Fallout Equestria distant lands

Chap 3

Damn raiders

“Roawr!!!” The beast and its entourage...they came from nowhere. The group thought they’d sent the ugly bastard running and though they did, it had come back and with company.

The hours following the Benefactor’s “demise” were tense, hectic, and dreary. Most of the folks in town were fine, but one of the pirate-slaver crew….she was far from fine.

Berri spent hours tending to them. From what the former zebra slave saw on passing, the griffon’s entire left side was scorched partially enough to boil some skin. She looked more ghoul than griff, and Berri...well whenever she tended to the wounds Chane had from battling the Benefactor, he could tell it all had taken its toll on her.

Now Chane may not have been the smartest zebra in the tribe, but stumbling around from your own injuries and being so tired that you fall asleep mid-bandage-wrap in his mind meant Berri needed to rest. So he sat her down up against the weapon store with Silver. Spirits please let that child get over all of this, he thought

“Eh, mind giving me one of those,” Chane asked as he limped over to where the others were putting out the fire. A quick whistle and shout over to the water barrel got him a bucket of water and Chane assisted the rest of the party and town in putting out the fire. Well, all the party but the foals and Berri.

“Hey, you big lazy butts, get in here and help put out the fire,” the little filly shouted at the guards. One quick snowball and the first of the Benefactor’s five remaining guards were killed instantly, skull shattered and stabbed into the back of his brain. If it wasn't for the blood crawling up through the collapsed snow nopony’d ever know, certainly not the likes of Mysty.

The remaining guards ran, two of which didn't make it far before the cold touch of death reached them. The others holed themselves up in the gate control room and swayed the white devil off them. It took almost all night for the fire to completely die down and, come morning, it was high time for some relaxation and good jokes amongst friends, however short-lived it may be.

“I bet I can eat more pancakes than you,” the grey pegasus filly boasted. This comment by Silver ended up leading both her and Mysty into choking fits. Thankfully, they had a Berri nearby to provide the Heimlich.

Berri, the zebra that seemed to be becoming a sort of mother figure sighed. “That you two can survive for this long without me, it is one life's truly great mysteries.”

Berri’s comment was quickly followed up by a shrug from both the foals and Tatertot as he quite literally inhaled all of his hashbrowns that he had been making into a pony statue.

“But, huh how did you...?” asked Berri as she raised an inquisitory hoof to Tatertots

The earth pony shrugged as he asked, “Can I get another plate” Tatertot in proper pony toons style stretched his arm out to wave it fanatically till a waitress came over

“Bloody earth ponies,” she muttered. Evidently, Tatertot didn't hear the unicorn waitress’ comment or was too excited about the vertabuck shaped hashbrown on his plate.

The rhyming zebra groaned. What did I do? Spirits, to pair me with these ponies, did I somehow offend you?

“Could be worse,” her zebra companion said simply. Great, Chane can read faces.

“No, you’re just an open book,” he said in response to her unspoken thoughts. Seriously?

“Yes,” the unicorn stallion smirked. You too, Still? I kinda feel betrayed.

“Wonder why,” the pair said in unison. Seriously?

The zebra mare groaned as she rubbed her temples.

“What?” the winged filly asked.

“These acts that are silly should concern you, little filly.”

“Grown-up stuff, come on I want a rematch. Best outta tree,” the alicorn filly challenged.

“Oh, you’re on, Squirt,” the pegasus responded. And so Silver and Mysty started choking again as Tatertot finished his dinner plate armor and castle outside.

The sound of a clearing throat drew the zebra mare’s attention. “Berri,” the voice intoned.

“Huh,” was her clever response. Looking up from her plate of barely-touched greens, she came face to face with Still Life who was mid swallow of his salad gesturing behind her.

Upon turning around, Berri saw what was up: the mayor had come in the diner and was approaching the chaos that was the group of misfits.

“Good morning, “heroes”,” the leader groused. Berri wasn't sure about that term and neither was the mayor. “I never personally thanked you for everything your group’s done, and you seem most like a leader so thank you. Now, please get out and never come back.”

That last bit caught Berri a tad off guard, to say the least, but after thinking a bit it wasn't that hard to understand.

“You gave me back leadership and freed us from slavery and I truly thank you for that, but you also burned down our main housing, exhausted most of our water supply, and killed the one supplying us with food.” well shit, now what. thought the cyber zebra.

“Yeah, that captain you guys got killed. Without him supplying us with fresh supplies, we're so fucked,” she said bluntly. The mayor was mad to a degree but something told Berri it could be much worse so she didn't say anything.

