however this room had a few less than friendly folk in it on the ready.

Inside cannons lined the walls poking their heads out of the hatches in the side of the ship all pirate-like but most importantly there was a meany with Pixie in a cage.

These details did not stop the onslaught that was about to ensue, some just encouraged it.

~~~~~

“I'll take the griffon!” It could fly and Still wanted to make sure that wasn't a possibility so with a quick charge through his fellow escapees he brought down a flurry of power-armored hooves upon the griffin certainly breaking a few bones.

Of course, the griffon retaliated slashing at his face a few times and got a pretty good hit off too but certainly not good enough and after its barrage, the griffon dashed off to a corner making Still take chase as Silver joined up with him in his pursuit.

“I told you this one's mine.” Still didn't bark it per se but he was fairly assertive.

“Yeah well they tried to drown me and I feel that deserves a little revenge.”

Still couldn't argue with the filly almost being drowned was good grounds for revenge.

~~~~~

After Still Life had begun his charge Chane followed suit but instead of going at the griffon like him Chane chose to deal with a race traitor, a zebra he seemed to not fully grasp the situation and after getting a good look at him Chane could see why.

He was blinded, his eyes had been slashed seemingly in one move.

“Blinded he became after he bounded me.” Said the cyber zebra and although she equally was betraying our race and traditions she at least was on Chane's side

“I see what would you say to completing the job?”

"Well healing is what I'm meant to be dealing, but harm is what I'm feeling.” With that, the zebras finished their approach and got him by both sides laying into him.

Chane's repeated punches connected while Berri’s attacks we're less than satisfactory.

She attempted hitting him which failed so she tried to bite him but that also resulted in failure and ultimately she went to grapple his moving figure as he went to move away causing chase making her trip towards him turning her grapple into a headbutt knocking him out cold.

~~~~~

Now, what is the little alicorn murder machine doing?

“*wheeze* *grunt* *strain* Why is this steel ball so heavy?”

Mysty was attempting to lift a 10-pound cannonball and with this ring on her horn she couldn't use magic leaving her equivalent to a pegasus filly who couldn't lift heavy things and this was a heavy ball but the heavier something is the easier it is to knock out a pony with it.

“1, 2 uh oh!” Mysty comically fails to hit him a few times before eventually lifting it and having it fall just onto the side of his head which wasn't even her intention she was trying to bust open Pixie's Cage which she did because she's awesome.

“What in Tartarus was that!” The pony went to turn around and got smacked yet again this time giving him a black eye. Instant karma for saying Tartarus in front of a little filly.

“Go to sleep, please this thing is heavy!” Mysty was rearing up for another attempt but the teal green earth pony was faster, grabbing the repeater rifle he attempted to un-alive the filly with it.

And no I'm not gonna say die in front of a filly even if I'm just the unseen unheard narrator.

He let out a good few shots from the repeating rifle however Mysty was too good at running around the metal sleepy time darts and they didn't hit her, good thing too she didn't want to go to bed last time she did, she woke up in a cage.

~~~~~

*bang* *bang* Silver let off shots on the griffon who'd almost drowned her while her newfound friend Still Life pumped the griffon's beak into its skull.

Silver wasn't per se trying to kill the griffon, more of either immobilize them or do a sort of hostage situation with them but when they fled the scene for the stairs that became much more difficult.

“Dang it, there goes our leverage!”

“You know you're a bit more blood happy than you seem to let on?”

Still’s comment briefly perplexed the filly before she caught his meaning.

“Well now it's more just that I wanted payback I mean I wasn't gonna kill him or anything, I suspect that's a difference between us.”

“He was a threat and he stood in the way of our freedom and thus he needed and still needs to die!”

Silver grimaced at what he said, I mean sure they captured her but they didn't need to kill them but if they must...