The mayor sighed and shook her head. “Just please stay out of my town unless your plan on rebuilding a burnt down house and section of the wall.”

Berri was about to say yes to the arrangement due to how they had even despite protest went along with the plan that burnt down the housing slums, but the mayor wasn't done.

“Oh on your way out there are some of the benefactor’s guards held up in the gate control room, that's what he's being called now right” right he has multiple names, and is fucking immortal.

“The Benefactor is the name he gave to me, though I would call him something worse now that I'm free.” said the cyber zebra medic.

“Nice, well anyways id say your lot owe it to the town that your get rid of them, and who knows maybe I’ll throw in a reward or something.” Well, at least it's something thought Berri.

“So why are we clearing out the gate room?” the horned filly asked. Frankly, Mysty just didn't understand it. The kind pegasi that flew the rest of every ponies and zebras could have done it.

“For the part, we played, a debt must be repaid,” the zebra mare intoned.

“Uh….no we don't. You healed everypony and, uh, where’s Silver?” After glancing around and not seeing the annoying light grey pegasus Mysty was confused.

“The shotgun she bought was worth more than she could pay. Until she works it off, it is here she will stay.” Berri explained. She knew that leaving Silver here was by far the better choice over dragging her around the waist. If she knew she’d be able to do the same with Mysty, she would.

A quick glance at Chane, and Berri knew he thought the same. That, or he was reading her face again. Either way, he chose to focus on the building along with the begrudging aid of a confused Mysty.

Tatertot and Berri readied their respective recharger rifles. Still was stuck on the other side trying to replicate the thing Tatertot was trying to do before he got carried over. The blond earthpony had been trying to pick the gate lock with his tongue and a bobby pin.

It wasn't going well…. For Still or Tater.

Mysty took a quick flutter to the roof of the building and, after a few telekinetic knocks on the door with her cannonball, the little filly drew the attention and fire of the ponies inside.

According to Berri’s heat vision, there were three and they’d apparently flipped a table or something up as a barricade. One must have been inside last night when Mysty was snowballing them. This was nothing a little tear gas couldn’t handle.

Thank you, Catrina, thought Berri while she imagined the scorched griffon lying comatose in bed “Mysty, use this one you pull out the pin. Let's make them come out, since we can't get in.” the zebra mare said, tossing a metallic apple up to the filly on the roof.

With a quick telekinetic catch, the grenade went to Mysty and then to the poor souls inside.

For the next few seconds, the only sounds heard were the trotting and banging of ponies against walls and furniture inside the small building and subtle swears of Still trying to open the door himself. The dark blue pegasi that brought the others over was holding back laughter at his failings.

The near-silence persisted for only a minute but everypony and zebra was staying ready and trained, all prepared to strict the first hostile they saw, well except Mysty obviously.

This continued for what felt like forever in a second until it all halted with the door slamming open letting gas and ponies come out choking, coughing, and crying uncontrollably.

The first went down easy as he was tackled by Chane, then the other two in their already weakened state were fried by recharger rifle fire beams.

“You know, I'm the guy that killed your boss?” Chane asked with a dangerous grin that was seen for miles after that line.

“He will… he can never die, not by the likes of your not by anyone.“ The pony’s voice was shaky and he was afraid. The kid was probably no older than 18.

“Yeah, yeah, can it, kid, and get outta here,” the former zebra slave groused. The kid took a few steps before whipping back around and drawing out a pistol, and….well, he didn't survive the following conflict with Chane, let alone the rest of the group.

“I can't find it!!” Mysty had at some time or another dove into the tear gas-filled room and was trying to find the button for the gate, it wasn't going well.

Inside the room was damn near impossible to see, not to mention the fact it was making Mysty’s eyes tear up like fountains, she hadn't cried anywhere near this much since she met and or lost Pixi for the first times.

Ironically the fox had been lost in the smoke and it too was balling as it ran around and eventually stepped on the door controls by accident. Bye, this point Mysty could see enough because the gas had finally dispersed outside and after flipping on a light switch she knew she did’s it.

Outside the group was debating sending in Chane who wasn't keen on experiencing tea gas for the fifth time in his life, thankfully Mysty came out before he was forced in.

She had come out tailing very agitated Pixi.

“I did’s it!” Mysty proudly proclaimed as Berri rushed up to get her out of the gas and tend to her as well as Pixi on behalf of Mysty.

After every bit of a half an hour, everyone was standing facing into town after having tied up all the loose ends and getting their reward for the job: a lot of crim, caps, and a map. Honestly, not too bad for how easy the job was.

Of course, Tatertot immediately just sold the crim. Honestly, if he didn't need it, he might sell the map.….actually, he still might.