Silver couldn't finish that thought instead, choosing to push it to the back of her mind and deal with it when it hit her, something she did a lot.

~~~~~

After Berri accidentally incapacitated Chane's punching bag she started toward the last opponent in the room an earth pony who was trying and notably failing to fight Mysty.

“Do you mind finishing the fight for in my sight there is another battle to fight?”

With Berri’s focus drawn away, Chane did as she asked, crushing the traitor's skull beneath his hoof and taking follow.

~~~~~

After Berri's fumble that inadvertently knocked out that zebra, she moved onto the next task at hoof.

The smallest of their misfit heard was fighting a much bigger yet admittedly weaker seaming foe, an earth pony with a repeater in hoof.

Upon the zebras' approach, they were joined by Still Life and Silver Pick from the south said child dashed ahead of Berri to see the sight of the earth pony bloodied and bleeding on the floor. they had him cornered.

He took one quick look around and chose a more unsavory death in the form of a cannonball meet face method. and after two sudden slam's Silver spoke up.

“Stop! Or I'll uh I'll shoot?” Berri couldn't fault the child's attempt at making the scene end as blood was launched off of the ball and the sickening crunch was heard and amplified by her enhanced cybernetic scenes.

“‘Fucking do it! Shoot me. Shoot me!” I'll admit even Berri, a grown mare was taken aback by the display, this pony knew he was going to die either way so he chose to do it on his own terms and although that's admirable Berri doubted a filly could see it in such light.

He went to smack his face against the cannonball once more before the shot rang out, and silence followed as the pool of blood slowly grew as everyone else stood around however the other filly Mysty who falsely appeared as a pegasus had run off, not that anypony could blame them.

They didn't appreciate the sight either.

~~~~~

“I… I killed him.“ The words got caught in Silver throat as she went to speak again but they were forced out of her, not as speech but as vomit and tears.

she’d practiced with dad's gun before, Tartarus. she still had it but… she killed somepony.

“I just wanted him to stop and I didn't know what to do and I…” she was panicking that much and it was obvious her tears we're flinging just like his... blood, oh there was so much blood.

It was worse than a carriage wreck, at least in terms of impact, it was like she'd been… shot and time slowed. Silver couldn't peel her eyes away from the ever-growing pool as the ships rocking sent it down a crease in the wood and it began curving around her hooves.

She almost screamed but a hoof on her shoulder prevented it making Silver look to Berri.

“Come now child let us come down from this feeling of drowning sorrow” With that Berri and Silver went off to a clearer part of the room between two cannons and away from all the death.

~~~~~

What has this world come to, thought Still, I can deal with the beast, the terrible living conditions, and the radiation but foals and fillies having to kill just to stay alive. Still remember when he first made his way to Mud there was a carcass of a foal no more than 10 years old.

Lying there in the mud left to rot.

He had been raped and all his limbs ripped off and stuck on spikes all around his body like he was drawn and quartered but the limbs were placed near where they should have been. The smell of blood and sperm still defiled the air making the anger Still felt boile far more than if it had faded.

Suffice to say the raider camp west of the newly dug grave did not stand a chance against his anger-filled hooves.

I hope these young ones meet no similar fate.

On the earth pony's body was a 9mm repeater Still had no use for the weapon but figured it was a far cry better than the pistol Silver was using.

“Here take this you're gonna need it soon.” Did Still want her to have to kill again, Luna no but she needed to survive.

“Here's the ammo too and make sure when you shoot em, you make it quick, painless it will make you feel better.”

That was the best advice Still could give to her as Berri stroked her mane.

Turning towards the stairs Still saw as the little white pegasus ran down them and past him and to Silver, she must have taken tare of the griffon escape from earlier.

~~~~~

After her brief excursion up the stairs where she smacked a griffon in the skull with a cannonball and alerted the other three creatures in the room the sheer weight of the ball pulled her fluttering down the stairs mostly pulled by the ball's weight.

“Ok I can't carry this thing, I need my magic.”

Dropping the ball with a thud it started rolling along the ship in loud fashion but she didn't care she needed someone to take off this horn ring.

After looking at Still she saw that he had a ring too so they couldn't help next she looked to Silver who she deemed could help.

~~~~~

“Hey, hey, hey can you take this off?” After repeated poking, Silver acknowledged the pegasus? She had a horn! but she was a pegasus, I mean there we're the princess but that was forever ago.

“Uh sure?” Silver slipped off the ring and she took it with her magic, something that just isn't right.

Then she ran up and jumped up onto Still Life's back where she removed his ring.

“Thank you, now it's time to get off this boat can we all agree on that.”

Everyone pretty much gave a nod of approval and Still started speaking again.

“Alright the rest of you lot be ready for anything, find a weapon and get into some cover, we're going up top to take care of anything up there then will come and get you.”

The other slaves were weary but didn't outright say no.

~~~~~

Silver wasn't sure if she was ready to go right back into combat but if everyone else was going up into who knows what she needed to be ready to… kill.

The thought still churned her stomach as they crept up the stairs where they were met with a hatch.

Still was first in line followed by her and Mysty and behind them, was Berri and Chane.

“On three we throw it open and you use the loud noise as a distraction to get yourself out of sight.”

Silver was glad that Still had some sort of plan and that it involved her hiding.

“Chane you charge the enemies further in. I'll handle anything in the way of our entrance and Berri make sure we don't die, now on three... one, two, three!”

Still threw the hatch open and the plan went into action with Silver slipping out of the party and finding a spot by the bar further into the room where she found her pot helmet.

It was full of a lukewarm stew and after emptying its contents stealthily onto the floor she put it on and took a glance around behind the bar there was another zebra with a caged, uh you know she doesn't know the word for it but it's got a long snout and pointy ears.

In the center of the room was a table barricade with a big blue pony that gave Still a run for his bits, he looked like his left hoof was a bear trap and the other a mace.

But most notably he had a pirate hat on.

Then out of nowhere Chane leaped over the tables and began attacking, making Silver look back at the rest of the party Still had his hooves over the seemingly dead body of a second griffon making a total of two by the stairs.

Berri was kind of just standing there looking at the caged creature and Mysty was being a child and thus hitting one of the griffon's dead bodies with her Cannonball.

~~~~~

Chane began running at him, he looked to be the one in charge so it made the most sense however as he unleashed a flurry of blows he was yet again reminded of his status as a failure for not a single hit connected but, the Captain's certainly did.

With one move he grabbed Chane's left foreleg with his beartrap and flung Chane behind him like a ragdoll. he was held in place by the trap as the Captain brought him forward with full force letting him go flying but not before getting in a good smack in with his mace.

The leather Chane wore on his coat was one of the few things that kept the Captain's few attacks from incapacitating him immediately then out of the side of the room a shot”s rang out as they had below one ripping into one end of the captains left leg out the other and then embedding itself into his right shoulder while the others provided another light source in the form of a now shattered window.