Other loose ends were resolved as best as they could be. The griffon, Catrina, was comatose and held up in a hotel room turned makeshift hospital room, Silver was said goodbye to, and Red Reed…

After the ass faked an injury in the previous night’s fire fiasco and got a suppository for it, he wasn't keen on getting another. So when the mayor forced him onto the party, he tried to stay as quiet as possible. This didn't last long before his next suppository, an even bumpier rock.
But he wasn't the only one forced on the party, all the houseless slaves and homeless individuals we're put on them as well.

But even after all there was one last pressing matter to deal with.

“So much for staying undercover, Berri,” the NCR soldier named Snowdrop said with a light chuckle.

“I would have preferred a more subtle plan than fire. I had no choice though, in the wake of my friends' ire.” the rhyming zebra responded.

“I see, is the rest of the plan still on?” asked the light blue coated N.C.R mare with a pink mane.

“Contact with the N.C.R. will fall to you and the pirates to solve. Dealing with the Benefactor now falls on us to try and resolve.” said the seemingly always rhyming zebra.

“Well that should be simple enuff, kinda wish there was anything else to talk about, hell time to talk about anything wouldn't hurt either, tho I suspect you strained for time.

“Time now may no longer have a constraint, but the fire may leave us with a complaint. The time is right for us to go, before there's another fire show.” said the rhyming cyber-medic.

“I can see why you might worry, also do your mind if I ask a question?” asked the N.C.R mare.

After a brief questioning look from Berri, she gestured for Snowdrop to ask away.

“Sorry if that was a tad random but I’ve been wondering more about something since I meet you” please don't be anything stupid. chanted Berri in her mind.

Why do some zebras rhyme, I mean I've meet a few zebras, like five I think and only one of them rhymed well two out of six since meeting you.

Why do some zebras rhyme and others don't, it's a simple question with an admittedly simple question but as Berri well knows from the many terminals she's read in her time even ponies before the war had limited knowledge on the subject, I mean why didn't anyone just ask and write it down.

“Time seems to have that answer locked away, but I can share before I end my stay.” she probably thinks it's some crazy convoluted thing.

“Wait let me take a guess first, umm, is it, no, oh I have an idea, is it just like an easier translation to equestrian for some zebras.” Spirits above how’d does she get it right on the first guess.

“It seems the answer, you already knew. Your instincts are sharp. I'm surprised in you.” asked the zebra honestly thinking that Snowdrop had already known the answer

“wait, what, I actually got it, luna’s ass I actually got” Berri was silently nodding along and the two talk for a bit longer. Meanwhile, Mysty found the matches again, thankfully Chane was nearby to stop the filly causing any damage until she lost interest and started looking at sticks.

“ Alright well Best of luck with the benefactor, it was nice talking and may Celestia be with-- no, uh, what was it. ‘May the spirits be with you?” Said the pink maned soldier.

“And with you too, my little pony friend, may our paths cross before this journey's end,” responded Berri.

“Preferably under better circumstances, and with an army backing me.” said snowdrop in a semi-joking manner.

“A sentiment I too share, may your travels treat you fair,” said Berri before finally taking her leave of the bench they had been setting on.

Upon living the still yet to be named town, the group had both lost a member and, had gained a great many things: knowledge, a big group of ponies, a new member, and…

“THE! MIGHTY!! ZEPHER!!! BLADE!!!!” Mysty had taken one of the sticks she was looking at in town and almost immediately after the group left town she had been yelling out its “name” when she did stuff while flailing it around.

She also brushed Pixie off a lot, collecting some poison joke, the knowledge that a small filly faster than anyone else in the group had an unknown amount of poison joke did not sit well with Chane. At least it's not killing joke, tho if someone gets poisoned will need to spend some caps to get stuff to cure them.

Honestly, Chane wasn't sure what was more disturbing the filly and her pet, Still’s armor with luna’s cutie mark and rust all over its dark blue paint, the cyber zebra who plans on becoming a cyber zebra-alicorn or above all the supernatural level of weirdness about Tatertot.

After many hours of walking, Chane was beginning to run out of steam and was about to suggest the group take a break from the map.

Evidently there was a city labeled on the map north of the party along the beach and just a bit more inland.

There were talks of going south but due to raider dens being right in the path everyone except Still decided against it for a bit longer travel.

As Chane was about to suggest the break there was a small hiccup, Chane was going to bring it up until we rounded over a hilltop and low in behold what we saw, our hiccup.