“Leave him alone!” Cried Silver, Chane could tell from the tears forming and the grimace on her face it was painful to have pulled the trigger but she did it.

~~~~~

“Halt!” The Captain's voice boomed out making us draw attention to him and his brief stumble to the right, the shot had done more damage than he was letting on that much was evident.

“Does anypony mind explaining exactly what the fuck your think you doing?” Diplomacy? Great, we might not have to fight and from the looks of it, that's a good thing for Chane’s sake.

“Would you believe we're staging a jailbreak?” Said Still raising himself from the dead griffon under his hooves.

“Well from the looks of things I’d be inclined to believe you, so is it gonna be two against five or what?"

“I'd prefer a one on one game of words you concur?” Let's hope diplomacy works.

“I believe I do, you wish to settle this without bloodshed and instead be more diplomatic, am I correct?”

“Precisely, forgive my rather brash friend he rather rashly prefers to give way to hooves rather than to his mind.” said Berri

That comment got a glare from Chane but she wasn't wrong.

“He is rather rash isn't he, well if we shall settle this like the civilized then I must ask if I can finish my food before our chat.”

“Of course, but if I may be so bold may I lend, to tend to my friend?” Before responding he said something else towards the direction of the bar where Berri noticed the zebra that had been there was now walking back from our vicinity

"Yes, you may tend to your ally." as he went to sit down Berri spoke again

"Yet again captain I ask in bold can my canine be unhold from his cage" she gestured to Root caged behind the bar with the zebra.

“I will be on the lookout in case anyone tries to pull anything.” And with that Still left us to ourselves and Silver ran off to go find her stuff.

"No, we talk first you tend to your friend, for now, your gear is in the back rooms behind me."

With that Berri went into the back, grabbed her gear and began work on Chane, it took a good lot of bandages to patch him up and altho he wasn't in the best shape she expected he'd be able to walk, talk, and punch as he healed.

“So let us talk and try not to squawk.”

If Berri could talk calmly she was sure this would go smoothly.

“Indeed there are many places this conversation could go and we should refrain from yelling it would accomplish nothing.”

“Are you a slaver as well or just a traveler?”

That was the first question on her mind.

“I am a traveler never really approved of the whole slave trade business but I'll transport them like any cargo.”

A supply ship? Berri thought.

“I see a traveling trader roaming the sea.”

That made the most sense to Berri.

“Something like that I have a main employer I've been working for these past few years, and before you ask yes he's the one who asked me to get you lot"

“I see, he would be...”

Berri was cut off.

"I don't have a clue, he’s my mysterious benefactor. He pays me for the slaves usually through messenger so I've never even really met him. I kinda hope I never do."

At this point, the captain started smoking a cigarette, and as a doctor, Berri was going to protest but figured it would be unwise.

“A nameless employer employing a Captain with information that is less than, sustain.”

That should get some more out of him. Berri thought.

“Yeah that describes thing's pretty accurately but I'm not as clueless as that implies.”

“Oh?”

"We're heading on a due course west to the Cradle of Creation a little cluster of five islands out here in the middle of nowheresville, my benefactor is either worshipped like a god or feared and I've yet to hear someone on the fence between those two options."

“Interesting, that kills the plan of running.”

“Oh yeah why's that?”

“They sound like the type who will ground out all their resources to pound us back to these isles.”

“Well I can't argue that but ultimately there's still an issue we need to discuss you've killed four of my crew and as the most priceless part of this cargo if you go missing I don't like my chances.”

“Yes, a plan is one of many things that we need to put into the pan."

“Right, and with that being said, what is your plan?”

“I plan to steal a deal from you.”

“Alright what sort of things does this deal intake?”

“We take a vacancy where we see, and freedom that will eventually be.”

He nodded along to my plan hopefully he saw what I was getting at.

“We work on the island’s, take the benefactor away and give you the spoils of the land he's claimed over his time.”

“Just you lot.” he seemed to ponder on it looking away from me as he drank and after he set his cup down he finally turned to answer the deal

"You replace my former crew technically give me an extra hoof on deck and in exchange for this “Freedom/” he did literal air quotes with his hoof.

"You kill the Benefactor and give me his wealth. It's an interesting offer you've proposed and under other circumstances, I would agree no questions asked but…”

“He's the sorts that will call all the courts to the ports just for one execution.”

“Yeah and I don't like the prospects of trying to lie to a god even if it's just a pony.”

He stared down a bit before looking up just trying to decide Berri figured.

“I'll do it, you lot take care of him I'll give him what slaves remain and after the fact, we never have to meet again, right.”

“Indeed now may I have my loyal breed.” Not having Root with her but instead caged across the room was getting to Berri.

“Oh uh yeah sure.”

And at that he clapped his Hooves and Root’s cage was opened, after repeated petting and getting her face licked, they shook hooves Silver came back stuff in hoof and Berri explained everything to the rest of the group.

“No, I don't like that deal!”

Silver was less than receptive but she wasn't the only one.

“Why can't we all just hit him?” Mysty wasn't either, time to try and explain things to a filly.

“Smallest one this is not a simple task, certainly not the simplest which you've described.”

“No, it's simple we just gotta hit him.”

“If you truly believe that I pray for you to stay pure in soul and belief.”

“She’s right this is a much more dangerous game then any of us thought.” Glad to see Still was on my side.

“I don't care about that I mean sure it makes sense but what about them, the rest of the slaves, we're basically dooming them for helping us.”

Berri could not argue her point but she was gonna make her see it wasn't that black and white.

“Little one have you ever tried the game of shogi, in shogi, you can kind of play your ponies game of chess but a fun little twist on the capture the ruler philosophy is that sometimes you can bring eliminated pieces back to the board.”

Berri would have said capture the princess but she took it that might cause offense. Ruler is much more unanimous, Berri had her attention now and it was time to explain her thought.

“I plan to talk to the mare who freed you and make her our inside mare a piece in the shadows of our enemies.”

“Only if she's on board and even then I'm still not liking this.”

“Welcome to the wasteland kid, it's full of many things you'll grow to downright hate,” said Chane before glaring at the Captain who was glaring at Silver who was glaring at Berri it was just a big glare fest.

“Well I'll be off in my quarters, all of your belongings are in your respective rooms, Blood, would you be so kind as to escort them when ready.”

The zebra mare didn't say anything just nodded in approval as the Captain began taking his leave.

“Captain if I may be ever so bold, in rolled out word’s?”

He stopped not regarding her with words, instead with actions.

“There was another who aided us in our leave, a unicorn of the NCR with a blue coat and pink mane.”

“Snowdrop I ken her and believe I ken what you asking and the answers no.”

Before she could even ask for her inclusion in the deal Berri was shot down.

“If I were to give one such luxury to another such of the cargo which if you forgot you were formerly part of, I would add another risk making my chances of getting out of this situation, alive even more difficult so no I must humbly decline the thought.”

She hated it but Berri saw a great deal of wisdom in his words not to mention what other possible aftershocks will happen because of their deal alone.

“I shall go speak with her and return when done.”

She calmly stormed, disappointed by her failing.