It took me a minute but based on Still’s expression I figured suspicion was confirmed, steel rangers, or at least ponies in power armor. Good thing Still doesn't wear a helmet, else I’m not sure if anyone could connect with him at all. Thought Chane.

Mysty had darted ahead to investigate what she called shinny ponies making the rest of the party give chase which is always fun when going down a moderately sized hill.

She was above circling slowly descending, it was like a vulture going around and around, letting the world know it killed something.

It was…. Disturbing oddly only in this blasted world can a filly be scene as a vulture reaping off the dead thought Chane as he approached.

Soon they all caught up and we're hit with the stench of choked flesh, burnt paint, metal, and not to mention the blood.

“There fresh, keep you guard up and help me get them out of these suits” Chane wasn't sure whether or not he was helping Still out of respect, fear, maybe friendship or at least a sense of paying him back for being the one who officially freed him from his seemingly endless life as a slave?

Chane’s childhood was that of most tribes with its differences but like most, it taught him to be wary of those who hold to strongly to the old world, that they couldn't see thing's as anything but colored and striped, a pretty black and white mentality if you ask him, tho Still hasn't done anything regarding the usual hatred of his stripes so who knows.

“Come on shinny ponies, this ain't no place for taking nappies” looking at Mysty Chane had a thought. I wish I was able to just ignore all this… everything, like her even if it is ignoring through ignorance.

Still and Tater we're bussy pealing the power armor off of the desecrated and mutilated corpses while Berri identified them and Chane helped her sit them off to the side.

Two we're burnt one to a crisp and the other was ripped to shreds by bullet fire.

“Machine Gun and flamer, at least, we should keep moving this place isn't safe.” With a quick gesture around Still showed what he was talking about, on either side of the road we're rocks and rubble, they were certainly large enough to conceal a few ponies hell maybe a dragon.

A young one, of course, it was the perfect spot for an ambush “That does explain quite a lot, on how these ponies were shot..” Said Berri observing the rocks.

“Yes, steel rangers are often much more observant, than these fools were,” said the heavenly armored unicorn.

“They’re also pretty cocky most of the time.” At that comment, Chane got a glare from Still before he started walking.

“What used to be one or something,” asked the zebra fighter.

“Something” Still plainly stated.

“It may be bad taste but I wonder how much this armor could sell for, Nah it’d probably be better to scrap em to help reinforce our armor.” blurted out Tatertot.

Before Chane or Still could get in a response they were both stopped by Berri saying something.

“Something is coming, we should be on the ready,” said Berri.

oh great, now what thought Chane.

“Is it hostile” as usual Still is straight to the point, I’ll need to sit him down and talk to him at some point thought Chane.

“It shows hostility, although its pace is steady,” responded Berri

“I say we get going then, what I don't want to become a lying corpse if I can help it, I've got stuff I still need to do,” said Tatertot already farther along the road then anyone else.

“No, whatever it is might follow us to town, what directions it in Berri,” said Still.

I swear am I the only one who thinks this guy is really jumpy, that or he just likes a fight, thought Chane.

“If you seek a place you can aim, it is south, back the way we came,” said Berri with her eyes trained on her left foreleg risen up to better read the pitbuck as basically all ponies or zebras have to do.

with a quick nod Still started issuing out orders, yes orders like a fucking drill sergeant or something like it.

When Still started issuing out orders instead of letting Tatertot leave he was less than agreeable with the plans.

Everyone dove behind some rocks but Tatertot, Tatertot did something far better.

“I'm invisible!” yelled out Tatertot and he was pretty sure everyone adopted Berri’s face hoof response, Mysty was just laughing from up in the cloud she had found to rid on during the trip, she called him Mr. fluffy.

After a few minutes of silence and light tension, Mysty had finally stopped laughing and called out.

“Here it comes!” Tatertot could swear there was a light chuckle behind her voice.

After a quick review of his battle saddle and prep of the recharger rifles, it came over the hill

“Fire!!” yelled out Still With a quick gesture of drawling out his sword, everyone unloaded on the…. Radroatch?

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha” Mysty could be heard laughing half to death from a mile away.

“I can’t believe you didn't ask what it was, a silly radroach ha” the little filly was left laughing about how easily she tricked the party while Tater briefly adopted Berri’s behavior of damn near constant face hooves, usually at his actions.

“Come on let's go, we've been here long enough as is,” Said Still in his usual stern manner. Now that's something I can get behind, thought Tatertot.

the walking continued for a good few hours, it was starting to get dark.

“There's some ruins or something ahead a little ways, we can rest there.” Said Still Life pointing from the map of to the north slightly inland from the path.