~~~~~

With Berr’s leave and the conflict avoided, Still decided to sit back and rest.

There was an odd room off to our side no pony had looked in yet and he figured it would be perfect.

“If anyone needs me I'll be in here.”

The room was relatively barren with a table and lantern but nothing else he sat in the corner and began my rest followed by Mysty and her fox

It was a blue fox and she said it was magic which brought a smile to Still's face, magic foxes only something a child could think up.

~~~~~

Berri was becoming a mixed topic among Chane's feelings. They had the traditional rhyming speak of a zebra but had betrayed tradition with tech of the ponies bound into her flesh.

She had sacrificed the lives of the slaves beneath him as if they were mere pawns in a game Tartarus she even said so herself with the comparison she made to shogi.

I have yet to put my hoof on where our standing lyes.

For now, he'll sleep on the thought but first he must follow Blood something Berri is already on track doing so.

Their rooms were much better than the former accommodations but Chane still shared a room with a pony, white coat and mostly blue mane and tail.

He was asleep when Chane entered so he let it stay that way as he slept.

~~~~~

Betrayal, that's what Berri’s plan felt like to the pony who saved Silver's life and broke her out, she hated it!

In her pack was the rest of her formerly stolen items, a sweet roll, a bag of popcorn, a box of Chocolate Frosted Sugar Apple Bombs, some scrap metal and a silencer.

Silver wanted to put the silencer on her new repeater rifle but she didn't have a clue how any of this works so she did the next best thing.