“Hey, Berri what are we actually doing” Tatertot while being a sort of tagalong it was unclear why he joined the party but everyone had enuff sense to not ask but being a sudo member Berri felt he should at least now the plan.

“We are following a map out to our next location, though I hope to see a military installation,” said Berri in response.

“Where's it at,” asked Tatertot, and with a quick trot up beside the zebra medic she pointed out a base up north-west of the group, a ten to twelve days walk if that's all they did day and night along the roads.

“I see, what about you Still what’s your plan,” said the blond earth pony merchant, a simple shrug latter and Tater knew his answer.

“I don't have a fucking clue.” Thought Tater.

“Alright how about you Chane,” asked Tatertot swerving his head around a physically impossible amount, well impossible for most ponies anyway.

“to not get enslaved again,” said Chane, simply. well, I can't fault that goal thought Tatertot.

“And what about you Ber-” Tatertot got caught off mid-sentence.

“I seek out tools to improve my trade. Cybernetics shall provide this aid.” quickly responded Berri. she cut me off. thought Tatertot.

“Enough chit chat, we're here” Still was right, in Tatertot’s talking and walking they had arrived at the ruins.

They were in ruin, obviously but something was off about them though.

“This place seems to be incredibly old, Pre-Equestrian we may now behold.” after an inquisitory look from the rest of the group Berri blushed and rubbed the back of her neck.

“Tales of history I do so enjoy. You should hear tales from spirits I employ,” said Berri, addressing the questioning gazes of her colleges.

Nice thought Tatertot, after Berri finished talking Tatertot began his usual routine, loot, loot, sell, and loot. Sadly he could only do the first two at the moment.

The place was set up with the main building they entered through, there was a large hole in the front-most wall that the party came through, there were two holes on there respective sides of the back wall and two buildings outside, one for each hole.

The left-most one was collapse and the right was like a square igloo, besides those, there was another skinny building that was mostly intact with a door on the end near the collapsed building.

Walking around to the door Tater noticed there was also a circular courtyard past the building it had walls placed in dotted line fashion in a sort of spiral pattern.

Opening the door he figured it would be funny to say, “hey anypony home.”

And wouldn't you know it somepony was home.
“Tatertot, beware! Hostiles are in there!” Berri cried out but it was already too late.

“Huh,” only seconds after Tater turned to the shouting Berri the oily blazing flames of a flamer shot through the hall to try and scorch the merchant earthpony.

Thankfully it didn't as Tatertot dogged back to the main building as the shots of a minigun followed along through the inside of the building and it became ever apparent how many enemies we're here.

Tater chose to spend his shots on a griffon to his left, it’d been hiding in the bushes but once Tater knew he was there he made sure to blast him but he shot back and with some sort of rifle grazing against Taters right foreleg

“Damn it Tatertot, leave the looting until after the fighting,” said still drawing his serrated blade

“Yeah that might be a good idea” responded Tater before aiming in and making sure the griffon firing on him couldn't leave I love twin-linked battle saddles thought Tatertot

“find some cover these are the raiders that jumped those steel ranger’s, they have a machine gun and flamer in the least” fucking damn it, I was really hoping we wouldn't have to run into this thought Still Life

It's a deadly combo if you’re in the open the machine gun will get you but if your stay in cover too long the flamer will bake your alive thought Still

“I'll get the machine gun” at his announcement Still went running around to the back end of the building Tatertot had previously gone to and he slammed the door open.

In response to Still barging in he got a face full of hoof as he thrust in and stabbed at a zebra, it dogged the blade putting its hoof on the forward trusted blade they slammed it down and away from the armored machine gun user inside.

He like Still was wearing power armor, very raider-esk in look with blood guts skulls and feces both on it in paint and really on it, the helmet was a brahmin skull forced over the metal power armors frame but it ultimately was a weeker less advance version of power armor than the Still life wore.

The blink and your miss it analysis of his opponent’s gear was just that a blink and your miss it instance as the raider unloaded on Still in full auto as he desperately tried to turn and let it hit his second strongest side, he wouldn't let him hit luna’s cutie mark that's for sure.

Along with realigning himself, he was desperately tried to hit the nimble zebra that was beating the shit out of him.

Even though his armor he could feel his kicks as the zebra brought Still’s legs out from under him and bullets ripped and rended his armor and flesh more so the armor but through all of it Still knew he was blacking out.

Still was on the edge he was going to die, out the corner of his eye he saw both Berri and Chane being forced bach into the small box-like building, sort of a square igloo if that makes sense.