“Does anyone know how guns work!” It was a simple question that was ignored due to nopony being around so Silver went and found Still and asked again thankfully Still did understand this stuff and gave her the beginnings of a crash course on the subject.

~~~~~

Berri began her descent, it was time to see if she could win Snowdrop over on her plan.

"You are with the NCR if my memory serves me right; I tended to your wounds, in an earlier fight.”

“Yes, I remember you, I was one of the ones laying on the ground if it wasn't for you then…”

“Indeed but, there is no need to thank the deed.”

"I was able to strike a deal through the Captain’s wall of steel and get some more information."

“And what would this information be if I may ask?”

Berri began the explanation, the Benefactor, the Islands, all of it and when she was done Snowdrop was silent giving her more time to speak.

"I suspect a character like this wouldn't rest until we are subject or dead if we were to escape. So I struck a deal with the Captain. The five who fought will lay plain as the slain we fought.”

The silence again, it was unsettling but this time as Silver opened her mouth Snow cut her off with words of her own.

“So we stay enslaved and you work for him doesn't sound like a very appealing turn of play to me.”

"I tried to get you included, but the Captain wouldn't settle less you were excluded."

“I see.”

She was growing more distant and so Berri figured it was time for her grand plan to come to light.

"I wouldn't blame you for seeing me a traitor, but I beg you to settle for hearing me out, I'll make you lose doubt."

She stayed quiet a moment before speaking.

“Well, whomever this ‘Benefactor’ is I’d say they can't handle the might of the NCR but, under tight circumstances, I'd say you made the right choice, wish that filly would understand that but what can you do.”

"I still need your skill. I suspect that this benefactor likely has many more slaves to factor in their employ."

"I aim to find out who this mind is and bring them down. Long story short I need somepony on the inside if we are to free not only you but all the slaves inside, we need to play this carefully."

"Can you act as a leader on the inside? That way we can find a way to let you be a feeder of information, as well as try to steer the slaves down a safer pathway."

"You'll still be a slave, but we will slave with you to bring this Benefactor down and free you, all of you."

"This certainly is a high stakes game we’re playing, only we don't know how high the stakes are and or what kind of board we're playing on but I will see what must be done in order to establish myself. Hopefully, we can get this done quickly and find a way to contact the NCR."

"I'll try to cry a message out to your superiors."

"Oh and who are you planning on that, I mean for fuck sake were going to some islands out in the middle of nowheresville, may Celestia help us all!"

"I'll have to see what awaits us at landfall, I'll try my best to get that message out, I put my faith in y’all. Together we can hopefully free these slaves and bring a positive change to this land may it not see a fall. Thank you. I'm counting on y’all not to fall. Please see the other slaves not stall... We have a lot of work ahead of us all if we are to prevent us from a fall.”

“Indeed.”

Their conversation ended there with arrangements having been made and her going off with the rest of the slaves and remnants of her unit.

Thing's we're certainly heating up and Berri had one last conversation that needed closing before she took leave of this vessel.

Silver was in the room with everyone but Chane who was in his quarters sleeping she assumed.

“Silver we need to finish our discussion” She ignored voluntarily or not and so I employed a Root alarm having my loyal canine companion bark in her ear.

This disruption of her focus took her full attention as she stared at Root before he promptly licked her face.

“Ahhh. it licked me!” This sent her freaking out and ending up dived behind mysty as she pushed her forward.

“Take her not me.”

“Hey hey.” Mysty than lifted her fox, Pixie who licked Silver's face

Which yet again sent her freaking out and running out of the room down the stairs and into the lower deck.

~~~~~

“Ahhh poison joke, I have, poison joke, ahh!”

Mysty’s fox was poisonous. Silver remembers her saying as much on their way to the boat originally and now it's licked her and she doesn't know what to, well besides running around screaming.

After being glared at for a bit by the slaves Berri and Root came down the stairs and Root kept blocking her path as he got Silver in a corner, she was dead.

“Silver calm down, Root won't make you frown”

Silver wasn't really worried about the dog but...

“I don't care that fox is, poison joke. I'm poisoned, ahhh!”

She probably thought Silver was overreacting but she remembered hearing about, poison joke. It shrunk an adult pony and Silver is a kid.

“Hmm interesting I'll have to see if I can whip up a puree of sorts when we get to town but for now we must be finishing our conversation”

Oh, hear this goes again. thought Silver.