The flamer raider was cackling maniacally as he slung flame from side to side only stoping when Mysty darted over his head and he sprayed flam almost straight up letting Tater and Berri rend him with laser and pulse fire than it finally hit Still it being the zebra hoof knocking his bloodied and beaten face into the ground and out of conciseness, he was going to bleed out.

“Leave him alone you meanie’s” yelled Mysty and with a quick light up of her horn her wizard cap began to glow lightly and both the power armor pony, zebra, and another one with an assault rifle started focusing on her solely as everything else grew weary of what was happening.

A quick snowball and the wide grinning zebra was put into its eternal rest as Mysty came diving into the poorly light building, she charged the raider and uppercut the Shiny pony with her cannonball stumbling him back into the dimly lit building as she drew the mighty zepher blade and Pixi leaped out onto her head.

Rain hoof had been having a pretty good week, he got a minigun and suit of fucking power armor, but neither can compare to the full belly he and his buck finally had since joining this gang.

He didn't much mind the allegations or prejudice of ponies calling him a raider, and for what holding up a caravan to get medicine and food for his fucking foal, fuck he was only four, five soon, fuck was his birthday really just 3 days away.

Rain had planned on getting a pet cat for Cage but good old fire for brains had to burn down that traders entire operation and for what, show him a lesson because he wouldn't share his bloody cigarette, not to mention the thing's he roped him into involving that poor bastard’s family.

I wasn't supposed to have more than one foal to worry about especially, not on my own, Celestia above why did I take all those drugs why'd I drink enough to let him convince me of that...I cut off her head and…. Fuck! I'm sorry luna forgive me. Please just forgive me.

I don't know why I’m telling you this, you know my crimes the innocents I’ve killed for her and for him after her, the once I did for myself and the one’s I just did, I didn't have a reason to cut her head off and keep it, nor did I have a reason for any of the things I did to that poor teen’s head.

I fucking complained about the horn being cut off and there being no gag reflex, I’m a fucking monster, that much is obvious but….. he isn't and if this little filly kills me, makes me pay for the thing's I’ve done over these past twenty years. Please luna don't let cage to grow up to be anything like me.

“Leave *smack* my *Snowball* friends *Pixi bite* alone.” With Mysty finished yelling at the foul meanie steel pony she telekinetically lifted the battered near-dead pony and slammed him out the door and into the outer wall, it crumbled instantly as all but one raider ran for there lives, pursued by Mysty as she put them to sleep.

I don't think any escaped.

Upon Mystys return she was meet with everypony tending to there wounds and Chane helping to in Mystys mind wake up Still.

Tatertot was doing his usual scrounging throwing crates of advance restoration potions into nothingness also somehow finding them in the first place.

“Damn it I want snack cakes” yelled Tatertot and Mysty thought she was childish, though snack cakes are really yummy.

After a bit of time Mysty cast heal on Still seeing as that usually makes ponies feel better especially when mom did it for her scratches and boo boo’s.

Sure enough, Still got up a little bit after the spell was cast and after a good bit of looting and Mysty finding a pretty shiny book with princess lunas cutie mark on it, didn't have any pictures in it tho just useless squiggles.

“Next time let me check for hostiles and practice your force of will. Or are you purposefully trying to go out and kill Still?” said Berri in the sternest way she could.

“Hey now wait a minute I almost got him killed, he's the one that stood still and got blasted by a machine gun.” I almost got him killed that's fucking brahmin shit,thought tater.

“Oh for the love of, you unmitigated fool! Check for hostiles before you loot, that's the first rule!” yelled back Berri, she had been through hell these past few days and didn't need this shit from some fucking nobody they picked up in town.

The bickering would probably continue for hours and Still saw the rest of the party and ponies forced on them picking sides so he took action.

“Enough! We're all to blame but if that little filly hadn't been here it's likely we’d all be dead, so shut the fuck up!” while Mysty didn't understand all of the fuss she knew stuff had gone bad and according to Still putting the other shiny pony to sleep helped there shiny pony better known as grandpa silly which is what she started calling Still Life, oh and she pranced around in the air saying “I fixded it, I fiexd it, hooray for me.”

After the group tended their wounds and rested a bit it was pretty unanimously assumed that there must be something worthwhile down a hatch Tater had foud in the center of the courtyard while looting. It was dark and Tatertot didn't have a light so he figured he should wait for Berri or Still seeing as they both have there own light sources.

“Your guy's sure it's pretty dark” Mysty wasn't afraid of the dark but… it was dark.

“If those raiders thought there was something worthwhile down hear then we need to check this place out.” Still didn't really think much would be down here but there was never harm in checking, oh wait it slows them down.