“What's there to talk about you plan to just leave Snowdrop here, a slave.”

She was really starting to get angry. Berri was betraying our friend, someone who had saved Silver’s life, it made her want to just shoot her outright.

“No.”

It caught Silver off guard, to say the least.

“The zebra is, correct little one while I'm not entirely pleased with how things have wound up coming out. I am certainly not being betrayed.”

“Ah Snowdrop glad you're here now we can better alleviate Silver’s fear.”

To say Silver was surprised and thankful would be an understatement.

They began explaining the whole deal and she was glad to finally know the plan and that they'd be staying in touch even if it would be through steel bars.

“Ok, thank you, Berri.”

“I'll try.”

After a brief hug, silver started on my way back up to start listening to Still again and based on the pace of his teaching lecture she won't be done for a good lot of hours.

Later…

To say she was right is another understatement after what can only be described as an eternity she was tired and going to her room.

Berri informed her she'd be sleeping with Mysty and her fox which was an unpleasant thought so Silver locked the door.

That will teach her for making that fox lick me. Thought Silver.

The unknowing thought of what could happen to her because of that fox still had her on the edge, she was almost afraid to go to sleep.

~~~~~

“Alright everycreature get your shit together will be hitting land in about an hour”

After the captain's notification and the awakening of the rest of the sleeping party, he began a crew meeting of sorts on the top deck. The reason Still know this is because he was directly above him yelling incoherent babbling to the crew.

Upon arrival, Still's steel hooves certainly appreciated the feeling of solid ground beneath them.

The pirates or at least that's what Still believed they were, had begun unloading the gear off the ship as well as giving back the party's belongings well the ones that they hadn't already acquired, for some of them.

After the eventual unloading of supplies was finished it seemed like a small amount for the ship to be carrying.

The party was all crowding together trying to not get in the way of their work, however their efforts to stay out of business we're for not.

“Guy's and madam Berri, we have an issue.”

Well isn't this, is off to a great start? Thought Still

“Yes,” Still said, taking charge of the conversation.

“He's coming here, the Benefactor.”

Well, that throws a wrench in Berri’s plan.

“I see, does anyone know a spell to alter what they see?”

Well, that's an idea if it works that is.

“Well, I could do the Nihtmare Nigt custume spell.”

That line got a glare from Everypony as they stared at Mysty.

It took Still a moment to figure out what the little alicorn meant and it wasn't aided by her mispronunciation of Nightmare Night but once he figured out what she meant it became obviously apparent.

“She means alter physiology, as the name suggests it changes your appearance or body in general however I doubt she can do much more than provide facial hair and change our coats.”

And so that's what they did and it was just in time cause a neigh a few minutes later he showed up.

~~~~~

It was him the one who had ordered them all to be captured and brought to this cursed place I swear the longer I stay here the worse it feels, there's some seriously bad shit here, and I don't need cybernetics to tell me that. thought Berri.

~~~~~

Finally, I get to meet this Benefactor face to face. He seems to be a zebra, like me, he has 4 armed and armored guards cutlasses in hoof as best I can tell under their hoods. Thought Chane.

Their hoods blackish-blue almost purple in some spots they bore the mark of the night princess Luna.

~~~~~

“There's the meany who put me in a cage, I'm gonna hit him with ma steel ball.” Thought the little white alicorn filly if only she knew how bad a thought that was.

~~~~~

Another ziger oh come on, I mean zebra, he was as stated a zebra and like everypony else, he was taller than me.

It makes me wonder how Mysty feels being the literal shortest and dumbest of the group. Thought Silver.

~~~~~

Here he was weak and unarmed. If I wanted to I could charge him and crush his head for causing me and the rest of us to have to go through this whole ordeal.

But I won't, I will wait for a more adept time to strike preferably when he isn't guarded by four ponies. Thought Still.

“Hey Captain, I bet you're surprised to see me.”

His voice was beyond fake with an accent trying and partially succeeding in mimicking a Prench speaking pony but it was all over toned and masked by a shit-eating smile and the sound of a pure slimeball of a pony.

“I'll admit seeing you in person is quite an interesting surprise.”

“Interesting indeed, what's it been 5 years we've worked together and never formally met, it's a shame we had to meet on one of your worst ever runs.”

His tone turned from joke'ish and chatty to a cold steel while keeping his general vibe going on, as he cut off the Captain before he could even say “I”.

“You short on material by a factor of 50 crates. I can't feed an empire with a box of apples!, I can't wage wars with a crate of ammunition!!, I can't build the future with a measly few slaves!!!”

He was getting louder with each thing the benefactor listed.

“I understand we're short but…”

“No it doesn't matter as long as you got my special order in for this trip I'll be fine and happy, however, if you didn't I'll have you meet a personal friend of mine.”

“Well about that...”

He looked back at us, a look of desperation crying out what in Tartarus do I tell him and when none of us answered he turned back around and.

“I couldn't find any...”

“Oh, can it!”

The benefactor shoved past the Captain with ease pushing the hulk of muscular feat away like a child and then as the Captain tried to grab at the Benefactor but two of the hooded figures appeared in front of him at an angle touching their freshly drawn rapiers at the tips.

“Hum you lot aren't exactly what I'd say it calls for but cybernetics check, blueish purple power armor check, pegasi filly check and as for your little one...”

He grabbed at Mysty’s hat and of course, Mysty being a small simple filly dogged it but then a third of the four guards appeared on Mysty’s tail.

It was instantaneous a blink, no a look and you'll still miss it moment.

Mysty’s hat went flying as she jerked forward but didn't move.

“Pesky one aren't you.” *smack*

The benefactor slapped her right across the face and Still had about had it, I’d seen too many children harmed by this wasteland and he could tell the zebras we're feeling the same for one reason or another.

“An alicorn filly that confirms it but for conclusion's sake you pony crush a rock.”

He was addressing Chane who had been turned red and given a mustache by the Alter physiology spell. A spell Still was really glad did not require focus to stay active.

But he wasn't sure just how much time was left to burn on it.

Chane complied with the rock crushing request crushing a rock here on the beach. If Still hadn't been paying attention he would have thought it was just more sand.

The benefactor started taking his leave of us going back to the Captain.

“Well captain I have but one thing to say, I can tell when a bit of alteration magic is being used, especially something as simple as alter physiology.”

The Captain went to speak again but it was too late.

“Well, I guess given everything that's happened with this trip the appropriate response would be to kill you and enslave the crew how does that sound?”

“Wait I can!…” he didn't finish the panicked sentence as the air left his throat and he lifted up he was being choked by an unseen force.

“Well now that that's taken care of, Yellow take the crew, Orange the slaves, Red the escapees and Blue your with me.”

At his command despite attempts to leave being made by the crew, then we were all corralled into walking west led by one hooded figure each.

We left into the unknown, our only aid dead face first on the sand.

"Welcome to the Isles." the last thing The Benefactor said before we started walking.

Footnote-

Berri-Traits, cyborg, shaman, pinky sense, doctor, Mendi Tribe.Skills, MEW, Hacking & Matrix Tech, Medicine

Silver Pick-Traits, Blank Flank, Small Frame, Discord’s Luck, Tech Wizard, Trauma, City Slicker, Wild Wasteland, Enclave Pilot. Skills, Firearms, Sneak

Still Life-Traits, Bat Eyes, Traitor to Your Race, Touched by The Moon, Steel Ranger Knight, Elderly. Skills Melee, Academics & Lore, Repair & Mechanics

Mysty-Traits, Mary Sue, Genetic Gold, Gifted, Pipsqueak, Illritarit, Carnilia Tribe. Skills, Sneak, Arcane Magic

Chane-Traits, Trained by a Master of Fallen Caesar, Bruser, Achu Tribe. Skills, Unarmed, Alchemy Survivalism & Traps, Sneak