“*sigh* what about the rest of the ponies someone needs to look after them” please! Begged Mysty silently with big ol puppy eyes and a kind innocently charming smile, if you put her in a rad suit and died her mane yellow and coat pink id probably believe it was the ghost of the big 52

“They handled themselves alright when we were fighting I think they'll be alright” darn it, grandpa, silly, let me have this, thought Mysty the magical Philly exstrodanre plus a few more titles.

With a quick and slight sigh, the small alicorn responded “fine” if you can imagen a teenager being sarcastic but in the tone and cuteness of a small foal.

Starting down the stairs of the crypt-like ruin’s the walls had caskets lining them, they had been built into the walls along the stairs and the rest of the tomb.

Still was first down followed by Chane, Mysty, Tater, and Berri with every other turning on what light they could.

Stills helmet light to Berris pipbug and Mystys horn.

The three together illuminated any hall they entered.

When everypony hit the end of the stairs Tatertot noticed a torch on the wall and with a handy dandy lighter and a bit of hair gell we had a torch to light others with.

A bit of Tater ingenuity if you will.

The inner chamber of the crypt was the equivalent of a maze with several corners, ok maybe one corner isn't a maze but it sounds more dramatic.

There was some stuff on the walls in zebrikian evidently it was something bout how there was an ancient war and this place was where they sealed the evil away guarded by the spirits of the heroes who stopped the evil, at least that what Berri told Tater when he looked at the walls inquisitorially.

Personally, Tatertot didn’t believe in all that spirt mumble jumbo but with a hole in the casket submerged in 15 feet of water, the one supposed to house the evil talked about on the walls.

The casket was in a pool of water beside him and the thing Chane told us about the Benefactor being immortal, so tater was uneasy on some of his beliefs mostly in regards to zebra mythology, obviously.

Mysty flew over the casket in the water and told Berri what was written on it, not that Mysty actually knew what she was copying, as suspected it used to house the evil and according to Berri’s face it was pretty obvious that she thought the same thing Tatertot did.

This was the Benefactor’s planned final resting place, too bad the bastard didn't stay asleep.

Further exploration of the tomb lead to Tatertot venturing off from the rest of the group as they went down a more rough and dirty tunnel, it had a sort of unfinished vibe.

Instead, he went through the rest of the crypt down some not nearly as long stairs and into a final burial chamber to come face to face with a door.

“Alrighty let's see what's back here,” said Tater, despite being alone, he was talking to himself and two quick bobbins later and,” just a second ah vaulah,” the door fell open halfway before just falling over.

That was weird, looking into the chamber Tater saw two baleful glowing pink eyes filed with the fire and hate of the bombs and the sadness and love of the old world starting right back into his own.

And as a reasonable, respectable, wise individual he quickly picked up the door and noped the fuck out of that situation.

“Guy's! there's a creepy ghoul in there” cried Tatertot exasperated from the run back up the stairs and into the cave-like tunnel hall, upon turning around to point towards where the ghoul had been Tatertot accidentally touched it on the nose.

“Ahhh! It followed me,” am I overreacting, probably. thought Tatertot.

“Tatertot, please try to be at ease. Could I get your name miss, if you please?” Berri got a simple shrug and showing of there not being a tongue in the ghoul’s mouth.

“She's not hostile, and she cannot speak. Something to write with is what I seek,” asked Berri looking around.

“I've got a book” with a quick hold up of the luna cutie mark book the ghoul pushed Mysty out of the way as she picked it up from the small filly.

“Hey that was rude,” said Mysty but it didn't take long for her to get preoccupied.

While the grown-ups talked with the wrinkly pony Mysty complained about the book and went to investigate a chest that she could see off in the corner of the room over a pool of water.

“Dumie ponies if you put the shiny’s over here how’s not wing having ponies supposed to get it”
With a quick flutter over the water, Mysty had chest in hoof and she slammed the old boring box down and waited for Tatertot to pick it open.

Inside was, boring, papers, notes, and list though there were a few bits.

“Ohh shiny’s” safe to say when Tatertot went to grab the bits Mysty beat him to it.

“Mine” Mysty proudly proclaimed.

Having been cheated out of the bits Tater turned back to the ghoul and Berri talking about the book, well Berri was talking the ghoul was writing and Still was tending to his sword.

“So what's so special about this book” if ghouls gonna fuss about it so much it has something to it, or at least that’s what Tatertot figured.

“From what we can tell, this is an old zebrician tome, a tale of great war from those who called this place their home. Zebras and Ponies fought against a foe most bizarre. The description seems off, but they say they fought a star.” said Berri.

“A star?” also that ghoul can read zebrekian? Thought Tatertot.

“You may think it a tale that zebras weave, but my people to this day still believe. Stars are malicious evils and destruction is what they wreak. The death of all they perceive is what the stars ultimately seek. ” said Berri.

“How wonderful,” living stars, I’ve heard it all, thought Tatertot.

“For now, our ghoul friend here can read through this as we walk. Some insight on the benefactor we might unlock,” said Berri.

After finishing with the tuning up of his sword the rest of the group and Still searched what was left of the crypt, tho as expected there wasn't anything else to find.

There was at one point a tunnel further through the crypt, however, the tunnel was caved in, honestly, Still wasn’t even sure it was meant to be there in the first place but ultimately it doesn't matter.

Living the crypt took a bit of time, not as much time as it took searching the crypt unlike how the filly would have you believe.

The main factor holding them back was Tatertots need to loot everything off of the dead raiders, well in Still’s mind, and also all the junk on them would only slow us down but Tater was adamant that he could keep up despite carrying a flamer and half there barding.

Chane ended up carrying the other half as well as the minigun.

It took us approximately fourteen hours between leaving the ruins and finally seeing the city labeled on the map in the distance.

Not including brief rest and refreshment breaks along the way.

“We should have eaten at the ruins” simply stated Still life, Tatertot had decided that for the third time in their traveling it was time for a snack.

“I did but I want to eat my sugar apple bombs” to say Tatertots comment was infuriating would be a mild understatement on Still’s part.

“Eat it as you walk“ ordered Still.

“No” responded Tatertot Still may be a soldier but it would be a lie if he said she didn't want to crush those snacks of his and yell at him to “run like I’m gonna kill you because I am” like in the good old days.

“Luna please give me strength” begged Still in almost whisper fashion.

“Can you repeat that, this time without a stick up your ass” smirky responded Tatertot. deep breaths, don't beat him into the pavement. Thought Still.

“Tatertot! Your attitude you should stay. Traveling companions don't act this way. We don't need this to rise to pain. Do you agree on this thought, Chane?” said Berri, Chane who was pleasantly minding his own business drinking from a cup over a small campfire just nodded and drank his tea.

“Berri is right, I may not like you but you a good shot and seem hoofty with a lock pick, so for however long your sticking with us will just need to put up with each other” I can't believe I almost lost my temper over some Celestia damn sugerbombs. Thought Still Life.

While Tater was about to leave it there an unexpected flying magic wrench prolonged the interaction.

“Well aren't you gonna shake on it?” anxiously the filly was wanting the two ponies to shake hoof.

“Excuse me” responded Still, dully.

“Yeah I’m with Still, why?” said Tatertot.

“Why, why your always gotta shake on it when you solve the fight, my Mommie taught me that,” said the always happy Mysty.

Please luna don't let this wasteland take this filly’s hope.

“Well Still, we gotta shake on it,” said Tatertot.

“I suppose we do, can't argue with Mysty on this one,” said Still, somehow one way or another Mysty just seems to have a charmful yet sometimes downright terrifying personality that can make all the I’ll feelings in your melt away or send raiders running in fear.

A quick hoof shake later and each equine involved knew this promise wouldn't last but it felt good to do.

“Now that this fight is done and put down, are you two ready to enter town?” said Berri.

A quick glance over at a smiling Mysty waving around her stick and Pixi running around her with root Still decided this little break could last a little longer.

“Let’s let Mysty and the animals have their fun first, mind giving me a cup of tea Chane,” said Still life.

“On this, I can agree, some tea is fine by me,” said Berri thing's having finally cooled down.

“And you Tater?” said Chane shoving tea in the general direction of Tatertot.

“I prefer sparkle cola,” said Tatertot as he pulled on of the testicular cola’s.

At that we all sat down there around the makeshift campfire and set up our bedrolls and tents to prepare for the coming night, the city could wait till morning.

Oh wait we're doing this again, I thought this thing was dead.

Uh... footnote level up to 3

Berri: intense training of the charism kind( don't ask I’m not sure how you train charismatic-nis)

Still: level 2 black stallion your del damage to the ladies and there a bit more negotiable
Level 3 heroic visage imagine always having a helmet with all the benefits but none of the downsides least of all the helmet hair
Mysty: level 3 child of two means you get to cast an entire other type of spell school

Chane: level 3 and you're still sneaky just a bit more with a harder punch thanks to spec-ops rank 1

Tatertot: level 1&3 your raising this barn and doing it at a quarter of the time but don't forget the +5 barter from trader at level two

Author's Note

edited by Robert,

most rhymes by Naeruiih

written and mostly edited bt myself and Grammarly